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Yearly Archives: 2018

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She may not have won Love Island, but Megan Barton-Hanson has truly won over the hearts of the public with her honesty about her past.

Taking to Instagram, Megan opened up about just how quickly her life has changed in the space of a year. She bravely shared her mental health struggles in the touching Instagram post: “How times have changed! This time last year I was in really a bad space. My anxiety was at an all-time high and looking back now I can see I was actually depressed.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Megan Barton-Hanson (@meganbartonhanson_) on

Megan admitted she felt like her life was going nowhere. Her dreams felt like they were out of reach, but fast forward to 365 days later and her life has completely changed for the better.

She gushed about attending the TV Choice awards in a dress designed especially for her by Julien MacDonald.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Megan Barton-Hanson (@meganbartonhanson_) on

She encouraged her followers to keep going no matter how hard life is for them: “I can’t quite believe that so much can change so quickly. If you’re feeling shitty today just know that everything can change.”

Megan’s honesty about her mental health issues will reassure her followers by showing them that things do get better, even when you feel like they won’t.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Megan Barton-Hanson (@meganbartonhanson_) on

"Just because you aren’t where you want to be it doesn’t mean you aren’t going to get there,” she wrote.

Megan stressed the importance of believing in yourself. “Stop being afraid of aiming high, stay focused on goals and most importantly try to enjoy the journey of getting there.”

“Sending you all love and huge thanks to everyone believing in me and helping me get to where I want to be.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Megan Barton-Hanson (@meganbartonhanson_) on

Megan praised her boyfriend Wes who has been there for her since they left Love Island: “I love and appreciate you more than you know. Have a great day everyone. Dream big!” she added.

Megan’s positivity is simply infectious. Her upbeat and encouraging words have really lifted our spirits this morning.

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We were elated when the handsome and genuine 'good guy', Ryan Thomas, was crowned the winner of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.

This season, as always, was packed with heightened drama, especially after the Roxanne Pallett scandal.

The only thing that got the Coronation Street star through the whole ordeal was the love and support of his family.

He was moved to tears when he received an encouraging letter from his brother Scott while he was in the Big Brother house saying, “You’ve shown the nation just how amazing you really are.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ryan Thomas (@ryanthomas84) on

So, when the CBB winner finally got to return home to see his family, he was overjoyed.

Ryan shared a heartwarming video of him picking up his daughter from school for the first time in weeks.

Little Scarlett is overwhelmed when she sees her father outside her school. She throws down her backpack and runs to him, shouting happily: “Daddy, daddy, daddy!”

Wiping away tears, Ryan embraces his nine-year-old in a bear hug and refuses to let go.

The two cling to each other with so much love, unable to stand how much they have missed their special father-daughter bond.

Commenting on the emotional reunion, Ryan writes “complete” with a heart beside it. During his time away, the dad has felt as if a part of him was missing.

The former Corrie actor also posted an adorable photo of his daughter smiling down at his baby niece, Elsie Rose.

Photo Credit: Instagram/@ryanthomas84

He could not believe how much his little niece had grown in the time he had been gone.

We are so happy that Ryan is finally reunited with his family, and we can't even with how cute this doting dad is.

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By Amy Donohoe

All traffic came to a halt in Dublin’s city centre yesterday evening as protesters sat down on the intersection of O'Connell Street and Parnell Street.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the building where activists were removed Tuesday night by Gardaí. Five people were arrested due to the incident, and many activists suffered reported injuries and had to be hospitalised.

The activists were occupying this building for the last two weeks, despite the High Court ordering them to vacate the premises. A Facebook page: Take Back The City – Dublin, urged activists to “Please get down to Store Street Garda Station for rally in solidarity with three arrested activists”.

Shane De Rís, Trinity Student Union President said; "The housing crisis is having a detrimental effect on all sectors of Irish society, with young people and families among the most vulnerable. Young people today are part of a generation whose future is at risk as we are being priced out of homes, education, and livelihoods."

"The on-going peaceful direct actions and protests are a manifestation of the anger and frustration young people across the country are feeling. The inaction from the government and ruling classes has forced students and activists to take action into their own hands.”

He continued; “The arrest and subsequent hospitalisation of the Trinity student during peaceful protest must not be tolerated. The abusive treatment of those detained and the actions of the masked security sent to evict the occupiers from the property must be condemned at every turn. We stand in solidarity with our student and the other peaceful protesters arrested."

