The magic of the wilderness

This time last year I was on the opposite end of the planet, studying abroad in Perth, Australia. I was packing a duffel bag consisting only of essentials in preparation for an 11 day camping trip into the heart of the Australian Outback.

 I didn’t know what to pack as I had no idea of what to expect, my sole nugget of knowledge regarding the outback stemmed from horror movie ‘Wolfcreek’ where a deranged farmer abducts four backpackers, tortures them and kills all but one who escaped to tell the tale. The fact the film is based on a true story and that the famer has never been caught did little to calm the nerves.

Looking back on the trip exactly one year on I can safely say it was the most enlightening experience of my life to date. Take 28 students, all aged in their early 20’s, cram them into two military grade ‘busses’ with no air conditioning and relieve them of EVERY form of technological communication for the bones of two weeks and it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I cannot emphasise enough how far from the truth that presumption was, in fact it was the best thing that could have happened to us!

Cards became a currency on the trip

Without iPads, iPhones, laptops, tablets etc. everyone was left with no choice but to interact with each other, with people they had previously known and people they had never spoke to before.

When a group of people are taken out of their comfort zone and dropped into a situation like this  the outcome is incredible. Liberated from the constraints of our technological society it is almost like everyone received a new lease of life. In the absence of technology we were forced to revert to old methods of entertainment, games, quizzes, storytelling etc. This resulted in everyone becoming closer and forming a tight knit bond, copious amounts of cheap alcohol every night may have also contributed but you get the picture.

Travelling from campsite to campsite you could nearly see the spirit of the group grow as any lingering cobwebs of everyday life disappeared after two to three days. Small things like helping a neighbour erect their tent, or helping to prepare and cook dinner became important. Everyone was there for each other and willing to lend a helping hand.

One of many amazing pools-Karijini National Park

When a group of people form an exclusive group like this and travel in complete isolation for a lengthy period of time the bond that is formed is very hard to describe. Having no contact with anybody outside of the group, let alone the rest of the world was the most amazing thing that could ever happen. It forced everyone to come out of their shells and interact. It was as if, for those 11 days, we were living in a bubble and felt untouchable.

I have always been a keen travel enthusiast but this trip was special. Never before have I seen or met such an amazing group of people, whether that was down to the fact that nobody could really afford to isolate themselves from the group, or if it was all down to the fact we were 2,000 kilometres from any major city, I’m not sure. Perhaps the fact we got to visit some of the most scenic and beautiful places on the planet had something to do with it.

What I do know is that not one single person felt down or homesick on the trip, every second of it was cherished by all. It just goes to show what can happen when we take a step back from the monotonous daily routine of life and embark on an adventure outside of your comfort zone in the company of complete strangers.

Monkey Mia dolphin sactuary

Amazing views at Shark Bay

St. Patrick's Day celebrations!!!!

ATV biking through sand dunes

Just before our guide had to deal with a snake invasion!!

When are we going to be able sit in a waterfall again?

Experiencing some incredible terrain

Our shower for the day

The outback in all it's glory.

The customary campfire

Enjoying a natural waterslide!!!

The only stop for 450km!!!

FIFA-The not so beautiful game

FIFA and their head honcho Sepp Blatter are no strangers to controversy. Wherever Blatter raises his head trouble is always close by, be it homophobic comments, his controversial view on racial abuse or the countless accusations of bribery Blatter is never too far from the limelight.

His running of FIFA has transformed the organisation from an already untrustworthy organisation into a downright corrupt circus. As if their reputation had not been tarnished enough in recent years, the latest farce of awarding the staging of the 2022 World Cup Tournament to oil rich Qatar was the final straw for many people.

People may not be happy, but in time would come to understand, if the World Cup had been awarded to a developing country that is football mad. However to award the tournament to a country that boasts a national team that would struggle to compete in the league of Ireland and whose interest in football rivals the Irish publics in cricket is an absolute farce.

But wait, that’s not even the worst bit, FIFA have awarded the World Cup to a country who treats migrant workers, those constructing the stadiums for the tournament, like slaves, with reports of 18 hour shifts, the confiscation of passports, and worst of all, on site deaths due to lack of safety and extreme exhaustion. I’m sorry Mr Blatter and Co but the reek of bribery emanating from the sealing handshake could be smelt in every corner of the globe.

