SU22 – Eibhlín NicCormaic for Campaigns and Engagement officer

Eibhlín NicCormaic

Queen’s University has consistently demonstrated that it doesn’t respect students. Whether it was moving to online learning after no consultation with students, or when increasing costs of accommodation during a pandemic, there is a pattern of demonstrating contempt for the student voice. This is not a new phenomenon, as experienced by Irish language speakers, Gaeilgeoirí, in our attempts to lobby the university.

In 1997, bilingual signage was removed from the old Students’ Union. Ever since, attempts to engage with the university on the needs of Gaeilgeoirí has been met with disdain from senior management, and has led speakers of the language to feel marginalised and undervalued. More recently, in 2018, the Cumann Gaelach wrote to the university to request the reintroduction of bilingual signage, to which the university responded that the language was “provocative, offensive or intimidatory”. This incredibly damaging and dangerous narrative only further politicised the language, and further diminished the experiences of Gaeilgeoirí at Queen’s.

I’m a passionate language rights activist – I have been on the Cumann Gaelach committee for three years, now as vice president. I’m the current Students’ Union’s Irish Language officer, having been elected twice with record-breaking votes. I have used these positions to continue the fight for Irish language rights on campus and beyond. We organise events on campus, including Féile Mhic Artúir, hosted during Seachtain na Gaeilge, Irish Language week. These events provide a much-needed dedicated space for Gaeilgeoirí to connect.

A priority campaign this year has been lobbying for an Irish language residential scheme. Our proposal was initially met with resistance from the university, but following substantial campaigning and public pressure, they agreed to work with us. Significant progress has been made, and we’ve made it loud and clear that we won’t be going anywhere until our rights as Gaeilgeoirí are respected.

The struggle for language rights exists far beyond Queen’s, with Gaeilgeoirí campaigning for decades for an Irish Language Act. At every step, we have been let down by the government, with repeated failures to introduce legislation. An Dream Dearg are leading the way in this work, and continue to lobby for the introduction of an Act – I will continue to support their work, and ensure Queen’s Students’ Union is a partner in this campaign.

As proven following news coverage of the Irish language residential scheme over the weekend, the Irish language is still viewed as a controversial topic for some. The narrative that the language belongs solely to one community is entirely false, as consistently debunked by the work of prominent Irish speakers from Unionist communities. We need to further challenge the perceptions that are held in our political structures, and demonstrate that the language is not a weapon, but a beautiful part of the culture and heritage of this island.

As a progressive, forward-thinking SU, we know that the Irish language belongs to us all. I will ensure the SU is doing everything it can in the campaigns for language rights. The university needs to do its part also by increasing the visibility of the language on campus, through the reintroduction of bilingual signage, to further normalise the use of Irish in everyday contexts.

I believe I am the right person for this position, as I have the passion, dedication, and experience to take on Queen’s. Irish language campaigning is one of my priorities for the Students’ Union. We need to hold Queen’s accountable for their impact on the climate to ensure they meet their net-zero carbon targets, and we need to reform our mental health services, so that students are supported at every step of their university journey. We need to introduce comprehensive campaigns training, for students to get the skills to take on the issues they care about, and extensive support for clubs and socs so students can have the best experience possible in their SU.

This university needs to recognise that it wouldn’t exist without its students, and its continued game of disrespecting and disregarding our collective voices needs to end. I will be a strong voice in reclaiming our campus and ensuring that students have their voices heard and needs met by the university.

Vote Eibhlín for Campaigns and Engagement.

To see all the candidates running, visit the QUBSU website