After 25 days of protesting, the housing activists were removed from the vacant house at 34 North Frederick Street by a number of men wearing balaclavas, who reportedly arrived in an white van with a UK registration plate, according to a Take Back The City Statement. It is believed that were hired as private contractors by the landlords, according to our reporter. 

According to occupiers, the property had been left vacant for the last three years.

Gardai have been criticised as images of them on social media emerged of them with their faces covered whilst standing in front of the building during the eviction. A garda spokesman said that their "only role in the proceedings was to prevent a breach of the peace", adding that the "eviction itself was peaceful."

'Take Back the City' released a Facebook press statement saying: 'It is important to highlight that, as the security firm sent to enter the building contravened the … legislation, An Garda Siochana therefore defended an illegal activity and arrested activists who opposed this illegal activity.'

And yesterday evening, the property was occupied with banners and posters hanging from the windows. Protesters chanted the slogans; “this is why we have to fight, housing is a human right.”, “Homes for people, not for profit”, “People not profit” and “Leo Leo Leo, Out Out Out.”

The Rubber Bandits have been actively posting about this campaign on social media, they tweeted; “Concerned about working people stuck on a Luas? Which is a greater inconvenience? This protest? Or Extortionate rent? Do you know how many workers that are inconvenienced by jobs they hate rather than jobs they love? Because of high rent. This protest is for everyone in Ireland.”

Many students have been a part of the #TakeBackTheCity movement, Síona Cahill President of the USI (Union of Students in Ireland) said; “Students are being locked out of education, with accommodation the single biggest financial burden on students, even before our student fees – which are in fact the second highest in Europe.” 

Speaking to a DCU student at the event, she said; “Essentially I attended the demonstration today to express my frustration with the government's approach to the housing crisis in general. Furthermore three young people were brutally attacked last night by masked thugs while they were peacefully protesting while occupying a building – we live in a democracy , that can't be tolerated and as a young person I feel like we are generation that now have to fight for our future.

With work so precarious, wages not moving and rents soaring – everyday feels like things are getting worse for us but better for those with a home. The boom is not back for under 35s in Ireland.”

Cahill encourages everyone to “Join us on October 3rd as part of national call to action in Dublin. There is a crisis. It impacts people across the country, students and local communities alike, and we need your visible support.”

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Vogue Williams refuses to let the haters get her down and has made a fire argument against their judgemental accusations.

The young mum recently documented her first photo shoot since having her adorable baby and was immediately faced with critical comments.

Tired and frustrated, the Irish model took to Instagram to respond to “the parent shaming”.

“So many messages about going back to work yesterday.” The mum responded calmly and with tact, laying out five points to invalidate their accusations.

“1. It’s my choice and I feel happy to.

“2. I’m not fully back to work yet. It was one shoot.

“3. I only intend on taking jobs where I can have my baby with me as I’m breastfeeding so we shall be glued together for a few months.”

Vogue felt forced to defend her decision to take on a job after becoming a mum, highlighting the fact that she will of course always put her baby first.

“4. I don’t get maternity leave in my job so I’ll obviously be going back sooner than others.

“5. Let’s not start the parent shaming already, he’s eight days old and a VERY happy, loved baby.”

The 32-year-old also announced the debuting of her new documentary series “Vogue: Is Monogamy Dead?” on RTÉ, where she will be investigating the practice of monogamy in the modern day world.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by voguewilliams (@voguewilliams) on

Unfortunately, critics have already started messaging the TV personality, deeming her resumption of her career inappropriate for just having a baby.

But Vogue refuses to take the heat, quipping back at the judgemental comments and reminding them that it is her choice to make this call.

The fierce mum says that the photo shoot was the best option for her and her family. Congratulations on your return to work, Vogue, and fair play to you for defending your parenting decision. 

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By Kate Brayden 

First and foremost: let’s get something out of the way. Noah Centineo is the internet’s new boyfriend and if you disagree with that then i’m sorry but we just can’t see eye to eye.

Now to the matter at hand… MAJOR SPOILERS INCOMING! You have been warned. If you’re looking for a film you can sit on the couch with your fluffiest pyjamas and possible hangover, that is precisely what this movie can offer you. What this film cannot offer you, however, is a decent moral compass, or a lesson in consent.

