Willing Workers on Organic Farms - Yeah! Magazine

april 2012 - ed. 1
Nui Maynooth
More than 200
years of excellence
Wwoofing around
Travelling and
learning
Chat with
Ruairi Quinn
The Minister for
Education and Skills
Ireland
A warm welcome to
international students
Discovering Galway • Entertainment • Career • Bit of Craic

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Welcome note from the Minister
for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn
We live in an age of unprecedented connectedness, where
knowledge can be instantaneously transmitted around the
world, with no regard to national borders. It’s therefore
more important than ever for students to have an international
outlook, to be interculturally aware and to consider
themselves global citizens.
That’s why I’m delighted that so many talented students from
around the world have chosen Ireland to pursue their studies.
The mix of so many different experiences, perspectives and
ideas helps to make our education institutions more diverse,
academically enriching and exciting. The Irish Government
places huge value on the contribution which the international
student community makes to Irish life.
For my part, as Minister for Education and Skills, I hope
that an education in Ireland continues to be a positive and
transformational experience that will add real value to the
lives of our students.
I want to congratulate the team behind Yeah! International
Student Magazine and I hope that it will prove a vibrant
and valuable new voice on international student issues.

welcome
EDITOR’SWOrd
Welcome, to the
inaugural edition
of Yeah! Magazine.
Inside you’ll find a
selection of articles
and features which,
we hope, will ease
you into student life
in Ireland. Yeah!
seeks to provide a
stimulating, fun read
for Ireland’s growing international student community.
We hope you’ll find something among
these pages that will be of interest.
So what’s in this month’s issue? Our cover story
features Ireland, a country that will always give
one hundred thousand welcomes to those arriving
on its shores. A number of international
students tell us why they travelled to Ireland to
study and the advantages to them of doing so.
Yeah! Magazine is particularly appreciative of
the fact that Ruairí Quinn TD, Minister for Education
and Skills, has taken time out of his busy
schedule to mark the launch of this publication
by agreeing to chat with us about the International
Education sector in Ireland.
Each month we will feature a different part of
Ireland for international students to discover.
This month we are in Galway. The ‘city of the
tribes’ is full to the brim with culture and we
explore why it is so popular with those who go
there in the Irish summer months.
Another feature, which may interest readers,
concerns workers on organic farms. There are
now hundreds of <strong>Willing</strong> <strong>Workers</strong> On Organic
Farms (or WWOOFers, as they are known)
throughout the country. We talk to Annie King,
the Manager and Coordinator of the organisation
in Ireland, who explains how you can get
involved in this interesting work.
The Yeah! team have been busy putting this first
issue together. Student life in Ireland has never
been as exciting as it is right now and Yeah!
Magazine aims to reflect this vibrancy. We’ll be
back next month with another range of interesting
and inspiring articles for you to enjoy.
Thanks for picking up Yeah! Magazine and don’t
forget to look out for us in your local college,
where we will be available every month for your
reading pleasure. Remember we are always free
– hopefully you’ll be too!
Yan Callagy
Yan callagy
Editor
28
Crew
Editorial
Editor Yan Callagy
Sub Editor Ricardo Lúcio
dESiGN
Designer Thiago Jordano
Pictures Wanderley Massafelli
Adilson Gandia
WEB
Manager John Lappin
EvENtS
Manager Anna Rosell
events@yeah.ie
ExEcutivE dirEctor
Raffael Abarca
advErtiSiNG
Agents
Ricardo Lúcio
+353 0 871524669
ricardo@yeah.ie
Raffael Abarca
+353 0 863367879
raffa@yeah.ie
www.yeah.ie
APRIL 2012 - ED. 1
Nui Maynooth
More than 200
years of excellence
Wwoofing around
Travelling and
learning
Chat with
Ruairi Quinn
The Minister for
Education and Skills
Ireland
A warm welcome to
international students
Discovering Galway • Internship • Career • Bit of Craic
EDITION #1
covEr
Photography:
W. Massafelli
coNtriButorS
Tarsis Gonçalves
Peter O’Neill
Miren Maialen
Chris O’Connell
Silvia Bernal
Róisín Healy
Karina Macmullan
SAMPLE
Yeah! Magazine is published by
dMP - Dreams Media Producers
address: 11 Beaupank, 33 Main Street
Clongriffin, Dublin 13, Ireland
web: www.yeah.ie
All the contents of Yeah! Magazine are only for general information and/or use.
Such contents do not constitute advice and should not be relied upon in making
(or refraining from making) any decision. Any specific advice or replies to queries
in any part of the magazine is/are the personal opinion of such experts/consultants/persons
and are not subscribed to by Yeah! Magazine.
regulars
6 Chat with...
Ruairi Quinn, the Minister
for Education and Skills
8 In Focus
Latest news and
information about
international education
16 I recommend
20 Stuff
21 Entertainment
26 Post Card
Galway, Ireland’s
Cultural Capital
38 Network
6
features
30
18 Irish History
“A History of Ireland
in 250 Episodes”, a review
of Jonathan Bardon’s book
30 Special
WWOOF
Organization assisting
those who would like
to work as volunteers
on organic farms
internationally
32 Cover Story
Ireland, the country of
one hundred thousand
welcomes
16
24
student life
22 Campus
Nui Maynooth, Ireland’s
second oldest university
29 Career
Tips for who wants to
excel in a career in Web
and IT Technologies
36 Bit of Craic
Inside St. Patrick’s Day
Parade