Qatar is having to build everything it needs for the tournament, from stadiums to hotels, from scratch and is spending $100bn on the project. The Guardian newspaper recently conducted a surveillance project in the region and uncovered evidence of forced labour and conditions amounting to slavery on the huge infrastructure project. "The overall picture is of one of the richest nations exploiting one of the poorest to get ready for the world's most popular sporting tournament," said the paper.

If you need more convincing all you need to do is take a look at the comments from Blatter himself in the wake of the announcement. From the second the announcement was made allegations of wrong-doing, bribes and backroom deals surfaced. A whistle-blower from within the Qatari bid team came forward with claims of corruption, but later recanted.

But three years after the vote Blatter himself, bizarrely revealed to a German magazine there had been "direct political influence" in the vote. Why? Because some countries had major economic interests in the country, he claimed.

The final concrete piece of evidence is the case of former FIFA board member Mohammed Bin Hammam. Within months of being awarded the 2022 World Cup, Qatar's representative on FIFA’s executive council, Bin Hammam, had been banned from the game for life in the wake of a huge corruption scandal revolving around the 2011 FIFA presidential elections.

Blatter is pictured here with the disgraced Mohammed Bin Hammam (right).

 Bin Hammam was the main challenger to Sepp Blatter, but his campaign came off the rails when he and several other high profile figures, including Jack Warner, president of the Caribbean Football Union were accused of trying to buy votes. Qatar insists Hammam was not involved in its World Cup bid, but his demise and more general allegations about how FIFA operates have done nothing to dispel the fog of suspicion around the decision.

Calls for the tournament to be boycotted will ultimately fall on deaf ears due to the amount of money at stake however isn’t it about time the respective FA’s of Europe at least hold Blatter and Co responsible for bringing the game into disrepute and effectively turning it into a corrupt business primarily concerned with profit?

The Resurgence of Irish Rugby-How Joe Schmidt has already overseen a mini revolution.

What a difference a couple of months can make in the world of sport, and rugby in particular. Just over twelve weeks ago the much discussed ‘resurgence’ of Irish rugby was viewed by many to be dead and buried before it had even begun. The appointment of former Leinster coach Joe Schmidt was supposed to be the first page in another illustrious, successful chapter of Irish rugby. Schmidt’s tactical prowess and attention to detail were heralded by many as the missing piece in the jigsaw, and his appointment was viewed as a signal of intent by the IRFU regarding the shifting emphasis of the game towards technical skill rather than brute force.

Preparations were put in place and the stage was set, but unfortunately for Schmidt, the leading actors failed to deliver and Ireland crumbled to a disappointing 32-15 defeat to Australia on November 16th. It was the first instalment of a high profile double header featuring the Wallabies and their Southern Hemisphere neighbours New Zealand. Tackle after tackle was missed in an error strewn display after which the team and management received heavy criticism, particularly after reports surfaced claiming a number of the Australian panel enjoyed an alcohol fuelled night on the tiles in Dublin only days before the game. The signs were ominous, predictions for the following week’s game against the Kiwi’s concerned only damage limitation, any talk of an upset was essentially non-existent.

The future of the provincial sides was also plunged into doubt. The French and English sides reignited their seemingly annual debate regarding their futures in the Heineken Cup, albeit with their latest threats to pull out of Europe’s premier club competition appearing slightly more credible. The state of the game took a further blow as rumours of an exodus of Irish stars tempted by the riches dangled in front of them by numerous Top 14 teams gathered momentum. Leinster stalwarts Sean O’ Brien and Jamie Heaslip were reported to be following Irish teammate Johnny Sexton to France, with Toulon and Clermont Auvergne waiting with open arms, and wallets. While scrum half Conor Murray was also stalling on over a new deal with the IRFU and Munster amid interest from Toulouse and Bayonne.

The culmination of below par performances, the precarious future of the Heineken cup and the possible departure of the country’s finest talents all contributed to an air of gloom and despair that surrounded Irish rugby. Such an attitude is, at any time, unwelcome, but on the eve of a clash with the powerhouse of world rugby bidding to become the first national side to go a calendar year unbeaten, timing could not have been worse. Surely a drubbing was the only potential outcome…

….We all know how that went….