It goes without saying that the talent of the cast is noteworthy (hello, Peter Kavinsky from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, we see you and we appreciate your existence). Shannon Purser plays the lead role in this Netflix romantic teen comedy, and shows off her singing voice during the film with a charm that adds to her actor’s repertoire. Purser is mostly known for her stint as Barb in the sci-fi Netflix hit Stranger Things, which earned her a surprise Primetime Emmy award nomination in 2017.

Noah Centineo continues to fuel our hormones to dangerous levels in his second Netflix rom-com in a matter of weeks, and yet this effort lacks the simplistic sense of fun in comparison, mainly due to the Catfish narrative that weaves its way through Sierra Burgess. It’s hard not to want to like this film, and there’s no doubt it makes for entertaining viewing primarily because of its talented cast of three-dimensional characters, and yet the unrealistic ending taints the protagonists’ likeability.

@ShannonPurser Instagram

The movie itself is at least trying to give the audience the themes and messages that resemble the John Hughes cinematic vibes of the 1980’s, except they tend to fall flat when the person we are meant to root for conspires to deceive someone into dating them. Shannon Purser as Sierra Burgess is cast as the “ugly duckling” (let’s pretend she’s not absolutely beautiful for a hot second, Hollywood’s idea of non-conventional beauty is literally laughable) and the mean girl, played excellently by Kristine Froseth, plays a trick that gets the ball rolling.

By giving Noah Centineo, A.K.A. Jamey the Magnificent and Emotionally Intelligent Jock, Sierra’s phone number, it connects the two characters, who begin texting. Naturally, Sierra falls for Jamey, because who wouldn’t, despite the fact that he thinks she is a beautiful cheerleader named Veronica. She is then left with the choice of whether or not to reveal her true identity.

RJ Cyler deserves a shout out as Dan, the best friend of Sierra and a scene stealing icon. He has the wit of the perfect sidekick, but honestly the boy should have his own movie, or at least a Netflix comedy special.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by kristine_froseth (@kristine_froseth) on

The movie does well by giving the ‘Mean Girl’ Veronica layers to her background. Living in a turbulent home with a beauty pageant obsessed mother who has issues with her own self esteem, Veronica’s life is more miserable than her outer appearance lets on at school.

Sierra persuades Veronica to help her continue to text Jamey under the radar, and in return gives Veronica tutoring lessons to appear more intelligent for her (ridiculously toxic) college boyfriend.

Their burgeoning friendship would be a huge positive if not for the fact that Veronica and Sierra are literally catfishing a teenage boy who has no idea that he is calling, texting and sending shirtless photos to a girl he has never met before, and thinks she is someone else entirely.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sierra Burgess Is A Loser (@sierraburgessisaloserig) on

It’s hard to deny that if Noah Centino and one of his mates had conspired to change their identities to get a girl, would the audience still feel comfortable watching it? Maybe I’m just hyper protective of the internet’s newest boyfriend, or else 2018’s TimesUp movement, has made watching the betrayal of his trust into a hugely negative experience.

Another problematic aspect to the film is the numerous jokes made about Sierra and lesbianism, as well as the scene involving pretending to be deaf in front of Jamey’s ACTUALLY DEAF younger brother. Yes, you read that right. In 2018, when acting roles are still shockingly slim for members of the ASL community, the (anti)heroine genuinely impersonates deafness in front of the love interests’ deaf brother, and yet the movie still has an ending where Jamey somehow is unbothered by this.

The phrase ‘plot hole’ doesn’t even begin to describe that. America’s Next Top Model and Dancing With The Stars winner Nyle diMarco slammed the movie for this very reason:

 

@NyleDiMarco Twitter

It’s worth remembering that the internet is a dangerous place, and social media is not always a tool for positive change.

Sierra Burgess for example hacking into Veronica’s instagram and playing havoc with her emotions is another viral betrayal of trust that sends messages the movie doesn’t appear to have intended to send out. While they attempt to convey that body positivity and self-confidence are the subliminal messages, the dominant theme appears to be to protect yourself from your phone.

This is why the ending really dampened the film for the viewer. After being catfished by someone who literally hid undercover beneath your car, who hacked someone’s Instagram as revenge, who lied about who they were and who Skyped you as someone else, and pretended to be deaf, I highly doubt your instinct would be to kiss that person and take that person TO HOMECOMING.

