NUI Galway Students protesting in Eyre Square today
“Students will continue to make their
voices heard, and today’s protest is just one step in the campaign.”
Over three thousand students from NUI Galway, GMIT
and Athlone IT took part in a demonstration in Galway City Centre on Wednesday
afternoon. Student protestors gathered in Eyre Square.
The official stance of the protest was echoed by the
Vice President and Education Officer of NUI Galway Students’ Union Conor Stitt,
who said: “We hope to send a strong message to this government, especially the
TD’s that are taking regressive measures to stop students continuing in
education, and have put them in financial jeopardy. Mr Stitt added: “We are
going to oppose them all the way and hopefully we will get Leinster House
talking”.
Student leaders urged the student population of the
three colleges taking part in the demonstration to take out their phones and
text local TD Sean Kyne and Derek Nolan.
Paul Curley, Student Union President at
NUI Galway urged students to “tell them what you think about not being able to
go to college next year”.
SU President Paul Curley
Mr Curley added: “The students of Galway were promised
one thing from the Labour Government. They promised they would protect
education, not increase the student contribution charge or cut the grant”.
“No If’s, No Buts, and No Education Cuts”
An estimated three thousand students took part in
the demonstration aimed at voicing student opinion on proposed increases to
education. The protest was organised in conjunction with with the Union of
Students Ireland who are ruining the nationwide campaign “Fed Up? Stand Up?”
Speaking to Derek Nolan, the local TD said “I am
very aware of the worries and concerns that so many students have about their
education and their futures. I have always felt that public demonstration was
an important way for students to make their voices heard”.
Dami Adebari, Vice President and Welfare Office at
NUI Galway said: “Lots of students have already had to drop out of college. We
are the future of tomorrow”. The Welfare led a student chant “No Ifs, No Buts,
No Education cuts” which echoed through Eyre Square. He later urged students to
keep the pressure up in the approach to Budget 2013.
One member of the public who gathered in Eyre Square
to watch the student demonstration said “They probably have a right; It’s shocking
that the majority haven’t the money to pay for an education. Families are
rearing children; they can no longer afford to educate them too”.
Students on the NUI Galway campus were given a
protest pack which contained a lollipop, a whistle and a condom to promote
safer sex. Students then queued up to receive their free protest t-shirt.
Students on the campus reiterated the messages being
sent by Student leaders around Ireland. Amanda Sara, a student at NUI Galway
said” I am out today in the rain supporting this demonstration because the
grant cuts are affecting me, and without it I will not be able to continue in
college”.
Students in Eyre Square
Other students had similar stories with one student
saying “Everyone should have an education and if we leave it up to those who
have the most money, it will end up a country with only rich and smart people
and where does this leave those others”.
The Protest passed off peacefully, although there
was a strong Garda Presence on duty. The “Fed Up? Stand Up? Campaigns led by
The USI will continue until the upcoming budget.
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