Let’s Make a Blanket! Trinity Knitting Society
Fionnuala Egan | Contributing Writer
Trinity Knitting Society’s blanket-making event was snugly situated at the very top floor of House 6. There, this small section of campus had been transformed into a cosy and welcoming space populated with couches, bean-bags and a seemingly endless supply of colourful balls of wool. People sat in little groups, chatting and laughing as they knitted. I was warmly welcomed immediately despite my shamefaced admittance that I was completely unable to knit. Trinity Knitting Society were happy to cater for all levels-from the proficient knitters of the society to the truly terrible. The latter category consisted solely of me.
The society members seemed legitimately sincere in their desire to help. I was coached through the basics of “casting on” to form the first row of stitches, a seemingly unnatural bit of wizardry which slowly became clear thanks to the remarkable patience of my mentor. My graduation onto actual knitting was just as inept and bumbling but I felt a small triumph after completing a few stitches. This glow of success was not lessened by the fact that the other beginner had already perfected a flawless square. Clearly I was an abstract artist.
Despite the carnage that was my knitting, my mentors were unfailingly pleased to teach and went out of their way to show me more advanced techniques. They even let me in on the secrets of the bizarre art of crochet. The atmosphere was calm and chilled out. Some people knitted at veritable lightning speeds while for others progress was slower. There was not a single rude comment or attempt to hurry on the progress of the blanket. People remained on well after the planned ending time and they were only gently prompted to begin finishing up about twenty minutes later. Despite all the stigma that surrounds knitting, it wasn’t boring in the slightest. It was fun! It requires skills but once you get into the rhythm of it, it’s also a great way to unwind (knitting pun intentional).
It was truly lovely and relaxing to spend an evening curled up on a couch knitting and talking as the rain poured down outside. The “Stitch and Bitch” sessions are held every Tuesday. I was enthusiastically invited to come along, and I extend this invitation to you. Friendly people, free tea and biscuits and you most certainly can’t be any worse than I am.
DU History’s Daniel O’Connell Talk featuring Prof. Patrick Geoghegan
Hannah Beresford | Contributing Writer
An evening spent at a lecture isn’t my usual idea of fun. Neither is an evening spent in a cemetery. Somehow though, combine the two, and you get something a little bit special. DU History certainly have a knack for organising events with a little bit of twist, and their fourth week event “Liberator – Professor Patrick Geoghegan’s Daniel O’Connell Address” was no exception. Held in Glasnevin Cemetery, the final resting place of the noted patriot, it was as fun as it was informative.
The event began with the journey from Front Arch to Glasnevin aboard the Ghost Bus – a strange but enjoyable experience. An unusually solid ghost kept us entertained with less-than-factual stories about plague-time Dublin. Not everyone in the audience seemed impressed with the more interactive elements of his storytelling, but by and large the friendly ghost went down well.
There is no doubt that Daniel O’Connell is a towering figure in Irish history, but do we give him his due? Professor Geoghegan, of Newstalk fame, does not think so. He contends that the achievements of the man known in his own time as the Liberator have been overshadowed by the subsequent triumphs of armed republicanism. Accordingly, his lively talk focused on reframing how we think about O’Connell – he was not merely an activist for the emancipation of Catholics, but the civil rights of humanity generally. He was famed as an avid critic of slavery, earning the respect and admiration of such figures as Frederick Douglass. Geoghegan’s account of O’Connell life perhaps skated over the aspects in which O’Connell was less than a hero, but he was honest about the arrogance of the man. It would take a man of utmost self-confidence to run the risks that he did. His courage, or sheer obstinacy, when taking on figures of authority, was detailed particularly well. His duel with John D’Esterre, long credited with cementing O’Connell opposition to violence, is a perfect example. It was, however, O’Connell’s ability to master the circumstances in which he found himself that allowed him to achieve.
Geoghegan was at his emotive best when describing O’Connell last act as a public figure. His health failing, he gave a final speech in the House of Commons, pleading for British action to counteract the ravages of the famine. His plea, as we all know, was not listened to, and O’Connell died some weeks later in Genoa, en route to Rome. Geoghegan called for greater appreciation of O’Connell’s achievements “in this decade of commemorations,” and for recognition that without O’Connell, the achievements of later generations of patriots could not have happened. Delivered in the shadow of the round tower built to honour the man so many knew as the Liberator, it was a powerful message.
Historical reflection is thirsty work, so the evening came to a perfect end with drinks “John Kavanagh’s – The Gravediggers” pub, one of the oldest pubs in Dublin. The crowd was friendly and the pints were good. All in all, a great event from DU History.
Yoga Soc Beginners Class
Teresa Basquel Fahy | Contributing Writer
Having never experienced Yoga before the event was full of intrigue. Tuesday saw Yoga Soc hold a beginner’s workshop as part of Fourth Week. The workshop was held in a room in the atrium with a member of Yoga Soc as the instructor. The room began with the task of laying down on our mats to concentrate on our breathing and focusing on our thoughts. Stillness.
After a few minutes the room, at first full of chatter, was a relaxed quiet space. The instructor then led us through various poses while explaining how the position and form of your body is supposed to be. Doing this while still maintain the relaxed atmosphere. Each pose focused on stretching and strengthening a certain part of the body. This was done all over the body from neck to the shoulders then the back and final the legs.
After stretching for just under an hour muscles in my body which I was not aware existed, we then returned to breathing and relaxing methods which were conducted at the beginning on the workshop. Overall the experience of yoga was calming and relaxing and something that must be tried. Yoga Soc has many workshops and classes for ranging abilities running throughout the week. They will be doing a free workshop next week as part of mental health week, which should definitely be checked out. Thinking of ways to destress or to start exercising, yoga is a good way to begin. Drop by to any of the various Yoga Soc classes you will receive a place with a warm welcome and great atmosphere.