Now this could just be jealousy speaking, but Jamey deserves better than that. He is a jock who somehow made playing football sound deep, has an emotional range and doesn’t judge people based on their looks. He must be protected at all costs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Just a Noah Centineo Fan (@ncentineofanclub) on

Alas, even Noah Centineo’s endearing longing gaze and Shannon Purser’s adorable Sunflower song cannot save the ending of this movie from itself. Having insecurities is not an excuse to deceive a person who believes he has romantic interest in your false alter-ego.

Instead of forcing the two leads together into a romantic ending that makes no sense, the movie failed to make female friendships its main focus.

Veronica and Sierra overcame social boundaries of the high school zoo to form their bond, and the finale should have elevated that.

Though the movie tries its best to put forward positive themes of body confidence and self-esteem, the message of taking caution online overtakes them all. Oh and Sierra, maybe go to a class on ethics, you’re kind of lacking in that department…

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The term 'clean eating,' is now one that evokes both eye-rolling and a considerable amount of backlash online. Its devotees swear it's the key to a healthier lifestyle while its critics are quick to point out how unsafe it is to swear gospel to terminology that became a phenomenon on the back of many foodie bloggers and Instagram stories.

Blogger and author Ella Woodward, now Mills, AKA Deliciously Ella is one who knows how fast the tables can turn – she is regarded as the one who spearheaded this, despite never once using the term on any cookbook or product.

She has always affirmed that when it comes to eating healthy and eating well, it's about simple dishes that taste great – and more importantly that you enjoy eating. At the launch of her latest range of products – you'll find them stacked with plenty of healthy food options in SuperValu, she spoke to SHEmazing about self-care, her favourite dishes for a woman on-the-go and why doing this one thing is the key to successfully changing your diet.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Deliciously Ella (@deliciouslyella) on

Tell us a bit more about your latest range of products?

We’ve just launched our energy balls, oat bars, granola and muesli, which we’re so excited about. They’re all made with a few simple plant-based ingredients with a big focus on flavour. Each one is vegan-friendly and gluten-free. 

So many hear the words Vegan or Gluten Free and think that the food will compromise on taste, what advice do you have for someone wanting to eat healthier but is afraid to take the plunge?

Start experimenting with your cooking, adding lots and lots of herbs and spices to everything you do – that’s the key to veggie cooking. It’s not about stripping things back and taking flavour away but celebrating flavour, texture and deliciousness. Try something like our five bean chilli; the Thai curries or a spread with a black rice, piquillo pepper and pistachio salad, roasted aubergine, tomato and pesto salad and sweet potatoes with spring onions, chilli and tahini.​

Many women on-the-go want to eat better and cut out the gluten or eat more plant-based foods but are fearful these type of meals will just eat into their time. Do you have any particular meals or foods that you like to prepare if you're in a hurry?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Deliciously Ella (@deliciouslyella) on

Stews, curries and dahls – they take just a few mins of prep time, they’re so hearty and filling and they’re brilliant for batch cooking and freezing. The recipes in the orange chapter of our new book, The Plant-Based Cookbook, are my go-to’s when I’m busy. Each dish is full of warming, toasted spices; hearty veg, potatoes and beans; lots of creamy coconut milk and so much flavour. The Tuscan bean stew, cauliflower lentil dahl with dried apricots and the Thai curries are such winners in our house.

Tell us about your self-care routine – how important do you think it is to have one?

Looking after myself is really important, as we work 14-15 hours a day often seven days a week, so I need all the energy I can get! Yoga is a big part of this, I practice every morning before my day starts and it really helps me create a positive headspace – I absolutely love it, it’s magic for my mental health.
If you're planning to kick-start a new diet change, what are your top tips?   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Deliciously Ella (@deliciouslyella) on

For anything to be sustainable it has to be enjoyable, so find things you love and don’t be too hard on yourself – go slow and steady and think about what you’re adding in not just what you’re taking out.    

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September 12 2012 completely changed the landscape of online dating, when a pair of entrepreneurs launched an app which would connect millions upon millions of potential couples. 

Facilitating hook-ups, true love, long-term relationships and the occasional unsolicited WhatsApp dick pic, the app revolutionised the prior preconceptions people had about dating online. 

