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Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn

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Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ)
PresidentChris Clifford
Founded1959
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
International affiliationEuropean Students' Union
Websitewww.amle.ie

Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly known as the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), is the national representative body for third-level students in Ireland, being an confederal organisation consisting of third-level students' unions. Founded in 1959, it represents more than 374,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland.[1]

Former presidents of the organisation include former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, former Chief Justice John L. Murray (1966/67), and broadcaster Joe Duffy (1983–84).

In May 2025, the organisation officially changed name from its original English title, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), to its Irish language name, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), following the passing of a constitutional amendment at its 2025 Comhdháil.[2]

Organisation

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The organisation's ultimate governing body is its annual Comhdháil (Congress), consisting of delegates from all of its member organisations. Its executive body meanwhile is Comhairle Náisiúnta (National Council), which meets approximately every six weeks and comprises one voting member from each member organisation, along with non-voting members. [3] Day-to-day operations meanwhile are carried out by the Coiste Gnó (Executive Committee), full-time officers elected at Comhdháil from member organisations.[1] The Coiste Gnó consists of 11 full-time officers, namely a President, Vice Presidents for Campaigns, Academic Affairs, Welfare, Equality & Citizenship, Gaeilge (Irish Language), Postgraduate Affairs, a Vice President for each of the regions (Southern, Border Midlands West and Dublin), along with the NUS-USI President (elected at NUS-USI conferences).[4] As of the 2023 Comhdháil, the national president was Chris Clifford, former president of the MTU Kerry Students' Union.[5]

In Northern Ireland, AMLÉ jointly operates NUS-USI with the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom, under the so-called "Trilateral Agreement"[6], with students being members of both national unions. AMLÉ is a member of European Students' Union and EURODOC and has provided officer-holders in both organisations.[7][8]

Member Organisations

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AMLÉ member organisations (student's unions), pay an affiliation fee to fund the national union, proportional to their student populations.[9] Many of these unions were merged from smaller unions in institutes of technology, prior to the creation of technological universities,[10] although not all student's unions of such institutes have merged.

Notably, University of Limerick Student Life (formerly University of Limerick Student's Union) has not been a member of AMLÉ since the 1990s.

Student's Union Name Higher Education Institution
NUS-USI Region
Belfast Metropolitan College Student's Union (BMCSU) Belfast Metropolitan College
Queen's University Belfast Student's Union (QSU) Queen's University Belfast
Ulster University Student's Union (UUSU) Ulster University
St Mary’s University College Belfast Student's Union (SMUCBSU) St Mary's University College
Stranmillis University College Belfast Student's Union (SUCBSU) Stranmillis University College
College of Agriculture, Food and the Rural Economy Student's Union (CAFRESU) College of Agriculture, Food and the Rural Economy
Northern Regional College Student's Union (NRCSU) Northern Regional College
North West Regional College Student's Union (NWRCSU) North West Regional College
Southern Regional College Student's Union (SRCSU) Southern Regional College
South West College Student's Union (SWCSU) South West College
South Eastern Regional College Student's Union (SERCSU) South Eastern Regional College
Dublin Region
Dublin City University Student's Union (DCUSU) Dublin City University
Technological University Dublin Student's Union (TUDSU) Technological University Dublin
National College of Ireland Student's Union (NCISU) National College of Ireland
Trinity College Dublin Student's Union (TCDSU) Trinity College Dublin
National College of Art and Design Student's Union (NCADSU) National College of Art and Design
Institute of Art, Design and Technology Student's Union (IADTSU) Institute of Art, Design and Technology
University College Dublin Student's Union (UCDSU) [Notes 1] [11] University College Dublin
Southern Region
Carlow College Student's Union (CCSU) Carlow College
South East Technological University Student's Union (SETUSU) South East Technological University
University College Cork Student's Union (UCCSU) University College Cork
Technological University of the Shannon Student's Union (TUDSU) Technological University of the Shannon
Munster Technological University Cork Student's Union (MTUCSU) Munster Technological University (Cork campuses) [Notes 2] [12]
Munster Technological University Kerry Student's Union (MTUKSU) Munster Technological University (Kerry campuses)
Burren College of Art Student's Union (BCASU) [Notes 3] [13] Burren College of Art
Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Region
Atlantic Technological University Student's Union Galway-Mayo (ATUGMSU) Atlantic Technological University (Galway, Mayo campuses) [Notes 4]
Atlantic Technological University Student's Union Donegal (ATUDSU) Atlantic Technological University (Donegal campuses)
Atlantic Technological University Student's Union Sligo (ATUSSU) Atlantic Technological University (Sligo campus)
Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe (CMLOG) (University of Galway Students' Union) [Notes 5] University of Galway
Maynooth Student's Union (MSU) Maynooth University
Dundalk Institute of Technology Student's Union (DKITSU) Dundalk Institute of Technology
Atlantic Technological University St. Angela's College Sligo Students Union (ATUSTACSSU) St. Angela's College
  1. ^ Re-affiliated in 2025, following a period of being unaffiliated.
  2. ^ The student's unions of the MTU Cork and Kerry campuses have not merged as of 2025.
  3. ^ Formed and affiliated simultaneously in 2025.
  4. ^ The student's unions of the ATU campuses have not merged as of 2025.
  5. ^ The student's union of the University of Galway primarily uses its Irish name.

