President’s Foreword Focal ón Uachtarán

It has been an absolute honour and the most remarkable moment of my life to be the President of Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, University of Galway Students’ Union. This year has been exceptional, coming out of the pandemic we stepped into our roles with new hopes and dreams to achieve. I had the absolute privilege of working with a determined and enthusiastic team who were not afraid to face the challenges that come with our roles. Every day was different, with new challenges and new projects to achieve but we faced all of them with a smile. Our aim this year was to provide the best student experience possible, especially coming out of the pandemic, we wanted to ensure every student had the best experience possible at the University.

We were fortunate this year to work with the first-ever fulltime Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, Barry Ó Siochrú. Barry has dedicated countless number of hours and has put in a tremendous amount of effort to establish this newly formed role and to promote the Irish language and culture. When it comes to the Vice-President/Education Officer & the Vice-President/Welfare & Equality Officer no matter how much I say it will always be less. Both Joe and Imogen have constantly strived to provide the best student experience possible. They were always ready to face the challenges that come with academics and student welfare and weren’t afraid to tackle them. From successfully hosting large scale events to ensuring proper representation of students, they have consistently put in a tremendous amount of effort.

Our year has been focused on numerous aspects of student life. This included initiatives surrounding the Irish language, student representation, union relations, societies & clubs, large scale events, social spaces, outdoor seating, future plans for the student pantry, postgraduate students and much more. Since the start of the year, we have constantly ensured that everyone is represented by the Union and has the best experience at the University.

One of the most important lessons I have learned this year is that a Union is a team, it is extremely important to work together to achieve the goals of the Union and most importantly to provide the best student experience possible. I would like to thank everyone who has constantly helped and supported us throughout this year, most importantly thank you so much to Chris, our general manager, Joanna, our assistant manager and Lorna our receptionist. They have constantly helped and supported us when we needed it the most. It is also important to acknowledge and appreciate the tremendous amount of hard work and effort put in by them every single day.

CÉIM has played a vital role in my student experience. Since my first day at this University CÉIM has given me the support and most importantly confidence to be where I am today. Not only as the Students’ Union President but as a Biomedical Engineering student myself I would like to especially thank Amber, Órla and Niamh who have worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of the programme. They provide students with the chance to experience the fun aspect of academics and at the same time help them to thrive in their course. CÉIM is a vital part of the student experience, and it is important that we ensure future generations of students have the chance to experience it as well.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Board of Trustees, SU Commercial Services Board, the staff of Sult, Smokey’s Café, the SU shop, Student Services, and everyone who has stood by us and supported us throughout this year. They’ve also provided essential services and support to our student community.

Most importantly I would like to thank our Class Reps and our 15 part-time officers who have worked tirelessly to represent students and ensure the student voice was heard and acted on. Your dedication and commitment have made our Union and the University as a whole a better place. Your achievements and effort will not go unnoticed and will be remembered for years to come.

I would also like to especially thank my three VicePresidents who have always been by my side and supported me when I needed it the most. Your work has been nothing but exceptional and I’m sure it will be an inspiration to all the students who one day follow in your footsteps. Thank you so much Joe, Imogen and Barry, we met as strangers but today we will be leaving as friends, and I’ll definitely miss spending time with you all the most.

In its 59 years, the Union has become an unstoppable force for change that cares for all. Each year is a step towards a more positive future. On behalf of Joe Mee, Imogen O’Flaherty Falconer, Barry Ó Siochrú, our Executive Committee, the SU Council, the entire staff, and myself, I present to you with pride the annual report for 2022/23 of Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, University of Galway Students’ Union.

Le gach dea ghuí,