Tinder brought online dating right to our phones, making it more accessible and user-friendly for the millennial generation – and on the 6th anniversary of the app's launch, we're reflecting on six tales of wow and woe when it comes to the app. 

Terror:

'I've had more horror stories than good when it comes to Tinder, but the one that almost put me off for life (almost!) was when the guy in question met me outside the restaurant and quickly explained he'd "had one or two" in the pub across the road to calm the nerves. This was fine. Dutch courage, I get that. But the whole evening was quite bizarre. He kept insisting that I looked like I wasn't having a good time and would I prefer to just go home now? I thought, up to this point, that I had been very chatty and pleasant – I was doing most of the talking! Then our food arrived. He quickly said the food wasn't great (I had recommended the restaurant, so…opps?) and then proceeded to eat the spaghetti – with his fingers. No, I'm not kidding.

Then, dessert time. I politely say I won't have another but would he like a coffee? He says I'll just order another. No, not a drink. An entire bottle of wine. Which he drank. To himself. He stumbled out the door and down the stairs (I don't know how we both didn't topple down and kill ourselves) and to the bus stop, while I wearily went to get a taxi and thought, 'Never Again.' – Anonymous

'As a single-mum taking on the dating scene, I don’t have much time to waste. Friends gave me a gentle nudge to dip my toe back into the water by trying online dating – let the hunger games begin. First off, 90 percent of men, once they found out that I birthed a child, disappeared. Secondly, I was very selective with who I chose to go on a date with, as organising a babysitter (thanks mum), and going out – is very much a luxury for me, so I wanted to make sure I would have a good night. Whilst I did have some success with it and met one incredible guy, we all know you’re here for the ugly – so let’s cut straight to it. I get asked to drinks by what seems like a relatively nice guy, we had spoken for a while and I got those good vibes.

However, the day of the date, I find his Instagram – cue 10,000 shots of him topless – okay, we get it – you’ve got abs to die for. My gut was a little worried about my find, but my brain talked myself around in still going for a scoop (BAD CHOICE). When I finally meet ab guy; the funny, charming and talkative guy online, had nothing to say for himself. I am usually quite talkative and am comfortable around people, but his silence threw me entirely – out came my word vomit and here commenced the digging of the grave for this date. I got more and more nervous to WHY ON EARTH this guy wasn’t saying a word, despite asking him a million questions. – Was it nerves? Shyness? Or was it me? After four hours straight of talking myself into several holes; he announced he was leaving. – Probably one of 30 words he said all night. – THANK THE LORD. BUT WAIT: He INSISTED on walking me to the Luas and thatten-minutee wait for the tram was torture. It’s fair to say we never spoke again, but the moral of the story is to always find their Instagram first and always pick coffee, never a drink for a first date. – That way you don’t waste as much time and you can make a faster escape. The strong and silent type might be for some, but this was unbearable.' – Sorcha 

'Tinder is great for the old ego boost but trying to get an actual IRL date locked in was harder than trying to choose a random movie to watch on Netflix. Too many choices involved and no one willing to make any kind of commitment. This date was different though. He was Brazilian and new to Ireland, and new to Tinder for that matter, so before he could know any better I suggested we meet for a drink and he suggested ‘Tomorrow?’ Sold.

The next night dressed in Penneys best, I found myself in JT Pims (a great first Tinder date bar) waiting for my potench new Latino lover to arrive. He walked in beaming from ear to ear, enveloped me in a bear hug and offered me a drink before legging it to the bar. I settled into my seat excited for what I hoped would be hours of fun and flirting.

Two hours later I was making my excuses to leave, but not before he told me that his heart was melting for me, he wanted us to travel around Ireland together, and that he could see himself falling in love with me. He bought me a rose and kissed my hands all over and up my arm and told me I was the most amazing woman he had ever met. ‘Um, I’ve got to go now’ I said edging towards the door, worried that at any moment he would propose or cling to my feet like in some over the top Disney movie. By the time I got home he had liked every single one of my Insta pics dating back five years and had sent me five messages trying to lock in another date. Block. Unmatch. Thanks but no thanks. Back to the drawing board….' – Ariana

True Love:

'Despite having very little faith in dating apps, I met my last boyfriend on Tinder. Well, not strictly speaking. I moved in to a new apartment with my best friend, and to celebrate, we decided to throw a housewarming party and invite everyone in the building. I knocked on the door of the girl who lived directly below us, and she agreed to attend our little soiree, so long as she could bring her boyfriend. 

