Given the volatile nature of the current Irish political landscape – amid ministerial scandals, the ongoing environmental crisis and pandemic – the time seems ripe for students to take matters into their own hands. So what is the first step to getting your foot into the Dáil? And do political societies actually help to kickstart students’ political careers?
Speaking to The University Times, Liam Kiernan, chair of Trinity’s Young Sinn Féin, says being involved with a student-run party is “a great way to ease you into politics”. He believes that the role of a political society within a university is to connect like-minded people, solidify beliefs and ideas, develop a student’s understanding of how politics works within the context of the party they support, and to facilitate activism. His plans for this academic year are “education-focused”, with hopes of having speakers address society members over Zoom and, if possible, arranging a tour of Leinster House.
Julie Smirnova and Mark Heavey, chairperson and secretary of the Young Greens respectively, got involved with the society because of their passion for climate justice, and wish to “affect positive change” as Heavey puts it. “If you care about something and you think that pushing for legislative change is the way to achieve that change then you obviously need to have a good grasp on how those decisions are actually made and I think being in a political society definitely gave me more of an ‘on the ground understanding’ of how policy is formed”, says Smirnova.
If you’re interested in politics but don’t have a particular affinity with any of the major parties Eoin Ussher would encourage you to get involved with the Politics Society. As chairperson, Ussher believes his politically neutral society is the most helpful for developing your beliefs and ideas about government policy and wider society. The nature of the society means that people from very diverse backgrounds are brought together to discuss their varying views. Ussher considers his society to be a “much more open” and “realistic place” than the political societies strictly affiliated to one government party alone, concluding that “it’s a much more accepting environment”.
John D. Crowley of the Young Wolfe Tone Cumann says that the society is a “great melting pot to make your own decisions but also to hear other peoples’ views”. He encourages politically-minded freshers to get involved, saying “every time I’m at the freshers stall meeting people, I’m conscious that, although I may not have huge aspirations to go into politics, that I’m meeting people who could possibly help shape Ireland in the future”.
Trinity Alumnus and Fine Gael TD for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Constituency, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has had a political career spanning a decade and an award-winning PhD in political science – yet, she was never involved with the political societies during her time in Trinity. Speaking to The University Times, she explains that society involvement is not a necessary prerequisite for a political career, but also doesn’t discourage anyone who feels drawn to the parties on campus. She encourages students to “just enjoy your college experience and your subjects”.
