In lieu of today's College Roundup, we're going to take a look at some of the biggest news that happened in Irish colleges this week: united Ireland referendums. And it seems the students have voted very strongly for what side of the debate their college is on - NUIG, UCC and UCD all will now take a pro-united Ireland stance.
#nuigsu17 Referendum result - reunification referendum has passed with 74% yes vote 2237 out of 3151 pic.twitter.com/eRy9jcSlQF
— Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh (@NUIGSU) March 3, 2017
In a press release after the vote, NUIG Sinn Féin commented: ”This is just the beginning. The message is clear, we’re stronger united which is why NUI Galway students have endorsed the call for a United Ireland".
63% of UCD students think the UCD Students' Union should be pro united Ireland. Níos fearr le chéile! 🍀 #UCD4Unity @Yes2UnityUCC pic.twitter.com/YyXcfupcMJ
— UCDForUnity (@UCDForUnity) March 9, 2017
As for UCD, Lucy Connor, Chair of UCD for Unity, told The University Times she was “absolutely over the moon” with the result.
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“We think that now, given the circumstances with Brexit, given the way the North has been treated, given the way the North has absolutely no say whatsoever in what way it’s future’s going, the way the two economies are going, we think that now is the time to have a serious debate on the alternatives to the status quo at the minute.”
“The reason we specifically did it in UCD was a few weeks ago a couple of the chairs of different societies in Cork, Galway, Dublin and Belfast came together and decided to lobby their students’ union for a united Ireland”, Connor explained.
UCC Referendum on Irish Unity has passed with a landslide victory! What we win we win for all! Thank you UCC student body! #Yes2UnityUCC pic.twitter.com/67aiVnt3eW
— UCC for Unity (@UCCForUnity) March 7, 2017
Speaking to Trinity News, Kate Kelly, the chair of UCC Sinn Féin, had a similar response: “Being part of the Yes2UnityUCC we were thrilled with the result. It has now passed by a strong majority in both NUIG and UCC showing that students are engaging with the topic".
So what happens next? The colleges with a pro stance will lobby for the reunification of Ireland, and will encourage students to get involved.
Next week on the 14th and 15th of March, Trinity College will also go to the vote, and if the previous three outcomes are anything to go by, there might be another college with a pro-united stance.
Three of Ireland's top Universities, NUIG, UCC & UCD have passed referenda in support of Irish Unity in the past week. #YesUnity #UnityRef pic.twitter.com/8auR1RliKV
— Irish Unity 🇮🇪🇵🇸 (@IrishUnity) March 9, 2017
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