chat with
The Irish government is
participating in student fairs
around the world. What is the
importance/significance of these
fairs?
The government is actively
participating in international education
fairs, which provide a valuable
opportunity to showcase Ireland as a
destination for international students.
Ireland has considerable advantages
compared to other countries and the
fairs provide an excellent opportunity
to highlight these advantages, which
include:
Ireland is a safe and friendly country
· Ireland is one of only two English
speaking countries in Europe, and has
four Nobel prize winners in English
literature
· 5 of our 7 universities are in the top
300 in the world, and all are in the top
5% globally
· A survey conducted by European
Finance Ministers a couple of years
ago rated Irish graduates as the most
employable in Europe
· We have moved into the top 20
nations in the world in terms of
research impact, and are in the top
1% in 18 research field
· Dublin is ranked by QS [the leading
education ranking agency] as one
of the top 10 cities in the world for
yeah 6
Ruairi Quinn
Yeah! Magazine is particularly appreciative
of the fact that Ruairí Quinn TD, Minister for
Education and Skills, has taken time out of
his busy schedule to mark the launch of this
publication by agreeing to chat with us about
the International Education sector in Ireland.
Check out what the government is doing to
ensure that those seeking to study abroad
choose Ireland as their destination.
international students
· When President Obama visited last
year he called the Irish people “among
the most educated in the world”
· Many of the world’s leading
companies have located in Ireland,
because our institutions produce very
employable graduates
The BRICs (Brazil, Russia,
India, and China) nowadays are
crucial for the world economy.
Also, the number of International
Students travelling from
these countries has increased
substantially. What is Ireland
doing to attract these students?
In November 2010 a memorandum of
understanding was signed between
Ireland and Brazil in the higher
education sector. This will facilitate
greater collaboration and exchange
of expertise between both countries
in the education sector and between
educational institutes in the fields of
student and academic exchange and
in research and development.
The Department of Education
and Skills participated in the 8th
Joint Economic Commission in
Moscow in November 2011. Arising
from the Protocol signed at the
JEC, it will co-chair an education
sectoral working group, which is
tasked with developing contacts
and collaborations between both
countries. A meeting of the co-chairs
will take place in Dublin later this year.
Minister Quinn participated in
meetings with the Vice President Xi
during his visit to Dublin earlier this
year.
Ministerial and Taoiseach led visits
to China are taking place this year.
Minister of State in the Department of
Education and Skills, Ciaran Cannon
travelled to China for St. Patrick’s
Day; the Taoiseach travelled to China
at the end of March.
Links between centres of learning
in Ireland and China are already
very strong. There are around 130
partnerships and 9 strong research
links between Irish and Chinese
education. The Irish Government has
agreed to co-fund with the Chinese
Government, the capital development
of the Confucius Institute at UCD.
As part of the roll-out of the
international education strategy, India
has been designated as a priority
market for targeted promotional
activity. As part of this, a trusted
agents programme has been launched
there. A Ministerial led education
mission to India will take place in May
this year.
What initiatives are the Irish
government and partners taking
to improve Ireland as a main
destination for International
Students?
The development of agreed priority
markets by the High Level Group
on International Education and the
development of market-specific plans.
The launch of a new Scholarship
Programme for Foreign Teachers
of English.
Funded by this Department, the
scheme was launched last year by
Fáilte Ireland in Turkey, Japan and
Korea and will run for 5 years.
The roll-out of market-specific
initiatives, such as a trusted agents
programme in India, which will rolledout
in other markets.
The coming period will see a targeted
focus on our priority markets which
will include Taoiseach and Ministerial-
led education missions to China and
India and other visits to key partners
in the Gulf and Latin America. Inward
visits will also be hosted from major
partners in South East Asia and the
Gulf.
In 2010, according to the UK
Government, the income received
from International Students in the
United Kingdom was estimated
in £5.3 billion. What is the
government’s estimated figure for
Ireland? And, how important is it
for the Irish economy?
International education currently
contributes around €757m directly to
the Irish economy. Last year, 30,000
international students studied in
HEIs and 96,000 in English language
schools.
In 2010, 469,619 international
students were studying in
Australia on a student visas. Of
these,
““International education currently
contributes around €757m directly
to the Irish economy. Last year,
30,000 international students
studied in HEIs and 96,000 in
English language schools.
there were 227,230 international
students enrolled in the higher
education sector, which
represented 48% of the total.
In Ireland the percentage of
International Students enrolled
in the higher education is around
25% of the total number of
international students. What
should be done to attract more
students to our Universities?
Last year, there were 126,000
Ireland has a
long- established
reputation in the
English language
market. The
challenge now
is to increase
international
awareness of our
higher education
institutions
international students in Ireland. Of
these, 96,000 were studying English,
with some 30,000, or almost onequarter,
in higher education.
Ireland has a long- established
reputation in the English language
market. The challenge now is to
increase international awareness of
our higher education institutions,
so that those seeking to study
abroad choose Ireland as their
destination.
The Programme for
Government
indicated
that the
Government
“would
develop
cultural and
diplomatic links
with emerging
markets
including through
a scholarship
scheme.” A similar
recommendation
is also made in the international
education strategy.
The Department and the Higher
Education Authority will shortly
launch a new scholarship scheme
to target and increase international
participation in Irish HEIs. The
scholarships will be awarded to high
calibre higher education students
from non-EEA countries to study in
Ireland for a period of one year. The
scholarships will highlight Ireland’s
strengths as a centre of International
Education, promote links with
priority countries and strengthen the
international strategies of HEIs.
Last year in the launch of the
brand” Education in Ireland”, was
told that the brand aims to double
the number of international
students in Ireland by 2015. Is
this objective is being currently
on target?
The Government has invested
heavily in our education and research
system, which has yielded significant
benefits for Ireland. We have a strong
and internationally well regarded
education system.
Of course, we cannot be complacent.
We must work to maintain and
improve that reputation, so that
we continue to attract international
students.
The Programme for Government aims
to double the number of international
student numbers, through full
implementation of the international
education strategy, “Investing in
Global Relationships”. It is also
identified in the Action Plan for Jobs
as a crucial sector for growth.
Significant progress is being through
the implementation of the international
education strategy, “Investing in
Global Relationships”. The High Level
Group on International Education,
which is chaired by my Department,
meets quarterly and brings together
the main departments and agencies
to co-ordinate national policy and
efforts in this area.
In the past 12 months, specific
measures have been undertaken to
promote the internationalisation of
higher education, including launching
a new international brand and
marketing campaign, “Education
in Ireland”. This is managed by
Enterprise Ireland and has been rolled
out in key markets, including the USA,
China and Russia.
yeah 7

in focus
yeah 8
OUR LAUNCH
The recent launch of Yeah! Magazine,
Ireland’s new international students
magazine, was a great success. The venue
for the launch, held on the 14 March,
was Dublin’s Mansion House (the Lord
Mayor’s official residence). Various
important people were there to help out
on the night. They included the Deputy
Lord Mayor of Dublin Maria Parodi, the
Brazilian Ambassador to Ireland H.E.
Pedro Fernando Bretas Bastos and Dave
Moore (director of the Irish Council for
International Students-ICOS), among
other college representatives and
students.
The sub-editor of Yeah! Magazine
Ricardo Lucio made a brief presentation,
displaying the new magazine for everyone
present. This was followed by a rousing
performance by the Portuguese singer/
songwriter Paulo Bragança. After all
the presentations the guests had an
opportunity to talk with the assembled
audience and enjoy some drinks and light
food. The entire editorial board of Yeah!
Magazine wishes to thank everyone who
came along and made the launch party
such a success.
yeah! / massafelli photography
yeah 9