By the time she and her man arrived, we were all already half cut, and while I thought her beau was cute I paid him little attention knowing he was spoken for, instead investing my time in the makeshift karaoke station we had set up (aka, an open laptop perched on the kitchen counter with lyrics videos playing on YouTube, using a hairbrush and a wooden spoon as mics). We had a quick, polite conversation on the balcony having a cigarette, and that was it – I promptly forgot about him after waking up the next morning with a pounding head and no voice from screeching The Kooks songs all evening. 

A few days later I was on Tinder swiping away, and got a message – 'Hey Sarah, how have you been keeping?' After a bit of confusion over the messages' familiarity, I quickly realised who it was and immediately had a crisis of conscious after he asked me for a coffee, wondering was I about to embark on a passionate, ill-fated affair with my downstairs neighbour's boyfriend. However, we went for that coffee, he informed me that they had broken up the night of the party after I presumably seduced him with my tone-deaf rendition of The Darkness'  I Believe In A Thing Called Love, and we dated for two years. Without happening upon me on Tinder, he never would have found me as he only knew my first name. We didn't work out, but I do have Tinder to thank for connecting me with my favourite ex-boyfriend.' – Sarah 

'Okay, so I moved across the world to study in the magical, Emerald Isle. But I swear my only focus was on studying and travel. There was no room in my life for a man. At least that’s what I told myself. But after a few weeks of loneliness and some late night chats with my roommate, I decided to give the Tinder app a try – for the fun of it. It was a good compromise. I told myself to go on some dates but not have to make a commitment I’d leave behind when I returned home at the end of the year. Then one day, a guy I had matched with sent me a joke out of the blue. Curious for the punchline, I messaged him back and found myself in bits at his reply. If you know me, you know that I love a good cheesy joke. Im talking pure dad-joke material. They’re my favourite. And this total goofball was full of them.

It went on like that for weeks, I think. I found myself looking forward to his texts. This guy, mind you, was shown in those carnival-sized sunglasses and a feathery boa in his profile picture. Fast forward, to a night out in town when we were talking longer than usual and discovered we were both in town at pubs right beside each other. He asked if I wanted to meet up and I agreed, after a few beers in me.'

My heart thumping to the blaring, cringe music in Dicey’s I found him looking for me. And he was wayyy hotter than that dorky picture on Tinder. He claimed Americans couldn't drink more than the Irish, and that was it. My competitive nature took over as I proved him wrong. (We still argue to this day over which one of us won). We spent all night together, talking and laughing amidst the crazy chaos in the club. And we’ve been inseparable ever since, surviving long distance and all the other stuff that came our way for two and a half years. Who knew Tinder was the modern-day Cupid?' – Anonymous

'My first Tinder date was the best one I ever had. It was with the Dutch courage of several few whiskeys in my local that I sent the simple, ''we should meet for a drink'' before he had even messaged me. After my initial disappointment that he wasn't tall, we spent the following four hours talking, drinking, flirting, smoking – it pretty much went by in a haze of tipsy splendour. 

What followed were a few months of being inseparable, but my J1 and summer in Boston were looming so we decided to split. It was a lot harder than I thought and after a goodbye letter/email/Skype, I remember sitting in a cafe down the road from my new apartment in Boston, trying to catch the shitty rays of Wifi and crying noisily into my phone to him.  We didn't make it, but I'm smiling even now as I'm writing this because it was a happy time. 

Tinder, you might seem like you're full of arseholes but occasionally, after a few whiskeys and a risky message, you come up with a good one.' – Aoife 

 

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Ryan Thomas walked away from the Celebrity Big Brother House a winner, but his time there was marred by controversy. 

Sitting down on The Jeremy Vine Show, the former Coronation Street star was extremely humble and forgiving towards Roxanne Pallett. 

CBB was criticised for its treatment of Ryan during the series, after he was accused of an act of violence by Roxanne, which was vastly exaggerated. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ryan Thomas (@ryanthomas84) on

'I’ve not seen any of that back,' he told the talk show host. 

