Journalism — Leave a comment
05
Jun 13

The Boilerhouse: a HIV melting pot?

This investigation was conducted in May 2013 as part of my dissertation for my MA in Journalism which asks why gay men are still contracting HIV.

Perhaps in an effort to protect its clientele, The Boilerhouse does not specify what service it provides. Image credit: Brian Byrne

Perhaps in an effort to protect its clientele, The Boilerhouse does not clearly advertise the service it provides. Image credit: Brian Byrne

Located down a side street at one end of Temple Bar, the Boilerhouse doesn’t draw attention to itself. With its conservative two tone paint job and sliding sash windows, the five storey building could easily be the back entrance to one of the bars or restaurants it sits beside. Next to the unassuming blue front door, a polished metal sign on the wall lists the opening hours, but nothing else.

The Boilerhouse website is equally nondescript. A welcome message on the home page offers a sole explanation: “Only three minutes from all gay venues, the Boilerhouse offers a safe, friendly and relaxed environment for all our visitors.”

Continue reading →

Journalism — Leave a comment
01
May 13

Waiting for the call: my first HIV test

First published in The Irish Times on May 1st 2013.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

‘If your results are positive, we’ll call you within one to two weeks. If not, you won’t be contacted,” the doctor told me before she took a sample of my blood. I wondered how on earth I could go the next couple of weeks not knowing whether I was sexually healthy.

But I’d never known. I was aware that if you’re sexually active you’re supposed to get regular Sexually Transmitted Infection tests, and like many I’d been meaning to get one for a long time. I’m a gay man, so I’m at high risk for STIs such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and the big one – Human Immunodeficiency Virus. But I’d kept making excuses.

Continue reading →

Journalism — Leave a comment
23
Apr 13

News report voiceover sample

This is a news report about Ireland’s introduction of metric speed signs in 2005. I was provided with a series of clips which I edited; I then scripted, recorded and added my voiceover to create the completed report.

Journalism — Leave a comment
22
Apr 13

Opinion: Were we misinformed about the panel of doctors, or was Reilly?

James_Reilly_February_2011

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

This past weekend a rumour surfaced that Health Minister James Reilly’s draft abortion legislation would ask pregnant women at risk of suicide to prove to a panel of doctors that they are suicidal enough to deserve an abortion.

The complaints came thick and fast, but none more scathing than those made by perinatal psychiatrist Dr Anthony McCarthy on today’s Morning Ireland, who called the proposal “some sort of sick joke”.

Continue reading →

Journalism — Leave a comment
09
Apr 13

Judge Judy says gun control supporters are “just blowing smoke”

judge judy

Jude Judy speaks to the press before her appearance at University College Dublin. Image credit: Brian Byrne

Judge Judy has said she doesn’t believe President Barack Obama’s proposed gun control legislation will do enough to control gun violence in the United States.

“If you think a guy who is hell bent on robbing you at gunpoint at 3 o’ clock in the morning is not going to be able to find a gun to do it, you are living in some sort of fantasy world,” she told students of the Law Society at University College Dublin this evening.

Continue reading →

Journalism — Leave a comment
08
Apr 13

Travelling forward

First published in Gay Community News in 2011.

Gay travellers face double the discrimination from both within their community and without. But things are slowly changing for the better, as Brian Byrne finds out.

Read the full article here.

Journalism — Leave a comment
08
Apr 13

DCU students diagnosed with TB ordered to remain off campus

tumblr_inline_mkn3xvl9k21qz4rgp

Image credit: Brian Byrne

A nurse at DCU Health Centre said two Dublin City University students who became infected with non-contagious cases of Tuberculosis (TB) were ordered to spend a month off campus to start treatment.

Nurse Jesse Byrne said: “They won’t be able to return to campus unless a consultant confirms they are non-infectious.”

Following treatment those infected usually become non-infectious after two weeks, but must remain on medication for a total of nine months.

Anyone in conversational distance with those infected for more than ten hours over four months was invited by the Health Service Executive’s TB Unit to attend health screenings at the DCU Health Centre last Tuesday and Friday.

150 Dublin City University staff and students are currently DCU undergoing testing for the virus.

According to information leaflets distributed by the HSE to the “in contact” group, prolonged close contact with an infectious case of tuberculosis increases the risk of become infected, but infection rates are between only one and three percent.

Continue reading →

Journalism — Leave a comment
08
Apr 13

Engineering Society disbanded following anti-social behaviour at mystery tour

First published in the UCC Express on February 14th 2012. Click here to read the full article.

Journalism — Leave a comment
08
Apr 13

Estimated €10-15,000 in damages caused to College Road household

First published in the UCC Express on February 14th 2012. Click here to read the full article.

Graphic Design — Leave a comment
07
Apr 13

T-shirt design

dan-and-phil-featured

T-shirt design entry for contest run by popular British YouTubers DanIsNotOnFire and AmazingPhil.

Continue reading →

← Older Entries