in focus
Interest in animal welfare drops
without international students
By Catríona Hughes - The College View
DCU’s animal welfare society, Whis- ker has raised over €1,000 so far
this year for various sanctuaries helping homeless animals in Ireland.
The figure emerged following a neutering awareness campaign and
sponsored fast in aid of www.whis- kersnewpark.org, which was held in
the Street last Tuesday.Whisker has been set up to unite animal lovers
in DCU and most im- portantly, to help animals through fundraising,
lobbying, volunteering and awareness campaigns. However, the
society has seen a huge decline in participation from DCU students
this year, following the departure of many Erasmus stu- dents. It
appears that international students have been more concerned
about the importance of animal welfare than Irish students.
“The events we have organised are better, but participation is now poorer,”
claimed Whisker Chairper- son, Avril Noble. There are currently over 16,000
homeless dogs in Ireland. The ma- jority of these dogs end up in the pound
and most are killed after five days because the government will not hold
them for any longer. However, there are now over 700,000 homeless cats in
Ireland. Many homeless cats are born into this and are often referred to as
‘fe- ral’ cats. “The government currently has no involvement in cats, they are
le- gally classed as ‘vermin.’ This means that you can tear out a kitten’s eyes
with your hands and it’s not illegal,” Noble told The College View. Whisker
believes in a simple solu- tion to solve animal homelessness; to trap, neuter,
release or rehome where possible.
With participation numbers plummeting, Whisker is urging stu- dents to
get involved and help im- prove animal welfare. The society will be working
along- side DCU’s Art Society next month to campaign against cosmetic
test- ing on animals.Whisker will also be hosting a cake sale in April for
a soon to be selected sanctuary. The society will then be distributing
leaflets to stu- dents regarding neutering in order to raise awareness.
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UK CAO applicants increase
By Suzanne Cooper - The College View
UK applicants to third level education in the
Republic of Ireland rose by 27% this year,
preliminary figures have shown.
This brings to 2,500 the total number of UK
applicants in the Republic, up from 2,000
last year. This rise in applications here can
be attributed to the increase in fees that
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have
experienced.
It was reported last year that more than three
quarters of English universities were set to
charge the maximum fees for the college
year 2011/2012. From the beginning of this
college year, students in the UK and Wales
have been expected to pay £9,000 (€10,700)
in fees. In Northern Ireland, student fees went
up to roughly £3,000 (just under €4,000).
Scotland is the only member of the UK where
the students do not pay fees.
In April 2011, Prof Paul O’ Prey, Vice
Students rights
Working in Ireland
By Karina Mcmullan
Students of all nationalities are entitled to work in Ireland. This article
will provide more detailed information about the entitlements.
If you are student from the EEA (European Economic Area),
you are free to take up employment in Ireland while you are
studying. Nationals of Romania and Bulgaria are required to have
an employment permit only for the first continuous 12 months
of employment in the State. At the end of this twelve-month
period, a Bulgarian or Romanian national will be free to work in
Ireland without any further need for an employment permit.
For students from outside Europe, if they are attending a full-time
course at least of one year’s duration and it is recognised by the
Department of Education, they are allowed to take up employment.
During the study term students can take a part-time job of up to 20
hours work per week, and full-time work during holiday periods.
Once the period of study has been completed, the work has to end.
Chancellor at the University of Roehampton,
London, stated that, “we will be losing over
95% of our government funding... we’re
going to become almost totally reliant on
student fees”.
In the Republic, students technically don’t pay
fees. We pay a “contribution” of €2250, which
is a much smaller sum of money than these
universities in the UK. This is an attractive
alternative for UK students, as anyone who
is an EU citizen, or lived in the EU for three
out of the last five years, does not have to
pay full tuition fees here in the Republic of
Ireland. According to statistics publishedby
the Universities and Colleges Admissions
Service (Ucas), 52,321 applicants applied to
UK Universities from within the UK for the
college year 2011/2012, compared to 59,413
the year before.
Students applying to universities in England
have fallen overall by 18.7%.
Although there has also been a very slight
increase in applications from England,
Scotland and Wales to universities in
Northern Ireland, there are still a significantly
small number of these applications.
BBC NI education correspondent Maggie
Taggart reported that, “despite fees being
lower for Great Britain students in the
University of Ulster and large bursaries
offered at Queen’s, there has not been a big
increase in applications from England, Wales
or Scotland”. The number of UK students
willing to pay out £9000 in fees is clearly
decreasing, as many students are now looking
elsewhere like the Republic of Ireland. Many
UK students are evidently not willing to take
out massive student loans, which they must
begin to repay when earning more than
£21,000
However, if you want to study in Ireland, you have to
prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your studies
without having to depend on income from a job.
International students have the same rights in the
workplace as Irish nationals, regardless of the nationality or
immigration status of that student. It is a requirement of
law that everybody have a contract of employment, salary in
line with minimum wage, holiday leave, sick leave, etc.
After your graduation, if you are non-European, you will be able to
apply for a green card or work permit under Irish law. Moreover,
these students are allowed to remain in Ireland for the purpose
of seeking employment and then may apply for another visa.
Normally, citizens from EEA countries do not require special permits to
continue living and working in Ireland after their studies are completed.
KBM Karina B. Macmullan
LEGAL ADVICE
Irish Employment Law
karinabmacmullan@gmail.com
www.wix.com/karinabmacmullan/kbm
yeah! / massafelli photography

in focus
caNada
The size of the Canadian higher
education sector is comparable to
that of Australia, but Canada receives
far fewer international students.
However, increasingly immigrantfriendly
student visa policies,
combined with new and aggressive
federal and provincial outreach
efforts have allowed Canada to make
significant gains in international
enrollment in recent years. The
growing appeal of Canada for
international students is evidenced by
recent visa statistics: 14 total foreign
students that entered Canada during
the first half of 2011 increased by 30%
from the previous year. Particular
growth was seen among Indian
students who increased by almost
70% from 2010 to a total entry of
6,325 students, overtaking Chinese
visa holders as the largest group
of international students entering
Canada during that time. If this trend
continues, Canada is likely to see
continued increases in international
student enrollment in 2012.
viEtNaM
Vietnam now ranks 8th among all
countries sending students to the
US, according to the 2011 Open
Doors international academic
mobility report, with nearly 15,000
students, three-quarters of whom
are undergraduates. Of that 75%,
the majority begin their studies at a
community college. Vietnam ranks 3rd
in international student enrollment
at US community colleges. Vietnam
holds promise for U.S. academic
engagement because of its population
of more than 90 million people, being
the 14th largest country in the world
and the rise of English as the second
most popular language in its territory.
The number of Vietnamese
students in the U.S. has grown by
more than six times in a decade.
uSa
Dozens of high school foreign exchange
students have been raped, sexually abused,
or harassed by American host parents
in towns and cities across the country,
an NBC News investigation has found.
In one of the most egregious cases,
at least four exchange students were
sexually abused over the course of two
years by the same host father, even
after the first victim sounded alarms.
yeah 12
UK
Student visa clampdown
from Home Office - UK Border Agency
New rules and a clampdown on abuse of
the student visa system mean nearly 500
colleges will no longer be able to bring new
international students to the UK to study.
The colleges – a number of which were
bogus and did not offer genuine courses
- could have brought more than 11,000
students into the UK to study each year.
New UK Border Agency regulations have
raised the standards education providers
must meet to sponsor international
students. So far, 474 colleges have lost
their right to recruit international students
after they failed to sign up for the new
inspection system. The new standards will
help ensure genuine international students
get a good quality education in the UK.
Applications refused
A related UK Border Agency investigation
into more than 100 colleges has led
to 51 having their licences revoked.
The investigation followed a surge in
applications from South Asia just before
the English language requirement rules
were tightened in 2011. More than 4,500
of these applications to study have been
refused or withdrawn as a result.
Officials encountered evidence of clear
abuse. One student interviewed to test
his English skills answered almost every
question with the word ‘hello’. At another
college staff turned off the lights off and
hid when inspectors called and one college
was unable to provide any timetables of
classes or registers of students enrolled. A
Norfolk-based college had students whose
home address was recorded as Glasgow.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said:
‘Widespread abuse of the student visa
system has gone on for too long and the
changes we have made are beginning to bite.
‘Too many institutions were offering
international students an immigration
service rather than an education. Only firstclass
education providers should be given
licences to sponsor international students.’
Further measures due
Further measures to tighten student
visa rules are due now in April. The post
study work route, which allowed overseas
students to work after graduation will be
closed and students wishing to work will
need to apply for a work visa. There will also
be new time limits on student visas and
tougher rules on work placements. The UK
Border Agency will monitor the behaviour
of all sponsors and take action against any
that are not complying with standards of
education provision or immigration control.
The changes to the student route
form part of sweeping changes to
overhaul the immigration system and
reduce net migration from hundreds
of thousands to tens of thousands.
A limit on non-EU workers coming to
the UK has already been introduced.
Restrictions on the right to settle
here will be outlined shortly alongside
reforms to the family migration route
which will promote integration and
reduce burdens on the taxpayer.
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in focus
Irish language schools and universities active in Brazil
By Peter O`Neill, Education & Tourism Marketing Consultant, Rio de Janeiro.
The number of Irish education
establishments attending student
recruitment fairs in Brazil is growing
each year. This in turn has resulted in
an increase in the number of Brazilians
attending English Language and Higher
Education courses, as reflected in part
in the following table. The fact that
Brazilian passport holders do not require
a visa, and are allowed to work legally as
students, gives Ireland an advantage.
With a minimum of promotion, there is no
reason why Ireland’s market share in Brazil
could not double in the medium term.
Brazilian students are generally aged 18-25
years, 83% want language courses, and
their average stay in Ireland is six months.
Last month there were no less than
three student fairs in Brazil ( Estude
Brazilian language students in Ireland
Year Brazilian students
abroad
no Exterior, Salao do Estudante, and
ExpoBelta ) and one trade event ( Alphe ).
The Institutes of Technology in Athlone,
Dublin and Waterford, Dublin City
University, Griffith College, the Royal
College of Surgeons, Trinity College
Dublin, and the University of Limerick
are just some of the higher education
bodies that have shared space on an
Education in Ireland stand in Brazil.
Booking a language school these days is a
bit like booking a hotel in some ways. Just
as there are one to five star hotels, one can
apply similar categories to certain types of
schools as well. An investment in education
is a serious matter, and in order to protect
ones investment, instead of asking what
is the cheapest school, some key questions
to consider asking perhaps are, which
Brazilian students
in ireland
Share
2006 71,000 800 1.13%
2007 85,000 2,950 3.47%
2008 120,00 5,651 4.71%
2009 140,00 6,444 4.60%
2010 167,432 7,800 4.60%
2011 210,000 (estimated)
Captions:
Agent & Client - Brazilian education agents consider Ireland the best destination for long term
stays.
Education in Ireland banner - The cross-sectoral “Education in Ireland” brand, is the umbrella
brand for marketing the Irish higher education and the English Language Sectors internationally.
“O mundo do Intercambio” - Pay to Study (freidy@paytostudy.com), which is part of the
Taxback Group based in Ireland, is helping to reduce education costs by offering an easy online
payment system which facilitates international transfers by offering a secure and fast way to send
payment at no cost to the sender or receiver of the funds.
yeah 14
Sources: Belta / Failte Ireland
schools offers the best cost-benefit, are
they members of the MEI group of quality
schools, what are the academic qualifications
of its teachers, are classes balanced in terms
of nationalities, and is the requirement
of an 85% class attendance observed.
Enjoy Ireland to the full, and
embrace new emotions!
photos by Peter O’Nell