That monumental effort against the All Blacks proved to be the springboard that has launched Irish rugby on an upward quest of redemption, and transformed them from the ‘nearly guys’ back to genuine silverware contenders. That performance seemed to instil a self-belief into the Irish players that they were indeed good enough to rub shoulders with the best, and come out on top. Almost immediately memories of previous sloppy displays were erased, Schmidt breathed a deep sigh of relief and Irish rugby was suddenly re-energised.

Two weeks later and round three of the Heineken Cup proved to be one of the most successful in recent memory for the four Irish provinces as all four produced scintillating displays. Munster, Leinster and Ulster all registered bonus point victories, and all had 30+ points to spare, against French, English and Italian opposition respectively. However, it was Connacht who stole the show as the Westerners recorded their finest hour in the South of France, toppling four time tournament winners Toulouse in their own backyard. The resurgence of the provinces continued to gather momentum and the best was saved for last. In a week which saw Munster and Ulster clinch home quarter final spots, and Leinster an away one, news broke that O’ Brien and Heaslip had not succumbed to the temptation of the Mediterranean and resigned with Leinster and the IRFU, while Murray committed his future to Munster. The perfect tonic in the lead up to the Six Nations.

The opening encounter with Scotland was as expected, gritty. Encouraging individual displays prevailed as Ireland slowly found their feet and pulled away from our Celtic neighbours. They did what was expected of them with minimal fuss and dispatched the Scots with relative ease, 1/1. While the performance did not hit the heights of the New Zealand game there was ample evidence of improvement and another was rung scaled in the ladder to perfection. Expectations were rising ahead of the encounter with Wales.

And what an encounter it was. Described by pundits as the best eighty minutes of Irish rugby in recent memory it represented a remarkable transformation and turnaround for Schmidt and his coaching team from the lacklustre display against game Australia. Ireland’s ‘Achilles heels’ of recent years, the scrum and lineout, were suddenly the platforms from which we generated numerous penetrative attacks. Indeed it was the maul that laid the foundation for both Chris Henry and Paddy Jackson’s touchdowns. The Welsh were simply choked and seemed to be devoid of ideas after a quarter of the game. The intensity the Irish brought to the breakdown was second to none as Wales struggled to retain possession on numerous occasions. A comprehensive win that not even the most fanatical Irish rugby fan could have predicted.

The circle is almost complete, just shy of three months to the day when ‘that game’ lifted the spirits of a whole nation.

Before that All Blacks game nobody had dared imagine we would be here today, a couple of hours before kick-off in Twickenham, two from two in the Six Nations, on the cusp of claiming Irelands first Triple Crown since 2009. The past three months have certainly seemed like somewhat of a rollercoaster but one thing is for certain; when this crop of Irish warriors appear to have run out of steam, when they find themselves in the face of adversity they somehow always manage to turn that adversity into opportunity and rise to the fore once again. Win lose or draw today the turnaround of the past three months is still an incredible achievement for Schmidt, his backroom team and obviously the players. But of course, it would be all the more sweeter to see Brian O’ Driscoll and Paul O’ Connell raise the Triple Crown high above their heads in the centre of Twickenham pitch this evening, after eighty blood, sweat and tear filled minutes of adrenaline and emotion we have become so accustomed to see this team display over the past decade. And maybe, just maybe, we can then start to dream about a Grand Slam

Limerick property prices remain stable

According to a report published recently by property website Myhome.ie, property prices in the Limerick area have stabilised somewhat during the second half of 2013. The report revealed the median asking price for a property in Limerick City remained unchanged in Q3 of 2013, and stood at €145,000. In the year to Q3 2013, the annual rate of decline in Limerick City was 9.4 percent.

There was a decline however in the median asking price of a property situated outside the city as the median asking price of a property in Limerick County fell by 1.9 percent, to €157,000. On an annual basis, the rate of decline in Limerick County continues to moderate, declining by 10.3 percent in the year. The report also revealed it takes an average of six months for a property in the county to proceed to the sale agreed stage.

