Mission Statement/Highlights Ráiteas Misin/Buaicphointí

Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, University of Galway Students’ Union was originally established in 1911 as the Students’ Representative Council. This council was short-lived, the re-establishment of the body was proposed in 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”.

“An injury to one is an injury to all”

Highlights 2022/2023

• Received 9 Student Achievement Award (SAAI) Nominations and won 4 SAAI Awards - International Student of the Year, Environmental & Sustainability, Full-Time Officer of the Year and Access Champion of the Year

• Won the Gníomhaí Gaeilge Gold Award for Irish language Activism

• It was our first year of having a Full-time Irish language officer

• Developed future plans for the Student Pantry

• Held Social Events for Postgraduate Students

• Won Best Delegation, Best Speaker and Best Speech Awards at USI Comhdhail

• Secured more Outdoor seating on campus including Outdoor Pods

• Secured extra Study Spaces for exams

• Launched the SU Síbín a new Social Space in the Library Basement

• Signed the Partnership Agreement with the University around Student-Centred Decision-Making and Student Participation and Engagement

• Hosted our first ever SU Drag Race in Sult

• Seachtain na Gaeilge – Hosted the annual international festival promoting the Irish language and culture

• Seachtain Ghaelach – Weeklong events in Semester 1 promoting the Irish language and culture

• International Conferences: Attended two Enlight conferences in Göttingen and an ESU (European Students Union) Board meeting in Georgia.

• Large scale events: SOS & Hallows with the Socsbox along with Fáilte Fest, Christmas Day and Consent Week.

• Refreshers Fairs for everyone in September and January welcoming them back to the campus

• Launched the Fainne Nua Ollscoill na Gaillimhe for the University which shows fluency in, or a willingness to speak, the Irish Language

• Youth Assembly on Climate change

• Hosted USI Pink Training, Launched An Foclóir Aiteach – the first ever Queer Dictionary in Irish

• International Orientation semester 1 & 2

• Accommodation Protest, WalkOut, PhD Stipends Protest, Gaeilge4All, Cost of Living Protest, CATU Protest, BDS Palestine Protest, Ireland4All, Talk to a TD

• Increased a block of 16 to 32 rooms on Campus as part of the Sceim Conaithe dedicated to students who wish to live together and use the Irish Language

• Raised €19,000 for the SU charities – Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Galway Simon Community with events such as the Shave Off, Galentine’s Day Brunch, Take Me Out, Sex Toy Bingo and Drag Race.

• Funding secured for a Consultant Psychiatrist

• Revived the Irish language drama society An Cumann Dramaiochta

• Environmental and Sustainability initiatives such as: Global Activism Week, green careers events, Beach clean-ups, Lunch with the sustainability officer, Wasted Week, SU Climate Crew, Eco-Bricks, SDG Panel and Glassary

• Drafted and Launched the Union’s Environmental and Sustainability Strategy

• Participated in the HSE STI test campaign which was viewed over 2 million times

• Class Reps: 563 Class Reps elected; created and launched E-learning Module for Class Reps; safeTALK Training; Election reforms for Postgraduates