i recommend
What
students recommend!
Find Ireland’s best events, attractions,
restaurants and nightlife
René Berg
Age: 22
From: Denmark
Things I like to do in Dublin:
Take a walk down to the Garden
of Remembrance. It’s a great place
to enjoy lunch. It’s a small place of
freedom away from the noise of the
city. Another good spot is the Old
Mill restaurant down in Temple
Bar. The service is sublime, the food
amazing (frankly the only place
in the world that makes mashed
potatoes like mom does it) and the
atmosphere is really cozy. Great
place to dine out.
Domingo Sanchez
Age: 29
From: Spain
yeah 16
Nina Duoli
Age: 29
From: Argentina
Dublin is full of things to do and if
you are in the city centre it’s very
easy to walk around. You can enjoy
sunny days in the beautiful Merrion
Square or Stephens Green Park.
Museums are an opportunity to
learn about Irish culture in different
ways. The Icon walk on Temple bar
mixes street art with Irish history
and it’s amazing! At the end of a
long day pubs, such Cobblestone on
Smithfield and Gogarty’s on Temple
bar, are an opportunity to drink
a pint and enjoy good traditional
Irish music.
The Bia Bar, in Lower Stephen Street, is
one of the best bars in town. Contemporary
funk design, cool atmosphere and
friendly staff make this place stand out.
This pub has an impressive selection of
DJ’s, especially Loris Paladino EM parties,
to rival other fashionable venues.
Live music along with an ethnically integrated
crowd is another reason for going
down to the Bia. The food is awesome
with lovely pizzas and modern menu sets.
They do pretty good cocktails too.
Another place worth spending your Euros
in is JOE Burger in Rathmines. They
Daniel Figueira
Age: 31
From: Venezuela
At night, just immerse yourself in
the atmosphere of some of the best
bars in the world. Music is the beating
heart of Irish life. Within these
establishments the happiness of the
people makes you feel Irish. The
night is so enjoyable that it feels too
short. That is why people who come
to Dublin for a week might stay a
whole lifetime. But, there’s more,
the city centre also has its welcoming
Cafes, to enjoy a good Italian
coffee. There are French bakeries to
taste croissants without missing the
French recipe. Incredible! Dublin
reunites Europe, Asia, Africa and
America. This new found diversity
catches you and in just days you
can make friends from all over the
world.
make the best gourmet burgers in town
and the staff are charming. I love the music
there and, along with a top selection of
beers, it’s the best place to go for classic
burgers in Dublin. Freebird Records, on
Wicklow Street (near Grafton Street),
sells New and Second hand books, vinyl
records, CD’s, DVD’s and other items of
interest. The staff are professional and
friendly with customers and it’s a great
place to pick up some great music whilst
browsing, always in a pleasant atmosphere.

