NUI, Galway Students' Union
Encyclopedia
The NUI Galway Students' Union / Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ, Gaillimh is the representative body of students in the National University of Ireland, Galway
in Ireland
.
the University and elsewhere. Every student who registers at NUI Galway automatically becomes
a member of the Students’ Union on payment of the Student Levy – a total of over 16,000
members. Members are entitled to numerous benefits including representation by the Students’
Union officers, membership of the Students’ Union Club (College Bar) and access to a wide range
of Students’ Union commercial services. The Union also part funds Sin Newspaper
and Flirt FM
. The Union is separated into two entities - the Students' Union Representative side and the Students' Union Commercial Services Ltd.
members and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society”.
Consequently, the Students’ Union sits on various University committees, including the University Governing Authority, which allows Officers to
voice the views of the students to the University authorities. The Union also works with other
local groups and companies to ensure students get the best treatment and deals possible.
The Union’s objectives include providing social, recreational and commercial services for our
members through the College Bar, entertainment events, the SU Shop and other commercial
services. In order to promote the unity of the organisation, the Union also assists on-campus
student groups such as clubs and societies, while simultaneously promoting good relations
between students and staff of NUI Galway.
On a national level, the Union pursues fair and equal access to education for all sectors of the Irish
people, and liaises closely with the Union of Students in Ireland
to work towards achieving this goal. Recent work of the Union has included the organising of a Grant Information Evening in order to help students applying for the Local Authority Grant.
Union, the Students’ Union Executive is the committee that runs the Union on an ongoing basis.
It consists of nine elected members, whose responsibilities cover the whole spectrum of student
concerns from educational issues to accommodation to discrimination and much more.
Of the nine members of the Executive, three are paid sabbatical (full-time) Officers, i.e. the
President and two Vice-Presidents, while the other six Officers work on a part-time, unpaid basis.
At each Executive meeting, the three sabbatical Officers present a report of work done since the
last meeting. The Officers of the Union are as follows:
• President
• Vice-President / Education Officer
• Vice-President / Welfare Officer
• Oifigeach na Gaeilge (Irish Language Officer)
• Equality Officer
• Student Development Officer
• Postgraduate Officer
• Societies’ Chairperson
• Clubs’ Captain
The Executive meets on a weekly basis during term and is also responsible for all detailed
matters concerning the functioning of the Union. Importantly, the Executive Committee is
answerable to the Class Representatives Council (CRC), and, therefore, to the members of the
Union. All nine Officers must present a report of work done to the CRC on a monthly basis.
Students elect their Students’ Union Officers. The term of office is from 1 July to 30 June of the following year.
To be eligible to run for election, you must be a full member of the Students’ Union, i.e. a registered student or current Executive Officer, and receive 20 nominations. Nomination
forms are made available in mid-February and must state the post for which the
candidate is being nominated and the candidate’s name, student ID number and must be
signed by the candidate and 20 (or more) nominators.
Candidates may withdraw from the elections and have their name removed from the ballot
paper by writing to the Elections Committee before 5pm on the appropriate day. Within 24
hours of this, the Elections Committee will publish a list of all validly nominated candidates
who shall contest the election.
The election of the Clubs’ Captain and Societies’ Chairperson takes place at a meeting of
the recognised clubs and societies respectively. Candidates require three nominators who
must be full members of the Union and Club Captains (where the position sought is Clubs’
Captain) or Society Auditors (where the position is Societies’ Chairperson.)
representing every class in the University. The CRC is essential to the running of the Union
and beneficial to the running of the University. It also helps bring students ever more
closely involved with the workings of the Union and the University.
The CRC has proven invaluable to the Students’ Union since it’s re-formation a few years
ago, and is mainly used by the Union to inform students what is happening within the
University and also to get feedback from students regarding any problems, suggestions or
positive aspects they have found in the University.
Members of the CRC also sit on their respective Staff-Student Liaison Committees within
their academic departments, while others are elected as Faculty Convenors (one per
faculty), and represent students’ views at Faculty level.
The CRC also elects the three undergraduate student representatives on the Academic
Council, and appoints students to the Student Health Unit Advisory Group, Computer
Services User Liaison Group and Library User Liaison Group.
The Vice-President / Education Officer is responsible for co-ordinating the CRC and
organising the election of students to represent their classes.
During the RAG Week of 2009 the University issued a statement saying that it would no longer support the Students' Union run RAG week in its current format. The Union remained committed to running the charity week, with over €32,000 raised for charity in 2009.
Founded in 1964 the function of the Union as per the Constitution shall be “to represent its members and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society”. Below are some highlights from the Unions past.
