The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will re-open nominations for the position of leas uachtarán don Ghaeilge – or vice president for the Irish language – after Muireann Nic Corcráin, who was recently elected to the position, said she would not be taking up the role.
Nic Corcráin is a master’s student in speech and language processing in Trinity and a former Oifigeach na Gaeilge for Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).
In an email statement to The University Times, Nic Corcráin said: “Unfortunately, due to a change in personal circumstances following Comhdháil AMLÉ 2021/USI Congress 2021, I am no longer in the position to take up the role of Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge on the Executive Team of 2021/22.”
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who put their faith in me and elected me as Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge of USI. I was humbled and overwhelmed by the mandate I received for my vision of promoting the Irish language and creating a more inclusive approach to addressing issues relating to the language.”
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision”, she said, “but I am encouraged by the positive engagement throughout my campaign in favour of making the language as accessible and inclusive as possible, which highlights the interest within the student movement to push on and build upon the momentum that has been growing over the past number of years.”
“I look forward to seeing the Irish language go from strength to strength within USI and I wish the elected Executive Team all the best for the year ahead.”
A by-election for the position will take place at the next USI Council on May 13th. Nominations are now open, and will close on April 30th.
TCDSU Education Officer Megan O’Connor was elected USI’s vice president for academic affairs at the union’s annual congress earlier this month.
TCDSU Ents Officer Hugh McInerney also initially put his name forward to run for vice president for the Dublin region, but dropped out of the race after accepting an offer for a master’s course in the University of Groningen.
In an email statement to The University Times at the time, McInerney said: “I am withdrawing my name for the USI election for Vice President for Dublin as I have received an offer for my dream masters in the Netherlands. I only received my acceptance letter two days ago, and I wasn’t expecting it whatsoever.”
“After much debate”, McInerney said, “I have decided that the students of the Dublin region deserve a fully committed and enthusiastic officer and having received this offer I would be distracted and wondering if I’d made the right choice, and this would detract from my work if elected”.
“The two remaining candidates for the Dublin region are both fantastic and no matter what happens the Dublin region will be in safe hands! The fact I have to go to the Netherlands speaks to the reasons I ran; while the course I am now enrolled in cost me just over €2000, the exact same course in Dublin costs €8000.”