irish history
‘A History of Ireland in 250 Episodes’
By Jonathan Bardon (Gill & Macmillan)
Reading this book was simple
enough. Short episodes (none
lasting more than a few pages)
help the reader get a grip on all
the chief events, and much more,
in Ireland’s rich history. Jonathan
Bardon’s book starts off in the Ice age
and finishes with the O’Neill-Lemass
meeting of January 1965. In between
the rich tapestry of Irish history is well
chronicled, through the centuries.
I have always had a love of history,
particularly Irish history, so reading
this book was an absolute pleasure. It
is geared towards the average reader,
not just students of history.
The episode concerning the rebellion
of Silken Thomas interested me
as I had read about Thomas during a
visit to Leinster House, as a child. The
wreckage of the Spanish Armada was
also logged. We learn of the terrible
conditions the invading Spaniards had
to endure as they tried to avoid destruction
off the west coast of Ireland.
Sadly many perished.
Further on in the book, centuries later,
the reader is taken to the historical
yeah 18
conflict in Northern Ireland. There is
an episode about the Peep o’ Day Boys
and the Defenders. The Peep o’ Day
Boys were Protestant and the Defenders
Catholic. The hatred between
the two groups is awful to read. This
bitterness, sadly, continues in that
part of the island of Ireland to this day,
despite the political advances in what
some call ‘the peace process’.
I often think that history is romanticised
by many. It is nice to see the
quaint pictuwess wholesome. Battles
are written of, by Historians, as if
they were reporting football matches.
What we forget is the vicious and cruel
nature of life that was commonplace
in our past. ‘A History of Ireland’ does
nothing to challenge the romantic
nature of history but it does go into the
detail of the subject.
There are some interesting facts that I
was unaware of until I picked up this
manuscript. For example I never knew
that the policy of having a secret ballot,
at all elections in Ireland, was only
introduced in 1872. This in my view
was pivotal in allowing nationalism to
Oldbridge House/Battle of the Boyne Visitors Centre, Co. Meath
prosper. Up until then landlords knew
who their tenants voted for. As soon as
the people were able to vote in secret,
the Liberals and Conservatives lost any
grip they had in Ireland. The secret
ballot was to usher in profound change
– a fact I didn’t learn in my secondary
school history classes.
Obviously every event in Irish history
is covered in Bardon’s easy to read
book. He writes on the Battle of The
Boyne, another crucially important
part of our heritage – not just the
preserve of Northern Protestants. ‘The
Castlebar Races’ and the several rebellions
in 1798 are well covered. The
Union of Great Britain and Ireland,
signed into law in 1800, also features
in the book. Daniel O’Connell’s successful
efforts in achieving Catholic
Emancipation are included. Bardon
also reports the development of rights
for Ireland’s Catholics over the years in
this rather fat book.
The course of Irish nationalism and
the trenchant opposition from Unionists
is written of. It was interesting for
me to discover that Charles Stewart
Parnell was only 45 when he died.
Moving towards the end of the book I
read a lot of what was familiar to me.
Bardon, who was born in Dublin and
now lives in Belfast, has produced
a fine piece of work. It should be
recommended to students studying
Leaving certificate Irish History, as
it contextualises the subject wonderfully.
After reading the book I wanted
to start again and as a handbook it is
difficult to beat.
By Ian Callagy
The Garden of Remembrance, memorial garden in Dublin dedicated to the memory of
“all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom”
MassafelliPhotography.com
Weddings Events Product Pictures Music
Do not let a great time in your life go blank,
a good picture can guarantee this memory forever
MassafelliPhotography.com
+353 (0) 877714668
Massafelliphotography@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/tato45/sets
www.facebook.com/MassafelliPhotography

stuff entertainment
Discover coll new stuff
for your home, life, office
and beyond!
yeah 20
For Adventurers for Fun
Black XS L’Exces for Her by Paco
Adidas Tango 12 Euro
Rabanne is a Oriental Floral fragrance
for women. This is a new fragrance,
2012 Soccer Ball
Black XS L’Exces for Her was
launched in 2012. The nose behind
this fragrance is Emilie Coppermann.
Top notes are neroli and pepper;
middle notes are jasmine, rose and
night blooming cereus; base notes are
vanille and cashmere wood.
Pentax Optio WG2-GPS
Pentax has announced a brace of new
tough camera, the Pentax Optio WG2-
GPS, which pack in a host of features
for those that like to abuse their pocket
camera. The camera is waterproof
(12 meters, IPX8), dustproof (IPX6),
happy in the cold (down to -10C) and
crush proof (100kgf), 16-megapixel
back-illuminated sensor, offering a
top ISO of 6400, 5x zoom lens built
in, offering 28mm at the wide end and
140mm at full zoom. You get Full HD
video capture and a slow motion option
if you accept a drop in resolution.
An HDMI will let you hook-up to the
big screen to share your snaps
and movies.
£ 349. 99
(UK)
NEW
€ 445. 00
The Adidas Tango 12, which has been
developed over a two-year period, underwent
two rigorous types of testing
- qualitative player testing, which was
conducted across eight different countries,
using players, federations and
clubs from both elite and grass roots
football, and quantitative lab testing,
which concluded that the Adidas
Tango 12 meets and exceeds all FIFA
Approved Standards for an Official
Match Ball making it the most tested
ball Adidas has ever produced.
€ 150. 00
for Him
Tissot Visodate
(IRL)
(IRL)
This modern Visodate has been styled
after Tissot’s original Visodate model
from the early 50′s. The Visodate is a
classic dress watch in a modern size
(40mm). The silver dial is perfect
and the 40mm case is very practical
and should wear larger thanks to a
very thin bezel design. The silver dial
should suit a black strap as easily as a
brown option so the Visodate can be
as dressy as you want it to be.
for Her
Black XS L’Exces
Paco Rabanne
€ 62. 00
(IRL)
Samsung O Table
The portable kitchen hob, is available
in multiple colours and has already
grabbed an IF design award for its
looks. The device is controlled using
what Samsung calls a “groove touch
pad” which you can draw a circle on to
control the thermal output of the hob.
Clever pan detection technology and
boil pover preventative gadgets are
all commonplace in this formidable
portable cooker.
No price yet
for Kitchen
NEW
AVALIABLE
SOON
CINEMA
Marvel Avengers Assemble
Marvel Studios presents the Super
Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring
iconic Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk,
Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and
Black Widow. When an unexpected
enemy emerges that threatens
global safety and security, Nick
Fury, Director of the international
peacekeeping agency known as
S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of
a team to pull the world back from the
brink of disaster. Spanning the globe,
a daring recruitment effort begins.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr. | Scarlett
Johansson | Samuel L. Jackson |
Gwyneth Paltrow | Chris Evans
In cinemas: 26 Apr 2012
CONCERT EXHIBITIONS WORKSHOP
Madonna
Madonna 2012 World begins on May
29 in Tel Aviv, Israel, before hitting The
Aviva Stadium on July 24. Dublin is one
of 26 European cities where the pop
superstar will perform along with shows
in the US, South America, Australia and
Canada.
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
When: Tue 24 Jul 12
Tickets: from €54.65
+Info: www.mcd.ie
The Human Body Exhibition
Definitely one of the most exciting
exhibitions to come to Dublin this year.
This incredible exhibition showcases
carefully dissected specimens to provide
a view into the miraculous way the
body functions and gives visitors the
opportunity to see exactly what lies
beneath their skin.
Where: The Ambassador Theatre, Dublin
When: Feb until April 2012
Tickets: Adults €20/ students and O.A.P’s
€16/ children €12/ family ticket €56
+Info: www.mcd.ie
Social Media – Beyond
Facebook
This workshop is for you if you already
have your business up and running on
Facebook and feel you should be doing
more on other social media channels or
if you are not using social media enough
in your business and need to know more
about it.
Where: The Regency Hotel, Swords,
Dublin 9
When: Tue 29 May 12
Fee: €60.00
+Info: www.failteireland.ie
yeah 21