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The Union
NUI Galway Students’ Union is an independent body which represents its members’ interests inthe University and elsewhere. Every student who registers at NUI Galway automatically becomes
a member of the Students’ Union on payment of the Student Levy – a total of over 16,000
members. Members are entitled to numerous benefits including representation by the Students’
Union officers, membership of the Students’ Union Club (College Bar) and access to a wide range
of Students’ Union commercial services. The Union also part funds Sin Newspaper
Sin Newspaper
Sin Newspaper is a student newspaper in Galway, Ireland. Its offices are based at the National University of Ireland, Galway . Sin is printed fortnightly and covers news about Galway events on and off campus, while its entertainment and features sections aim to entertain and provoke debate and...
and Flirt FM
Flirt FM
Flirt FM is the student radio station for the National University of Ireland, Galway. It broadcasts at 101.3 MHz on the FM band and a webcast is also available.-History:...
. The Union is separated into two entities - the Students' Union Representative side and the Students' Union Commercial Services Ltd.
Functions and Objectives
As outlined in the Students’ Union Constitution, the function of the Union is the “represent itsmembers and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society”.
Consequently, the Students’ Union sits on various University committees, including the University Governing Authority, which allows Officers to
voice the views of the students to the University authorities. The Union also works with other
local groups and companies to ensure students get the best treatment and deals possible.
The Union’s objectives include providing social, recreational and commercial services for our
members through the College Bar, entertainment events, the SU Shop and other commercial
services. In order to promote the unity of the organisation, the Union also assists on-campus
student groups such as clubs and societies, while simultaneously promoting good relations
between students and staff of NUI Galway.
On a national level, the Union pursues fair and equal access to education for all sectors of the Irish
people, and liaises closely with the Union of Students in Ireland
Union of Students in Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland is the sole national representative body for students in Ireland but does not represent students from two of the seven Irish Universities, namely...
to work towards achieving this goal. Recent work of the Union has included the organising of a Grant Information Evening in order to help students applying for the Local Authority Grant.
The Executive Committee
While the President, along with the staff, is mainly responsible for the day-to-day running of theUnion, the Students’ Union Executive is the committee that runs the Union on an ongoing basis.
It consists of nine elected members, whose responsibilities cover the whole spectrum of student
concerns from educational issues to accommodation to discrimination and much more.
Of the nine members of the Executive, three are paid sabbatical (full-time) Officers, i.e. the
President and two Vice-Presidents, while the other six Officers work on a part-time, unpaid basis.
At each Executive meeting, the three sabbatical Officers present a report of work done since the
last meeting. The Officers of the Union are as follows:
• President
• Vice-President / Education Officer
• Vice-President / Welfare Officer
• Oifigeach na Gaeilge (Irish Language Officer)
• Equality Officer
• Student Development Officer
• Postgraduate Officer
• Societies’ Chairperson
• Clubs’ Captain
The Executive meets on a weekly basis during term and is also responsible for all detailed
matters concerning the functioning of the Union. Importantly, the Executive Committee is
answerable to the Class Representatives Council (CRC), and, therefore, to the members of the
Union. All nine Officers must present a report of work done to the CRC on a monthly basis.
Students elect their Students’ Union Officers. The term of office is from 1 July to 30 June of the following year.
To be eligible to run for election, you must be a full member of the Students’ Union, i.e. a registered student or current Executive Officer, and receive 20 nominations. Nomination
forms are made available in mid-February and must state the post for which the
candidate is being nominated and the candidate’s name, student ID number and must be
signed by the candidate and 20 (or more) nominators.
Candidates may withdraw from the elections and have their name removed from the ballot
paper by writing to the Elections Committee before 5pm on the appropriate day. Within 24
hours of this, the Elections Committee will publish a list of all validly nominated candidates
who shall contest the election.
The election of the Clubs’ Captain and Societies’ Chairperson takes place at a meeting of
the recognised clubs and societies respectively. Candidates require three nominators who
must be full members of the Union and Club Captains (where the position sought is Clubs’
Captain) or Society Auditors (where the position is Societies’ Chairperson.)
Class Representatives Council
The Class Representatives Council (CRC) consists of approximately 300 membersrepresenting every class in the University. The CRC is essential to the running of the Union
and beneficial to the running of the University. It also helps bring students ever more
closely involved with the workings of the Union and the University.
The CRC has proven invaluable to the Students’ Union since it’s re-formation a few years
ago, and is mainly used by the Union to inform students what is happening within the
University and also to get feedback from students regarding any problems, suggestions or
positive aspects they have found in the University.
Members of the CRC also sit on their respective Staff-Student Liaison Committees within
their academic departments, while others are elected as Faculty Convenors (one per
faculty), and represent students’ views at Faculty level.
The CRC also elects the three undergraduate student representatives on the Academic
Council, and appoints students to the Student Health Unit Advisory Group, Computer
Services User Liaison Group and Library User Liaison Group.
The Vice-President / Education Officer is responsible for co-ordinating the CRC and
organising the election of students to represent their classes.