He described how the incident 'caught us all by surprise, especially myself.'

'That house, when something like that happens, you can become very isolated. As it unravelled it was just nice to have your fellow housemates supporting you.'

In a charitable move, Ryan explained that he felt Roxanne has been through a lot, but that he would not be making it a priority to speak with her. 

'Big Brother makes headlines and sometimes for the wrong reasons and I appreciate Roxanne’s apology,' he said. 

It takes a very big person to forgive someone after something like that – we can only commend Ryan for his positive outlook.  

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So, it turns out if you want to improve your diet, you can forget all about low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free or any sort of restrictive nutrition plan for that matter.

You can improve your diet with a very simple element (and one your granny likely mentioned more than once), and that, ladies, is fibre!

We have all heard that porridge is a healthy breakfast. Indeed, a recent study confirmed the benefits of this Irish favourite as scientists, based at the APC Microbiome Institute in Cork, discovered that beta glucan, which is the fibre found in porridge, could help reduce cholesterol and even body weight. 

The benefits of fibre have been widely documented in the past few years; it has been proved to make you feel full for longer, plays a key role in digestion, in reducing our risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Yet, we are not eating enough of it

According to science, we should aim to eat 30 grams of fibre each day to enjoy all these benefits – weight loss included.

However, a whooping 80 per cent Irish adults are not even reaching 25g a day, which is the European Food Safety Authority recommendation. 

How can I introduce more fibre to my diet? 

Introducing more fibre into your diet isn’t rocket science.

Fibre is only found in foods that come from plants while foods such as meat, fish and dairy products don't contain any fibre.

To increase your fibre intake, the first thing you can do is simply increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals and legumes – all planted-based food, basically. 

What foods are really high in fibre?

Beans, chickpeas and lentils are excellent sources of fibre and should regularly be on your menu, as well as wholegrain or wholemeal bread, rice and pasta.

All vegetables and fruits contain fibre, especially cauliflower, broccoli, squash, apple, pears, berries and leafy greens. 

Another good reason to stick to your five-a-day, or even more… 

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Louise O'Neill's novel Asking for it completely grasped the attention of the country last year.

Not only was the novel a shocking portrayal of the realities of the attitude towards women and sexual assault in Ireland, the novel hit too close to home for many who had experienced similar attitudes in their own lives. 

The book has since been adapted into an on-stage production, which sold out – but it has just being announced that fans of the heart-wrenching novel will have another opportunity to see it played out on stage. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Alina Carroll (@alinacarroll) on

Asking For It is now heading to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin for a strictly limited run.

The curtains will go up from 9th – 24th November, so clear your schedule. 

Tickets are on sale right now, so make sure to snap yours up ASAP. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Louise O' Neill (@oneilllou) on

The novel was adapted for the stage by Meadhbh McHugh and Annabelle Comyn.

Louise O'Neill herself said og the show: 'Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw on that stage. The first act was a whirl of youthful energy and raw sexuality, cut through with an undercurrent of crackling tension,' she told The Irish Examiner. 

'During the party scene, the music felt as if it was pulsating in my veins, my heart racing, and my throat closing up with dread. As the huge screen splintered into broken images, with Emma’s voice narrating the scene, I desperately wished for a way to save her from her inevitable fate. I could hear someone quietly sobbing, and jolted when I realised it was me.'

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We hear a lot about people who have been the victims of the trickery of online catfish, lured into online relationships under false pretences.

But what about the people who have their identities stolen by these online phonies?

The people who have their images, and sometimes the details of their entire lives, stolen and re-purposed for use by a potential predator are at risk.

People who have their images stolen online are put in an awkward and also very dangerous situation.

Accounts using their faces could have been used for anything without their knowledge, from tweeting embarrassing or even defamatory things, to luring people into online relationships. 

This happened to one victim, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The model went viral earlier this year, after the catfish who had virtually stalked her for years photoshopped her face onto the body of popular Instagram model Jessica Hunt. 

She began receiving torrents of abuse and ridicule as people assumed she was the one behind the catfish stunt.

The attractive Irish model noticed that her pictures were being stolen for use on dating sites under the false name Amy Roberts years ago, but the problem quickly spread across all social media platforms. 