Notable Past Members

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Notable past officers of USI/AMLÉ

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Former logo of USI, replaced by a new logo in 2010

Chief Justice John L. Murray was the organisation's president in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983–84. Several Irish politicians also started their careers as presidents of the organisation, including former Labour Party leaders Pat Rabbitte and Eamon Gilmore, and former chairman of the Labour Party, Colm Keaveney. Annie Hoey held the post from 2016 to 2017 and became the first former female president to be elected to national office during the 2020 Seanad election as the Irish Labour Party candidate for the Agricultural Panel.[14][15]

Political strategist Frank Flannery, Cambridge University and Yale Professor Denys Turner all served as president, while SDLP Leader Mark Durkan was Deputy President and Minister of State at the Department of Health Alex White TD served on the organisation's officer board. Broadcaster and journalist Howard Kinlay was the first president of the Students Union in TCD before becoming president of USI. The chain of student hostels owned by the organisation were called Kinlay House in his honour.[16] Chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, was president of the UCD Students Union and later deputy president of USI.[17]

Notable past officers in the Irish student movement

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Other figures that have been involved in the student movement but did not hold elected positions in the national union include the ninth President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins (President of the Students' Union in National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway),[18] Supreme Court Justice Adrian Hardiman (President of the Students' Union in University College Dublin), Stormont Minister for the Environment Alex Attwood MLA (President of the Students' Union in Queen's University Belfast), former Minister Séamus Brennan TD (Secretary of the Students' Union in UCG), Labour Senator Ivana Bacik (President of the Students' Union in TCD), Independent Senator Rónán Mullen (President of the Students Union in UCG), Socialist Party TD Clare Daly (President of the Students Union in Dublin City University[19]), Jim Allister MLA (unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of QUBSU), Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue (Vice President of the Students' Union in UCD) and Senator Averil Power (President of the Students' Union in TCD). While Averil Power was president, former Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton was active in the USI,[20] although she never held elected office herself. Paul Murphy MEP was an activist in UCD Students' Union, and former TD Patrick Nulty was a member of the executive in the UCD Students Union.[citation needed]

Former Fianna Fáil senator James Carroll was education officer and later president of the Students' Union in UCD; and Mayor of Derry Martin Reilly was a sabbatical officer in Queen's. Christopher Stalford MLA, the youngest ever member of Belfast City Council, was an activist in Queen's Students' Union and a student representative on the Senate of QUB, and Simon Hamilton, Stormont Finance Minister also represented students on the Senate of Queen's. Jemma Dolan, Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone was vice president for Campaigns and Communications for the University of Ulster Students Union.[21] Political activist and victim of the miscarriage of justice after the Sallins Train Robbery, Osgur Breatnach, was a member of the Students' Representative Council of UCDSU.[22] Irish Ambassador to the United Kingdom Dan Mulhall was deputy president of the Students Union in University College Cork. Aviation Regulator Cathal Guiomard and Central Bank of Ireland Commissioner Neil Whorisky were both Presidents of UCGSU.[23] Sailing personality Enda O'Coineen was sports officer on UCG's Union Executive,[24] and debt relief activist and campaigner David Hall was vice-president of the Students' Union in Maynooth in the 1990s.[25] David O'Sullivan, later secretary general of the European Commission, was noted during his student days as a moderate voice in the Students' Union in Trinity College.[26]