campus
Nui Maynooth
More than 200 years of excellence
Following two centuries of internationally
renowned scholarly
activity on the Maynooth campus
the National University of Ireland,
Maynooth was established under the
1997 Universities Act as an autonomous
member of the federal structure known
as the National University of Ireland.
With approximately 8,800 registered
students from over 50 countries, NUI
Maynooth has 26 academic Departments
which are organized into three
Faculties - Arts, Celtic Studies & Philosophy;
Social Sciences and Science &
Engineering, which offer programmes
from undergraduate to doctorate levels
in a range of disciplines including the
traditional humanities, music, education,
media studies, psychology, basic
yeah 22
sciences, social sciences, computer and
electronic engineering.
Building on a tradition of scholarship
and excellence in all aspects of its
Teaching and Learning, and research
activities, within the liberal arts and sciences
tradition NUI Maynooth is committed
to being a first class research-led
centre of learning and academic discovery.
Situated 25km west of Dublin,
it is located in Ireland’s only university
town, Maynooth, which combines the
historical legacy of its medieval origins
with a present day location on the
fringes of Dublin, adjacent to the Irish
and European headquarters of many
multinational high technology companies.
It offers a student-friendly environment
providing world-class teaching
and research facilities and courses,
while still retaining a uniquely friendly
and personal atmosphere. The spacious
campus is laid out in its own extensive
grounds in rural surroundings, and is
divided between an older complex of
fine nineteenth century buildings and a
modern complex of teaching, research,
accommodation, and support facilities.
Research activity is central to the mission
of NUI Maynooth. The university’s
Research Charter provides the
institutional framework for developing
research activities while the Office of
Research and Graduate Studies operates
a range of supports for researchers.
Across many specialist fields, the university
has won an international reputation
for the standing of its research
expertise in areas as diverse as immunology,
agroecology and space technology.
International Students and Campus Life
The International Office is dedicated to
providing a supportive environment for all
international students during their time
at NUIM, from providing information and
answers to your questions during the application,
visa and immigration processes, to
organizing specific orientation activities and
support for international students when you
arrive, and providing on-going activities and
support services during the academic year.
Support services available to students’ oncampus
are coordinated by the Student Services
team, which oversees the Access Office,
Medical and Counselling Centre, Residence
Office, Career Guidance and Academic
Advisory service, Crèche, Chaplaincy and
Students’ Union. On-campus facilities also
include accommodation, restaurant, excellent
sports facilities, a swimming pool and a
new library extension which will double the
size of the existing building. There are also
over 150 active clubs and societies, providing
many opportunities for students to get
involved in social, cultural and sporting
activities.
So if you’re considering studying in the
emerald isle it is worth your while to check
out the university website- www.nuim.ie- for
more info.

Contacts
Ricardo Lúcio
+353 0 871524669
Raffael Abarca
+353 0 863367879
Sign up for
4 months
and get 1
FREE

postcard
With more than 8 centuries
of history and great
cultural diversity, the city
of Galway, located on the
west coast of Ireland, is
illustrated here as our first
tourist destination.
To commence our journey
through Ireland we choose the
city of Galway. Located in the
province of Connacht, the city has its
shores running alongside the Atlantic
Ocean and is also a city divided by the
river Corrib. According to a census
conducted in 2006, the city contains
80,000 inhabitants – however this
number is constantly rising as Galway
is an industrial and university hub for
the western region.
The city is known as the Cultural Capital
of Ireland, with a great atmosphere
of culture alongside its streets which
are filled with artists and street performances
during the summer season.
Eyre Square, which lies right in the
heart of the city, is a favorite spot for
tourists and local residents alike.
Leaving the square and heading towards
Merchants Road offers tourists
a variety of options that the city has
on offer, such as musicians and street
performers who share the same space
yeah 26
Galway
the cultural capital
of Ireland
photos by Adilson Gandia
with a young and vibrant public. Due
to the large number of educational
establishments throughout the city,
Galway has seen a sizable influx of
young revelers. This has transformed
the small city into what feels like a
metropolis. In 2008 Galway City was
voted as one of the top eight sexiest
cities in the world.
For those who have a preference for
a more relaxed tour, there are several
places of historical interest. The St.
Nicolas Collegiate Church is considered
the largest medieval church, still
in use in Ireland today. Another religious
building standing in the landscape
of Galway city is the cathedral,
an imposing church dedicated to Our
Lady of Assumption.
Nora Barnacle’s museum is a small
museum which opens its doors only
during summer – its collection is dedicated
to famous writer James Joyce.
The building was the residency of
Nora Barnacle who was the writer’s
wife. Another museum of interest is
the Galway city museum located close
to the Spanish Arch, which is well
worth checking out.
Tourists wishing to stay in town will
find several options for accommodation:
from the famous B&B’s (Bed and
Breakfast) to high-end luxury hotel
suites, all of which are located in the
centre of the city close to many amenities
and attractions. There are also
various hostels operating throughout
the city, for those who wish to meet
up with other fellow travelers from
various parts of the world, especially
Spain (to which Galway has strong
ties).
A tour of Salthill is sure to bring
good times to all with a breath taking
view of the Atlantic Ocean, a
beachfront promenade for those
keen on walking, rollerblading or
cycling. Sitting down and relaxing
on the rocks of Salthill is also a
worthwhile experience to take in the
Atlantic air. Salthill is home to the
national aquarium of Ireland, which
houses many different species of fish
and marine life. If you start feeling
hungry, you can choose from a variety
of restaurants, from the tradition of
fast food chain SuperMac`s to many
places specialising in seafood.
Tourists can use Galway City as a hub
branching out to other famous tourist
hot spots on the west coast, such as:
The Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and
the Aran Islands. Several local tour
operators offer package deals for visitors
to see these sites. Now that you
already know a little bit about Galway
city, pack your bags and enjoy this
wonderful destination.
City Info
Population: 73,000 (2006)
Province: Connacht
County: Galway
Radio stations: Galway Bay FM (95.8);
Universities: National University of
Ireland (NUI Galway), Galway-Mayo
Institute of Technology (G.M.I.T)
How to get here: Galway airport
connects with destinations around the
country.
The N17, N18, and N6 take you right
into Galway City. The train and bus
station leaves to and arrives from several
Irish cities.
Tourist points: Eyre square, Nora
Barnacle’s Museum, Galway City Museum,
Spanish Arch, Cathedral of the
Assumption.
Events: Galway Arts Festival (July);
Galway Races (July); Galway International
Oyster Festival (September); Galway
African Film Festival (May-June)
Other activities to enjoy while
in Galway: Walking along the coast
during the summertime and enjoying a
the great entertainment on offer in the
city, found on www.galwaycity.ie - Official
Website of Galway city, complete
guide with information about hotels,
restaurants and many other attractions
on offer.
yeah 27

