The Great Escape

By Maeve O’Keeffe The person sitting behind me in the library has a sniffly nose, and periodically I can hear them sucking snot up their nostrils. Two seats across from me, there are two girls, gossiping in theatrical whispers that are punctuated only by their occasional giggling fits. The person sitting opposite me is listening…

A Letter to My First Year Self

By Maeve O’Keeffe These days when walking around campus, it is not unusual for tears to well up in my eyes. I’m totally fine, but when I see the daffodils and the crocuses framing the venerable trees and Quad,  I feel such sadness that this chapter of my life is drawing to a close. I…

Apps and Healthcare

By Maeve O’Keeffe Given the plethora of ways technology has infiltrated our lives, it is perhaps unsurprising that it is used more and more in a health-related capacity. Particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing reliance on online resources in healthcare, both in terms of treatment and tracking. We all were asked…

Bystander Intervention in the Workplace

By Maeve O’Keeffe UCC’s Bystander Intervention Programme is, by nature, focused on changing attitudes and behaviours here on campus, and empowering bystanders and witnesses of inappropriate actions to speak out and intervene when safe to do so. As the programme grows, however, there has been an increased appetite for adaptations of the programme for other…

Intimate Relationship Abuse: Supporting Victims

By Maeve O’Keeffe Following recent allegations of rape and sexual assault, Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is under investigation and has been suspended from the club. Videos and images which were shared by the victim on social media gave a stark depiction of intimate relationship abuse, with photographs of the victim’s bruised body and a recording…

Sex and the City in 2022

By Maeve O’Keeffe And Just Like That, the highly anticipated reboot of HBO’s Sex and the City has recently concluded. The series had a lukewarm reception, with many fans of the original show disappointed that Kim Cattrall’s hilariously salacious character Samantha did not return for the spin off. The hype around And Just Like That…

The Hunt for (Decent and Affordable) Student Accommodation

by Maeve O’Keeffe It’s coming close to that time of year when finding a place to live next year becomes a priority. Scrolling on Daft.ie, ringing landlords, and scrambling to get a group together that you’d (hopefully) be happy to live with become all-consuming. Complacency and a laid-back attitude will get you nowhere. When it…

Interview with Professor Louise Crowley, on her Work in Developing and Expanding Bystander Intervention.

Maeve O’Keeffe (MOK): The murder of Ashling Murphy has been described as a watershed moment in prompting discussions about violence against women. How can we collectively ensure that this tragic event is a catalyst for change, and not just a news story that dies away after a couple of weeks? Louise Crowley (LC): Historically, that…