Seán Thim O’Leary has been elected as TCDSU President with 1,597 votes, constituting 51.28% of the total final vote.
They defeated RON (re-open nominations) who received 1,310 votes or 42.07% of the overall votes, as well as Patrick Keegan – who was eliminated in the second count with 727 votes – and Giovanni Li – who was eliminated on the first count with 463 votes.
A total of 3,294 votes were cast. The total valid poll was 3,214 votes.
In their campaign speech to the students gathered at Lost Lane, the incumbent TCDSU President’s campaign team danced to the song “Down” with their campaign team. They said “I have no actual words to say. Thank you to my amazing campaign team.” They said their campaign manager, Eoin Connolly, “is the best fucking campaign manager that anyone can ask for.”
They continued “I have placed where I have placed with a very substantial amount of the votes as RON […] I do want to be a President that represents everyone […] I will be a president that represents everyone in this goddamn Union…I want to tell everyone who does not believe in me as a candidate to reach out to me.”
Thim O’Leary, in a lengthy speech, stated “I am the first openly nonbinary in this role.”
O’Leary, a third year PPES student, ran a campaign focused on collective action, clearer student handbooks, and funding for health services. They are the Union Archivist and a Class Representative for TCDSU, as well as the Chairperson of the Trinity Social Democrats.
Their competitor, Keegan, ran a campaign involving direct action, student spaces, and accessibility. Keegan is the current International Student Officer, Business School convenor, and Chair of BDS while he studies Business and Political Science.
Li, a first year student studying Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures, focused his campaign on finances, student wellbeing, and trans visibility. Li is the Ethnic Minorities Officer for TCDSU, the Class Representative for first year MEELC and the chair of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Advisory Group
A recent poll conducted by The University Time predicted a very close race, but Thim O’Leary took the top spot securing 31.33% of the vote and Keegan securing 31.18%, with just one vote between them. RON was predicted to take third place with 20% of the vote and finally Li taking 17%. This poll was counted before the RON campaign had gained much traction.