"The first I was aware of this user was a few of my followers on twitter and Instagram around two years ago sending me pics of various fake profiles on Tinder and Plenty Of Fish using my pics and the name Amy," she told SHEmazing!. 

"At first I didn't think much of it as they weren't the first to do it and they usually move on and use someone else's images after a while."

However, she later realised that this optimism was sadly misplaced. 

A number of months later, she discovered that multiple Snapchat accounts were stealing her stories and re-uploading them to catfish accounts, which she quickly managed to have deleted.

Then came Twitter, where she discovered an account using her images, which was soon shut down by Twitter moderators as well.

However, Instagram was where the real issues began. 

"I was made aware by so many followers of so many Instagram accounts of this Amy person, all of which when I was notified of I got Instagram to take down."

"The user has gotten smarter over the years, blocking me from their fake accounts and keeping their profile private."

"I now put my social media handles on my images to try to prevent them from taking my images but they just remove them from the images and in doing so blur half the image out or blur the whole of my ear which makes the image look odd but it still doesn't stop naive people believing that it is them."

She has even had someone recognise her in real life, thinking that she is the elusive Amy. 

"I've had DMs from minor celebs trying to talk to me like they know me because this catfish Amy sent them a DM with my image in it and had chats with them pretending to be me."

"I have even had one talk to me in a club like they knew me and called me Amy because they had been fooled by the catfish, they were pretty sheepish once I explained they were duped."

While these ordeals are creepy enough, the worst moment came when the catfish tried to flirt with a famous Youtuber, who posted the messages from the catfish but naming the real woman as the culprit, leading to her being mocked and shamed online. 

"I asked the user to remove it or tell me the account it came from but unfortunately my humiliation was their gain. That image still goes around the internet today with me getting abuse for it while the catfish gets away with their actions," she said. 

This incident was soon followed by the viral snap of her face photoshopped onto online personality Jessica Hunt's body. 

"Each morning when I check social media now it makes me feel sick to find out whether or not I'll be the victim of yet another viral post. I refuse to quit social media because not only do they win but people will never be able to find the original source of the images."

Not only has Amy made a mockery of the girl she pretends to be online, but other people are impacted by the situation, as the Amy persona lures people into false relationships.

"One girl told me how she met 'Amy' on an online lesbian chat room and had fallen for her and was going to move across the world for her only for her to find my account and feel betrayed."

"I've also heard from people who have given this Amy person money only to find out that they are fake. I hate to think that someone could use my image and identity to treat others so horribly and also to think that if they saw me on the street that they would assume that I did this to them and took their money."

"I have no idea to this day who they are, why they are stalking me or what their motives are with their actions on social media," she said. 

"They clearly know I get a lot of abuse for what they do so I personally think it's gone from catfishing to them enjoying setting me up for trouble then deleting their account and watching it all fall onto me. The worst part is that I can't control their actions or what they say online all while pretending to be me."

"I hope one day this Amy person gets bored and moves onto someone else but I feel that this hell they put me through will never end, " she finished. 

While this story may be extreme, it is not an isolated incident. 

For every online catfish out there using someone's photos and identity, there is a victim who is being put at risk through the actions of the catfish. 

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Aimee Connolly has painted the faces of some of Ireland's top stars with her skilled hand, and she has taken to sharing her skills with a generation of up-coming professional makeup artists. 

At a recent Masterclass of her's, hosted at The Galmont Hotel & Spa, the all-star makeup artist impressed us with not just her makeup but her outfit choices as well. 

The MUA donned what could arguably be described as the perfect key piece for nailing this season's most popular fashion trend. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Aimee Connolly – Makeup Artist (@aimeeconnolly_com) on

Leopard print has been all over the high street, and Aimee's long-line dress is a simple and stylish way to tap in to the trend. 

From high street hero store Zara, the classic cut means you can keep wearing it long after leopard print retreats back to the jungle of foregone fashion trends. 

Despite it being a trend print at the moment, it's so classic and reoccurring that there's no reason to banish it once this season has passed. 

Leopard print dress, €49.95, Zara

Coming in just under fifty quid, the dress can be worn with a myriad of other pieces to keep it looking fresh. 

Opt a-la-Aimee and pair it with pointed ankle boots for evening, or try a pair of white runners and a black leather jacket for a NYFW-inspired daytime look. 

The possibilities are pretty much endless with this look. 

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