Recent events
NUI Galway Students' Union is to the fore of the No to Fees campaign in Ireland. The Union has organised and attended several protests and also ran a campaign encouraging students to "Adopt a TD"During the RAG Week of 2009 the University issued a statement saying that it would no longer support the Students' Union run RAG week in its current format. The Union remained committed to running the charity week, with over €32,000 raised for charity in 2009.
History
The Literary and Debating Society served as the sole representative forum for students of the college until the establishment of a Students’ Representative Council as an offshoot of the Society in 1911, under the direction of Bryan Cusack. This council was short-lived, but the re-establishment of the body was proposed by Conor O’Malley, auditor of the 1913-1914 session, in his inaugural address in November 1913. The council was firmly established by the mid-1920’s, and in the 1960’s was formally developed into the university’s Students’ Union, then known as Comhairle Teachta na Mac Léinn.Founded in 1964 the function of the Union as per the Constitution shall be “to represent its members and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society”. Below are some highlights from the Unions past.
- 1964 • Led by Michael D. Higgins 600 students marched to protest about “poor relations generally between the University and the local community” as many hotels refused to take visiting students, landladies discriminated against students in summer etc.
- 1969 • College Week (RAG Week) run for the first time after being banned by the Bishop in 1950s.
- 1980 • The Union supports the call for political status by the prisoners of H-Block and Armagh Jail. Several UCG students involved in the H-Block campaign claim they are being harassed by the Gardaí.
- 1982 • During College Week Gerry Ryan DJ’d the disco at Leisureland and the Manger of Leisurelands car was set on fire by students.
- 1987• The Union organises a boycott of tea and coffee served in the restaurant due to the increase in price of same (tea 33p and coffee 35p). The union serves approximately 2,000 cups of tea a day during boycott at 25p a cup.
- 1997 • USI Pink Training is held at NUI Galway
- 2008 • Fees campaign begins with thousands marching to Eyre Square
Former Presidents
| Year | President |
|---|---|
| 2010-11 | Peter Mannion |
| 2009-10 | Donna Cummins |
| 2008-09 | Muireann O'Dwyer |
| 2007-08 | James Hope |
| 2006-07 | Damien Corridan |
| 2005-06 | Paddy Reilly |
| 2004-05 | Paddy Reilly |
| 2003-04 | Tony McDonnell |
| 2002-03 | Leona Byrne |
| 2001-02 | Pádraig Ó Duinnín |
| 2000-01 | Paddy Jordan |
| 1999-2000 | Paddy Jordan |
| 1998-99 | Cormac McCarthy |
| 1997-98 | Darren McCallig |
| 1996-97 | Joanne Murphy |
| 1995-96 | Fergal O'Flaherty |
| 1994-95 | Fiona McCauley |
| 1994-95 | Sinead Molloy |
| 1993-94 | Eoghan Mac Cormaic |
| 1992-93 | Seán Solon |
| 1991-92 | Ronan Mullen Rónán Mullen Rónán Thomas Mullen is an independent Irish Senator and delegate to the Council of Europe. He was elected in the National University of Ireland Seanad constituency in July 2007 and re-elected for a second term in 2011. Mullen is a frequent media commentator on social and political topics... |
| 1990-91 | Daithí MacCarthaigh |
| 1989-90 | Neil Whorisky |
| 1988-89 | Cathy Grieve |
| 1987-88 | Pat O'Flaherty |
| 1986-87 | Ger Killeen |
| 1985-86 | Brendan Wilkins |
| 1984-85 | Pat Boyde |
| 1983-84 | Peter Conry |
| 1983 | Seamus Henry |
| 1982 | Alan Sheerins |
| 1981-82 | Aileen O'Meara |
| 1980-81 | Brendan Smith |
| 1979-80 | Cathal Guiomard |
| 1978-79 | Grainne McMorrow |
| 1977-78 | Mike Jennings |
| 1976-77 | Mary Carroll |
| 1975-76 | John Curran |
| 1974-75 | Eamon Gilmore Eamon Gilmore Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and... |
| 1973-74 | Brendan Glynn |
| 1972-73 | Seán Mac Aoghain |
| 1971-72 | Tony Diffley |
| 1970-71 | Pat Rabbitte Pat Rabbitte Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011... |
| 1969-70 | Conor O'Neill |
| 1968-69 | Liam Morris |
| 1967-68 | Ralph Ó Gormáin |
| 1966-67 | Pádraic de Búrca |
| 1965-66 | M. A. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh |
| 1964-65 | Michael D. Higgins Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins is the ninth and current President of Ireland, having taken office on 11 November 2011 following victory in the 2011 Irish presidential election. Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster. Higgins was President of the Labour Party until his... |
| 1962-64 | Unknown |
| 1961-62 | Mícheál Ó Seighin |
| 1960-61 | Donal McNally |