lackrockstudentaccomodation
Book is now open for
summer accommodation
· Blackrock is one of the most prestigious addresses in Dublin
· Supermarket, shop, take away,
pharmacy/chemist all in the ground floor
· Direct bus routes to city centre/All
south side Colleges and Universities
· Single, double and triple bedrooms with a study point
· Broadband free access
· Caretaker
· There are two fully equipped kitchens with all appliances
· Laundry equipped with washing and drying machines.
Sign Up to your Summer Student Accommodation
today to avoid disappointment!
Special offers for colleges and agents
Free laundry Free Wi-Fi
Newtown Park Avenue
Blackrock Co. Dublin
5 minutes from the
bus stop (45, 7, 4)
Rooms
available
from
^_^
=
1 st
of June
10 minutes from
Dart station
info:
+353 (0) 87 352 2524
accommodation@yeah.ie
yeah.ie/accommodation
F
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
Web
developer
A Web developer is a term that can refer
to an individual or a company that
provides services to build and maintain
high-end websites. The skills of a Web
developer are more expansive than
that of a webmaster, who might be a
simple end-user utilising ready-made
scripts to patch together a personal
website. A Web developer is generally
capable of writing custom scripts to
accommodate a client’s needs, and is
either professionally trained in, or has
ample personal experience working
with various scripting languages.
A Web developer builds a Web presence
from the bottom up, fashioning
everything from the home page to
site layout and function. A good Web
developer takes into account the client’s
products or services along with
the target market to create a website
that will have specific appeal to that
market. The site should also showcase
the products or services in such a
way that is not only promotional, but
dynamic, stressing the advantages over
the competition.
What
does a web
developer do?
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6
The Web developer must also make
sure that forms work properly. Various
scripting languages exist in which
to create surveys, contests and sales
mechanisms — the means to securely
transfer information between visitors
and the website. Browser settings for
cookies and scripts can hamper the
proper functioning of some Web forms.
A Web developer takes all of this into
consideration so that when a visitor
fills in a form, they are sure to get satisfaction,
and not have the form “hang”
or “reappear blank” upon clicking the
“Send” button. A site that is broken
doesn’t bode well for business.
In many cases today Web developers
are firms with teams of professionals
that specialise in different areas of Web
development and online commerce.
While the humble webmaster is a
good fit for yesteryear’s websites, and
continues to work for smaller sites, a
corporation desirous of a custom Web
presence and slick applications written
with the newest scripts utilizing the
latest technology are best served by a
qualified Web developer.
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Job oportunities
>_<
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According to John Lappin, our IT Specialist,
who for the past 10 years has
been working as a contractor for Microsoft
Ireland, the IT Job Market has
been flourishing for years in Ireland.
Most of the well-known multinationals
are based in Ireland and there is an
ever increasing demand for IT Skills.
These include: Applications developer,
Database administrator, Games
developer, IT consultant, IT sales
professional, multimedia programmer,
Multimedia specialist, Network engineer,
Software engineer and Systems
analyst to mention a few!
A wide range of institutions in Ireland
provide third level education in related
areas, as well as vocational education
and training. Now that you know what
it looks like to be a Web Developer
remember, when choosing a course, to
think about which subjects interest you
and the type of qualification you want
and which style of studying suits you
best. Good luck with your choice.
yeah 29
J
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F

special
WWOOF originally stood for “Working
Weekends on Organic Farms” and began
in England in 1971, when Sue Coppard,
a woman working as a secretary in
London, wanted to provide urban dwellers
with access to the countryside, while
supporting the organic movement. Her
idea started with trial working weekends
for four people at the bio-dynamic farm
at Emerson College in Sussex.
People soon started volunteering for
longer periods than just weekends, so
the name was changed to <strong>Willing</strong> <strong>Workers</strong>
on Organic Farms, but then the word
“work” caused problems with the labour
yeah 30
WWOOFING
around
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, also
known as “<strong>Willing</strong> <strong>Workers</strong> on Organic Farms”,
is a loose network of national organizations that
facilitate placement of volunteers on organic farms.
laws in some countries and the immigration
authorities, who tended to confuse
WWOOFers with migrant workers. So
as to both eliminate that problem and in
recognition of WWOOFing’s worldwide
scope, the name was changed again in
2000 to World Wide Opportunities on
Organic Farms. Some WWOOF groups
chose to retain the older name, however.
As of 2010, 50 countries had a national
WWOOF organisation.
WWOOF in Ireland
WWOOF Ireland is a voluntary, educational
exchange based on trust. By
Newsletter, September 2010
becoming members, volunteers from all
over the world can arrange placements
Carraig Dúlra
with host farms in Ireland (including
Northern Ireland) to learn about organic
growing and sustainable lifestyles.
There are currently 355 subscribed host
members in Ireland and the number
of WWOOFers has now reached 1,914.
France and the USA send the most -
around 750 from both nations, which is
far in excess of any other countries. The
next highest, at the moment, is Spain
with about 130 WWOOFers dwelling
temporarily in the country.
Meet the WWOOF Ireland team
Yeah! - Can you describe the typical
profile of a volunteer that attends
the program in Ireland?
Annie pretending to dig in Sweden
For a better
understanding of
WWOOF, we spoke
to Annie King,
the Manager and
Coordinator of the
organisation in
Ireland.
here at the end of the phone, so that
we can be contacted by anyone if they
need any help with anything, as well as
emails, which are checked most days.
Yeah! - How many weeks on average
do the WWOOFers spend attending
the program in Ireland?
Annie King - Really there is no ‘typical’
WWOOFer - many are students taking
gap year, others are of that age, but
the average age of WWOOFers is now Annie - We do not have statistics on
around 30 years old I believe - there are this, as all the placements are arranged
more mature people coming WWOOF- directly between the host and the
ing nowadays, and last year our oldest WWOOFer, but from my own experi-
couple were 84 and 79!
ence as a host I know it can vary greatly
Yeah! - Does the WWOOF program
in Ireland provide any kind
of assistance for the WOOFer’s
when they arrive in Ireland?
- I think the shortest stay I had was 4
days and the longest was 2 and a half
years! Mainly it is around 2-3 weeks,
sometimes longer if the WWOOFer and
the host both want to extend. Some
hosts specify they only want short term
Annie - We try to provide support at
WWOOFers (2 weeks or so) others
What's inside? all times, before they have arrived as
specify they would like people who can
well! On the website we list the ‘Newest
Meet the team
stay for a few months.
Meet the hosts Hosts’ so that WWOOFers can apply to
Conference reports A WWOOFer's reflections them if they are having trouble finding Yeah! - What type of daily activi-
Immigration Issues
Conference Reports placements as the new hosts will not be ties are the wwoofers involved in
Book Reviews so full up. Also we have a notice board so on the farm?
The Way ForwardFrom
top-left...
that WWOOFers can put up requests for
Putting up a Polytunnel The original barn
Sebastien placements and and Christine hosts if building they have walls space, Annie - This can be so variable, and will
WWOOF Ireland is a member
What's inside? which helps the WWOOFers finding depend on the nature of the activities
of Volunteering Ireland, Arno the gets technical
The way ahead national agency for Arno places having in busy fun times or at short notice. If of the host. WWOOF hosts come from
News round-up volunteering in Ireland
Putting the WWOOFer on the slates
Tales from the field
is coming from outside a variety of backgrounds and with the
Book reviews This newsletter is also The the completed EU we can 'WWOOFer provide documentation
House'
main criteria being able to teach about
Newsletter Spring 2012
Swapsters available on www.wwoof.ie
World
where members may Francis for a new and Lay WWOOFers Volunteer Pascale, Visa which Christine was and organic Sebastien
The WWOOFer Wide House
growing and sustainable living
Opportunities comment on on issues raised.
Organic
WWOOF Farms Ireland is a member only introduced last year and means the they range from farms to individuals,
of Volunteering Ireland, the
national agency for WWOOFer can have an extended stay. families, commercial producers, co-
European WWOOF coordinators
volunteering in Ireland
Jenny, Scarlett and Annie
We also are introducing Regional Repoperatives or communities including
This newsletter is also available
on www.wwoof.ie where resentatives, hosts who are contactable centres for yoga, crafts, arts or spiritual
members may comment on
WWOOF Europe conference Czech Republic
issues raised
I joined the WWOOF Ireland team as the website administrator
in May 2011 and was invited to attend the conference
WWOOF more International locally to help conference, provide a Korea more
At the end of last September Annie and I headed off to Heathrow
personalised to meet up with our service. travelling And companions we are fromalways
pursuits.
Newsletter, April 2011 World
Wide
Opportunities on
Organic
Farms
photos by wwoof.ie
Welcome to our new look newsletter! It's been a year and a half
since WWOOF Ireland was re-formed and we now have over 300
hosts from all over Ireland, and more than 2070 WWOOFers
from 36 different countries all working towards a greener, more
sustainable future! The newsletter is an opportunity to see what
has been achieved and reflect on where we go from here.
World
Wide
Opportunities on
Organic
Farms
Inside the WWOOF Ireland team reveal a few details about
themselves and Annie explains how the whole thing started –
rather by chance, it seems! Hosts from around the country
describe their experiences – it's always fascinating to hear about
the many different projects people are involved with – and
Claudia Green gives an insight into her very personal
WWOOFing journey. One issue that has caused a few problems
Welcome to the spring newsletter and a chance to catch up with
is immigration. what's happening Tim in Mackie the very busy describes world of his WWOOF! traumatic A few first
encounter statistics with to put Irish it in perspective immigration - since but WWOOF.ie acknowledges started that he
arrived operating during in February a transition 2009 more time. than Annie 11,000 gives people the have current
situation registered which an account is much on the more website. optimistic. We welcome There on are average also reports
750 visits a day and the busiest month ever was January 2011
on recent conferences, in particular the growing popularity of
when there were 26,617 visits! Over 2100 WWOOFers from 38
Grow countries It Yourself were members (GIY) Ireland. at the end Reviews of January of recently this year. published
The
books number of special of hosts relevence has also risen to - Irish peaking gardeners at 360. The should new prove
interesting joint/family reading. account Annie has also sums proved up popular by looking with 190 at subscribers the way
forward since last for November WWOOF when Ireland. it was One introduced. idea that needs to be
considered is that of Host Representatives - regional hosts who
Worldwide, WWOOF also continues to thrive. 120 countries now
are appointed to be ports of call should there be difficulties.
support WWOOF hosts. 57 of these have a national organisation –
Although Greece being the WWOOF the newest! Ireland team are always available for
help and advice, sometimes you need someone who is available
locally. The WWOOf Annie team describes continues possible to strive options to make and the looks organisation forward to
opening vibrant, up dynamic, discussion. sustainable and useful. Two areas that need
immediate consideration are the structure of WWOOF as a legal
entity and the introduction of Regional Host Representatives.
This Peter is very outlines much the an possibilities introductory but we newsletter would very much and we like welcome to
ideas, know thoughts your opinions and and contributions welcome your concerning feedback. Annie future and editions.
Happy Jenny WWOOFing! describe some Amanda of the events in Clarke, the relevant Czech editor to Republic WWOOF that with have Annie as a way of educating
been happening locally and worldwide, myself about including the an world update of on WWOOF. The trip proved to be
immigration issues. Several hosts have written in and describe
an excellent way to introduce me to WWOOF’s aims, ideals
their WWOOFing experiences and these are complimented by
some WWOOFers' eye views! and Interestingly the practical both hosts day and to day running of the organisation in
WWOOFers from Sunny Meadow all the Farm different and Carraig European Dúlra wrote countries. in
independently – both parties thoroughly enjoying and benefiting
We stayed with our hosts, Vojtech and Lenka, who run
www.wwoof.ie
Annie King
Annie King is Manager and Co-ordinator. She
explains how she first became involved with
WWOOF, eventually going on to form WWOOF
Ireland.
WWOOF UK and WWOOF Independents on our way Seoul,
Korea. Also travelling with us was Sue Coppard, the
founder of WWOOF who was attending as part of WWOOF
40th anniversary year celebrations. Due to the very detailed
directions from WWOOF Korea we quickly found their
WWOOF office. Here we were welcomed with such
yeah 31

