Faye Ní Dhomhnaill

What made you apply for the role?

I’m very passionate about Irish. I’ve always taken great pride in speaking and learning Irish and want to be able to share that passion with others. I decided not to run last year so that I could focus 100% on Final Year and that I wouldn’t be in the role with the cloud looming over my head of Final Year. I want to make Irish more accessible for every student, as well as protecting the Irish speaking rights of students. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, anything the Comhaltas can do as bearla they can do it as gaeilge as well.

Talk us through your manifesto, and the main thing you’ll work on if elected:

My manifesto mainly focuses on bringing a bit of Gaeilge into day-to-day life on Campus. I’d love to work with IdeasLab to bring workshops through Gaeilge in there as well as working with SIN to guarantee at least 1 piece as gaeilge in each issue. As well as this, I really want to work closely with clubs and societies, and to try introduce an Irish-speaking committee member into as many clubs and socs as possible. I want to provide opportunities for students to develop their CV with a little bit of Gaeilge, and careers fairs with Irish speaking companies. I want there to be benefits for students using Gaeilge on campus, such as discounted drinks in Smokies and dedicated “Labhair Gaeilge Liom” seating Areas. Mainly though, I’m here to protect the language rights of Irish Speaking students and open doors to the language through education and protection.

What do you think the greatest obstacle will be in your term, if elected?

I definitely think the greatest obstacle will be overcoming people’s preconceived prejudices regarding the Irish language. Most people I know have had a horrible experience with Gaeilge from

Cén fáth gur chuir tú isteach ar an bpost?

Táim an-paiseanta faoin Gaeilge. Tá bród orm Gaeilge a labhairt agus a foghlaim agus ba mhaith liom an paisean sin a roinnt le daoine eile. Chinn mé annurraidh gan seasamh sa toghcháin ionas go mbeadh mé in ann 100% fócas a thabhairt chun mo bhliain deirneach, agus nach mbeidh an scamall “Deireadh Bliain” thar mo cheann dá mbeinn sa ról. Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh an Ghaeilge níos inrochtana do gach dalta comh maith le cearta teanga a chosaint. Duirt mé é riamh agus deirfaidh mé arís é, aon rud is féidir an Comhaltas a déanamh trí bearla, is féidir leo é a deanamh trí gaeilge. Céard iad na haidhmeanna is mó atá agat má fhaigheann tú an ról? Céard é an príomhrud ba mhaith leat a bhaint amach má toghfar thú?

Cuireann mo forógra béim ar an gaeilge a thabhairt chun saol lá-go-lá ar champas. Ba bhreá liom obair a deanamh le IdeasLab chun ceardlanna Gaeilge a thabhairt ann comh maith le obair a deanamh le Sin chun cinntigh go mbeadh fiú piosa amháin as gaeilge I ngach eisiúint. Comh maith le sin, ba mhaith liom dlúth-obair a deanamh le clubanna agus cumainn, agus chun triail a baint as ball coiste a labhraíonn gaeilge cuir I láthair san oiread clubanna agus cumainn agus is féidir. Ba mhaith liom deiseanna a cuir ar fail do mhic léinn a CV a forbair le píosa beag gaeilge, agus aonach gairme le comhaltaí a labharíonn gaeilge. Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh buntáistí ann do mhic léinn a labhraíonn gaeilge ar campas, cosúil le deochanna lascainithe I Smokies agus spásanna tiomnaithe “Labhair Gaeilge Liom”. Go príomha, táim anseo chun cearta teanga a chosaint, agus chun doirse a oscailt don teanga trí oideachas agus cosaint.

Dar leat, cad é an dúshlán is mó a bheadh romhat má toghfar thú?

Cinnte gurb é an constaic is mó ná dochar faoin teanga a shárú. Daoine is mó a bhfuil aithne agam orthu deirtear go raibh taithí uafásach acu leis an nGaeilge sa scoil, agus íarann siad é a fágail secondary school, and as such want to leave it as far behind as possible. Irish is so much more than just cluaistuiscints and wrote learning off seanfhocals. I want to make Gaeilge more accessible for students from all backgrounds. It shouldn’t matter your level or ability, any student should feel they can walk into the LeasUachtaráin don Ghaeilge’s office and say “What’s available for me?” ina diaidh. Is í gaeilge I bfhad níos mó ná an cluaistuiscint agus seanfhocail foghlamtha. Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh Gaeilge níos inrochtana do mhic léinn ó gach cearn don saol. Is Cuma cad é do chumas, ba choir aon duine teacht cuig an oifig an Leas Uachtaráin don Gaeilge agus a rá “Ceard atá ann domsa?”

What is something you hope to carry on from the previous officer, if elected?

Barry has been an absolute trailblazer this year. It was the first year a role like this existed anywhere in Ireland, so the pressure was really on for foundations to be laid in place. If I am elected I’m excited to carry on the good work that has already begun. One scheme I really hope to work closely on is the Scéim Cónaitheachta, a scheme that was reintroduced last year for students with spoken Irish, where they can live with fellow Irish speakers in Corrib Village. Mostly I’m excited to get the word out about this role and to show students what’s available to them.

Why do you think people should vote for you?

I think people should vote for me because I care about students. I understand the importance of speaking up for students language rights and for campaigns such a An Dream Dearg. I think the Irish language is a beautiful thing that we should be able to celebrate together, without barriers or prejudice. I want to be an officer that any student on any of our campuses can turn to. I really want to spend the coming year emphasising the importance of Irish, helping make it more accessible, and being a voice for students. A vote for Faye is a vote is a vote to open doors across the University.

Luaigh rud amháin ba mhaith leat a thógáil ar aghaidh ón iar-Oifigeach a bhí sa ról?

Ba ceannródaí é Barry I mbliana. Bhí seo an chead bliain a bhí an ról seo aon áit in Éireann, agus bhí an brú ann chun na bhunsraith a chur in áit. Má thogtar mé, táim ag thuth go mór leis an deas obair a leanúint. Scéim amhain a bhfuil súil agam dlúth-obair a deanamh leis ná an Scéim Cónaitheachta, scéim a raibh athbhunaite I mbliana do mic léinn le gaeilge labhartha, ionas gur féidir leo conaí le daoine a labhraíonn gaeilge I Corrib Village. Tríd is tríd táim ag tnuth go an scéal a chur thart faoin ról seo agus chun taispeant do mhic léinn ceard atá ar fail dóibh.

I do thuairim féin, cén fáth gur cheart do vótálaithe vóta a chaitheamh ort?

Sílim gur cheart do dhaoine vótail ar mo shon mar tá cúram orm faoi mhic léinn. Tuigim an tábhacht a bhaineann le cearta teanga na mic léinn agus do feachtas ar nós an dream dearg. Ceapaim gurb rud áille í an teange gaeilge agus bac heart dúinn é a ceiliúir le cheile gan constaic nó claontacht. Ba mhaith liom a bheith an oifigeach is féidir le mac léinn ar bith ar champas ar bithlabhairt leis. Ba bhreá liom an bhliain a caitheamh ag cur béime ar tábhacht na Gaeilge, agus ag bheith mar guth do mhic léinn. Vóta le haigheadh Faye ná vóta do doirse oscailte ar fud an Ollscoil.