Union of Students in Ireland

The Union of Students in Ireland (in Irish 'Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn) is the national representative body for third-level student unions in Ireland.

Related Topics:
Third-level - Student union - Ireland

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It was founded in 1959 and has over 250,000 members from over forty affiliated unions. Most students' unions in Ireland are affiliated to USI, the exceptions being the unions of Dublin City University, NUI Maynooth, the University of Limerick and Cork Institute of Technology. The Trinity College Dublin student union also disaffiliated from USI for several years during the 1990s.

Related Topics:
1959 - Dublin City University - NUI Maynooth - University of Limerick - Cork Institute of Technology - Trinity College Dublin - 1990s

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The Union's sovereign body is its Annual Congress, and its executive authority is its National Council, comprising representatives from each member organisation.

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In Northern Ireland, the USI cooperates with the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom to form NUS-USI.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - National Union of Students of the United Kingdom - NUS-USI

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As of 2005, the president of USI was Tony McDonnell, who succeeded Ben Archibald.

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Several prominent Irish politicians started their careers through involvement in USI, including Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, SDLP Leader Mark Durkan, Labour TD Eamon Gilmore and Ivana Bacik.

Related Topics:
Labour Party - Pat Rabbitte - TD - Eamon Gilmore - Ivana Bacik

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