A trend can be seen in the movement of prices between three and four bedroom properties, with the median asking price of a three bed semi-detached property down 2.4 percent in the third quarter to €145,000. The median asking price of a four bed semi-detached property also fell by 2.2 percent to €175,000, over the same period of time, representing an annual decline of 7.4 percent.

When quizzed on the issue a spokesperson for Limerick based firm Hickey O’ Donoghue Auctioneers claimed he: “expects the median asking price of properties in the county and city to increase over the forthcoming year as they have hit rock bottom”, he added that it was: “impossible to estimate what the rate of increase will be” but hopes we will see a gradual increase.

In relation to the gap in prices between properties located in Limerick city and county he added: “The gap gives a false perception of the average asking price of a residential property in Limerick as the majority of properties selling in the city are commercial outlets financed by investors”.

On a national scale the report shows the annual rate of decline is now 7.8 percent. In Dublin the mix adjusted price increased by 0.9 percent this quarter. The national mix adjusted asking price is now €190,790 and €240,064 in Dublin.

The pace of decline has eased to its lowest level in almost six years, with the mix adjusted asking price nationally falling by 1.4 percent in the quarter.

The secret paradise La Graciosa

Where on earth is that??

La Graciosa is the smallest inhabited Canary Island and lies approximately 2 kilometres off the northern coast of Lanzarote and covers an area of 27 km².

A map of La Graciosa and the tracks that bisect it.

The Canary Islands are widely recognized as the ideal getaway destination for those longing to escape the burdens and stress of everyday life. While the Islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria are instantly recognized, the majority of travel enthusiasts and holidaymakers are unaware of a hidden gem only a stone’s throw away.

The serene haven of La Graciosa is one of the few places in Europe there are still no tarmac roads as the island is dissected by a series of sandy paths and tracks. To this day the island has remained unspoilt, concealed in the shadows of it’s more popular sister islands and has, thankfully, not yet fallen victim to the scourge mass tourism.

It is part of the Parque Natural del Archipielago Chinijo, a reserve of the Biosphere and Marine Reserve of which protects it's natural, underdeveloped beauty.

Desert: There are no tarmac roads on the island, only sandy tracks.

Before I recount my experience of visiting the island here is a bit of background. The island of La Graciosa is home to a population of around 500 residents and was unhibated until nearly the 19^th century due to the presence of marauding pirates. The main town is Caleta del Sebo, but there is another residential area, further up the coast called Pedro Barba.  It is rumoured that many of these islanders have never set foot off the island of La Graciosa, they survive primarily on their fishing industry and secondly their tourism industry.

Caleta Del Sebo, the port town of La Graciosa

 Many of the children stay at residencies on Lanzarote during the week to attend school and the island has a rota for a doctor from Lanzarote to stay a month at a time. Any urgent medical cases are airlifted to hospital or met off the ferry by an ambulance. Due to the fact there are no tarmac roads, they only way to traverse the island is by 4x4 vehicles or bicycyle.

The island also boasts a rich literary history. Treasure Island, the popular children’s book written by Robert Louis Stevenson, is said to be based on an incident that took place in the 1760s on La Graciosa.

During the 18th Century, many ships and trading vessels bound for the West Indies would pass through the Rio Straits, which run between Lanzarote and Graciosa. On one occasion, a British ship dropped anchor there, laden with spoils from a battle at sea.

Not realising that a pirate galleon had trailed them, the sailors managed to reach land and bury their treasure before the buccaneers stormed ashore. However, the British crew was hopelessly outnumbered. They were soon captured and tortured by the pirates in order to force them to reveal the whereabouts of their hoard. But they stayed tight lipped and died without revealing their secret.

Unbeknown to the pirates though a cabin boy managed to escape, making his way over to Lanzarote, from where he managed to board a ship to England. He only revealed the secret location of the buried treasure on his deathbed. To this day some people still believe the treasure is buried beneath the rugged landscape of La Graciosa.

Enough about the past though, it’s time to reveal what the island itself has to offer.

La Graciosa is a haven for those who like to explore. You can wander the island and find new spots everyday, often meeting very few people on the way.

It is literally the perfect destination for people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the “real” world, a place to relax and appreciate the nature surrounding you with its beautiful mountains, incredible beaches, and its crystal blue waters.