cover story
Ireland
the land of a hundred
thousand welcomes
By Silvia Bernal
Ireland is a small
country, but there’s a
staggering amount to
see and do. The country’s
compact size makes it
easy to travel around,
and the easygoing locals
live up to their reputation
as being one of the
friendliest people in the
world.
yeah 32
photos by wikicomons
Who has not, at some moment
in their lives, thought of
studying abroad?
Almost everyone, whether it be to go to
University, learn a language or a student
exchange.
As such Ireland, in the last few years,
has become a place to meet thousands
of students of every nationality and
culture. Dublin, in particular, has transformed
itself into a cosmopolitan and
photos by W. Massafelli
intercultural space. It is not uncommon,
especially when one is recently arrived,
to hear someone say that they have
heard more than ten languages spoken
in the same place. Just walking through
the centre of the city is to see the diversity
in the faces encountered. Students, of
varying nationalities, live together with a
shared enthusiasm to learn about and to
discover a new culture, a new land.
The reasons for coming to Ireland are
many and varied: short term stay-over
to learn a language, student exchanges,
or longer stay to receive an academic
grade. Language schools, institutes and
universities open their doors to international
students offering a wide range of
courses, academic and non-academic.
There are very many options, from the
Sciences and the Social Sciences in
recognised universities such as Trinity
College (TCD), University College
yeah 33

cover story
Dublin (UCD) and Dublin City University
(DCU). Also of great importance are
the arts and music, where students can
be introduced to this land of important
poets such as Oscar Wilde, authors such
as James Joyce or recognised musicians
such as U2. Learning English is
another reason why Ireland has become
a favored destination for international
students. Time spent in Ireland can lead
to the perfection of a second language,
where one encounters a diversity of colloquial
accents or an Irish phrase such
as “What’s the Craic?”
A voyage of the Irish Culture can be embarked
upon. Certain student communities
choose to come to the ‘Emerald Isle’
for the country’s rich historical heritage.
Olaia, a student from the Basque Country,
said that she chose Ireland, because
the country represented, for her, a
history of struggle and for recognition
of the Irish people, along with friendly
relations between the two cultures.
For non-European students this also
represents a possibility to get to know
Europe and to have a stay unencumbered
by bureaucracy, both long and
complex, required by other nations in
the European Union (EU). This is especially
true when applying for a student
visa. For students such as Fernando
from Bolivia, this signifies an opportunity
to both work legally and study in
Europe. Ivan from Brazil and Dajung
Lee from North Korea consider Ireland
a good option from the point of view of
costs and prices when they decided to
study abroad. For all three, Ireland represents
a bridge for travel within Europe
and the opportunity to meet new people.
Finally Ireland is, and shall remain
for many students, synonymous with
hospitality, tolerance and coexistence of
cultures and languages. This Gaelic land
now provides a variety of faces, strange
voices and varied lifestyles. The popular
phrase, in the Irish language, “Céad Míle
Fáilte!” sums up Ireland as the land of a
hundred thousand welcomes!
photos by Silvia Bernal
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yeah 36
St Patrick’s Day
More than half a million people packed
Dublin city centre on 17 March last as the
annual St Patrick’s Day parade got under
way. Every man, woman and child - whether
from India, Nigeria or Brazil - could call
themselves Irish for the day as they enjoyed
the colours and sounds of the nation’s favorite
holiday.
yeah! / massafelli photography
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