Broadcaster Vincent Browne was an activist and edited the union's monthly news magazine "Nusight" for a period, and barrister, broadcaster and GAA personality Joe Brolly was a member of the Students Union Executive in TCD.[citation needed] Nick Ross was deputy president at Queen's Students' Union, Ryan Tubridy was involved in UCD Students' Union, Morning Ireland presenter Aine Lawlor was president of the Students Union in TCD as was fellow RTÉ journalist and presenter Mark Little, while broadcaster and journalist Mary Raftery held Students' Union positions in a number of Colleges, culminating in a term as Education Officer in UCD Students' Union,[27] where she was the first full-time female officer in the Students' Union.[28] Eugene Murray, editor of Today Tonight and later head of TV Current Affairs with RTÉ was President of TCD SU in 1971.[29] In 2020 the organisation's deputy president, Michelle Byrne, resigned following undercover reporting by a right wing student publication 'The Burkean'.[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b "About USI". Union of Students in Ireland. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. ^ Comms, P. R. (13 May 2025). "USI Transforms Into AMLÉ: A New Chapter in Student Representation | Union of Students in Ireland". Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  3. ^ PUBLICATIONS, USI (22 August 2012). "About USI | Union of Students in Ireland". Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  4. ^ Bot, Web (5 July 2019). "Your Coiste Gnó | Union of Students in Ireland". Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  5. ^ Fernane, Stepehen (20 April 2023). "Kerry man becomes first MTU student to be elected President of USI – 'The plan is to fight for students'". Irish Independent/Kerryman Newspaper.
  6. ^ "Trilateral Agreement @ NUS Connect". www.nusconnect.org.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Full Member Directory". European Students' Union. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Eurodoc Members | Eurodoc". www.eurodoc.net. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  9. ^ PUBLICATIONS, USI (22 August 2012). "About USI | Union of Students in Ireland". Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  10. ^ Feeney, Sharon; Lillis, Deirdre; Ramsey, Lynn (1 January 2020). "Students as Partners? Exploring Student Union Engagement in the Creation of Technological Universities in Ireland". Irish Journal of Academic Practice. 8 (1). doi:10.21427/kz6f-w389. ISSN 2009-7387.
  11. ^ UCDSU re-affiliation
  12. ^ Minutes of MTU Governing Body meeting
  13. ^ Instagram announcement post
  14. ^ "Annie Hoey". The Labour Party. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  15. ^ O'Halloran, Marie (1 March 2020). "SF's Lynn Boylan among those running for Seanad". The Irish Times.
  16. ^ "Here's to you, my Ramblin' Boy: [CITY EDITION]". The Irish Times. 6 December 1997. p. 61. ProQuest 310269132 – via ProQuest Central.
  17. ^ "Text of the introductory address delivered by: PROFESSOR JAMES WALSH, National University of Ireland, Maynooth on 1 December 2011 in the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on KIERAN MULVEY" (PDF). 1 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Former SU Officers". NUI Galway Students' Union. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  19. ^ Sheehan, Maeve (9 September 2012). "Maeve Sheehan: How firebrand Clare left the Socialists reeling". Irish Independent.
  20. ^ http://www.thephoenix.ie/phoenix/subscriber/library/volume-31/issue-04/page-12-13.pdf;jsessionid=6FC9ED55DEB8759F4D07DC541E10D0CB[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Jemma is 'student of the year'". Fermanagh Herald. 29 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Osgur Breatnach (Born 1951)". SEARC'S WEB GUIDE. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Former Officers". NUI Galway Students' Union. 7 August 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Enda O'Coineen - LinkedIn". Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  25. ^ Cullen, Paul (9 July 2016). "David Hall: Pugnacious, hyperactive defender of underdog". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  26. ^ Gilfillan, Kathy (1 February 2012). Trinity Tales: Trinity College Dublin in the Seventies. Lilliput Press, Limited. ISBN 9781843513018. Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ McGarry, Patsy (10 January 2012). "Journalist Mary Raftery dies". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  28. ^ O'Toole, Fintan (9 February 2013). "The woman who opened our eyes". The Irish Times.
  29. ^ Gilfillan, Kathy (1 February 2012). Trinity Tales: Trinity College Dublin in the Seventies. Lilliput Press, Limited. ISBN 9781843513018. Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ MacNamee, Donal (11 March 2020). "USI Deputy President Resigns After Burkean Controversy". The University Times.
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