The island is accessible via a daily ferry service that departs from Orzóla. Once there, ensure you have all you need for your day on you as once you leave the boundaries of the Caleta Del Sebo there are no facilities or services.

 In terms of which direction to take you have a number of options. You either walk to the left and enjoy the beaches at Playa Francesa or Playa de La Cocina and Montaña Amarilla or hire a bike from and head for Playa de Las Conchas, through the centre of the island and head on to Pedro Barba on your way back.

Alternatively you can try persuading one of the local 4x4 drivers to drop you at the far side of the island and either come back for you or walk back for your ferry.

I opted for a bike and travelled the aforementioned route through the middle of the island towards Playa de la Conchas on the north-west coast before following the route around to Pedro Barba and back down to Caleta Del Sebo.

Paradise: The amazing Playa de las Conchas.

The experience was nothing short of breathtaking, cycling through the sandy, dusty tracks of Caleta Del Sebo, it felt like I had been transported back in time, there was no traffic, no pollution no anything, just a small number of buildings and local residents going about their daily lives. It was like a snapshot of history.

Pedro Barba, the smaller residential area.

Once out of Caleta Del Sebo all you have for company are the eagles who fly ominously low as you pray you don’t fall victim to a puncture. Navigating the sandy, rugged terrain it felt as if I was not on the same planet anymore, such is the contrast between La Graciosa and anywhere else I have ever experienced. The feeling you get from the realization that you may be the only person within a certain radius cycling around a desert-like island is somewhat surreal. It triggers a surge in happiness and is almost represents a release from the clutches of normal society and the real world.

An aerial view of the island from Lanzarote.

 The most apt comparison I can think of that resembles La Graciosa stems from the hit book and movie “The Beach” that see’s Leanardo Di Caprio and two fellow backpackers embark on an adventure in search of a mysterious island community off the coast of Thailand, severed from the real world.

It truly is an amazing place and I hope it remains the way it currently is for a long time to come.

Ryanair-Love them or loathe them?

Why does everybody despise Ryanair and Michael O’ Leary? That is one question I simply cannot wrap my head around. The sheer amount of negative publicity the man, and the airline, receives is bordering on ridiculous. Never in my entire life have I seen an airline, or nearly any company for that matter, receive so much negative press from the media and public.

People base their judgements on the obvious arguments, “Oh don’t fly with them, they’ll drop you 100km from where you thought you were going”, or maybe the old “I thought the flight was 10€ but ended up paying €150 because they never told me” or the classic “I got charged €50 at check in because I left my boarding pass at home”.

All the above excuses have one element in common, an element that is representative of the current generation, sheer and utter laziness. People expect a whole lot to be done but with minimal effort and if the results aren’t what they expected then it’s someone else’s fault of course, never their own.

I have the utmost respect for O’ Leary, building practically the most profitable airliner in Europe from scratch and not batting so much as an eyelid at anyone who directed criticism his way in the process. I am extremely grateful to O’ Leary for without his innovative and pioneering method of running Ryanair I would not have been lucky enough to set foot in half of the European cities I have visited.

Ever since I first set foot in sunny Spain as a kid I have been fascinated by travel, eager to fulfil this innate desire to experience somewhere new almost the minute I stepped off the plane back in Ireland. This desire grew with me as I grew older and again I was lucky enough to enjoy frequent breaks to mainland Europe. I guess I could also consider myself somewhat fortunate to have been raised in the ‘Celtic Cub’ era when travelling abroad for a short break on mid-terms was just the normal thing to do.

It is these opportunities, made possible by Mr O’ Leary that I owe for striking me down with the travel bug. Had I not had the chance to of experience different cultures at a young age I may not have decided to take the plunge and relocate abroad for six months in both the Canary Islands and Australia respectively. The only aspect that bothers me about both is I cannot choose which six months was the best of my life.

The message I am trying to convey is that there is limitless opportunities to be exploited if people would take a moment and stop expecting everything to be laid on a plate for them. They are missing out on these opportunities simply because they are too lazy to go that extra step and put in a little effort to read what service is provided.

Ryanair are well described by one of the oldest phrases in the book, they are a company that do exactly what they say on the tin and you get precisely what you pay for. People need to mature, take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming others, in this case Ryanair, for their errors in judgement and mistakes.