The Spanish Arch controversy

By Rachel Garvey

On the evening of Monday, September 28th, concerns were raised over the huge crowds gathered at Spanish Arch for Fresher’s Week. Images of the crowds spread around social media platforms like wildfire and online users took to the comments section to express their anger and fear over such a large crowd and the effects of what it could lead to, in regards to another future lockdown.

SIN spoke to NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President, Pádraic Toomey to see what his thoughts were on the matter.

“For the Spanish Arch incident, we don’t know if it was NUI Galway students or who. There is a combined population of about 30,000 students between NUI Galway, Galway Technical Institute and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and it is very hard to know if the people who attended the large gathering were NUI Galway students.”

“This is coupled with the fact that it’s not an uncommon sight to see young people drinking there every summer. However, this was just not the year to do it in large groups”.

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Eagle eyed online observers were quick to point out that there were no masks worn by those who attended this large gathering and how little to none of them were social distancing. In response to the large crowds, NUI Galway stated that “the scenes involving students and other young people in some parts of Galway city on Monday night were deplorable”.

“NUI Galway has repeatedly appealed to the better judgement of our students and reminded them of their responsibilities under the Student Code of Conduct.”

“While the vast majority of our students are doing their utmost to stay safe and helping prevent the spread of Covid-19, we will not hesitate in dealing with any breaches of public health guidelines in line with our Student Code of Conduct which has penalties up to and including expulsion.”

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Toomey expressed the importance of not blaming the entire student population for the irresponsible actions of a few, pointing out that student nurses have been battling against the pandemic on the frontlines without pay.

“I think it’s just people doing what they did before and the group got larger as the evening went on, but it wasn’t acceptable in a pandemic. Yet we need to commend and remember all the students who weren’t there, those who worked on the frontlines and worked unpaid by the HSE”.

The Spanish Arch has been closed off recently to stop the gathering of large crowds and with the county now in a Level 3 lockdown, tighter restrictions are in place, with no large gatherings permitted and only one visitor from one household

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is allowed in the home.