On January 31, College featured The Herstory Light Show 2022 in honour of St. Brigid’s Day. The event lasted from 5.30pm to 8pm.
Women who contributed to Irish society and culture were illuminated on landmarks across the country.
College’s Front Square, the General Post Office (GPO), Kildare Cathedral, and Kilkea Castle featured images of “30 young visionary change-makers” created by graphic design students from National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and Colaiste Dhulaigh.
An image of Ashling Murphy, a 23 year old primary school teacher who was tragically murdered earlier this year, was projected at Front Square. Students gathered together for a minute’s silence in her memory.
The light show also honoured Trinity alumni Mary Robinson and Ivana Bacik.
The event was organised by the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) and Herstory in an effort to “amplify #StudentVoices” and “spotlight” causes such as climate action, girl’s education, mental health, racism, migrants rights, preserving indigenous cultures and more.
ISSU’s Equality Officer Saoirse Exton said: “Student voice is the key to creating a better world for all, and pulling down outdated systems that threaten our very existence on this planet.”
“Young people are the leaders, educators, lawyers, factory-workers, programmers, artists, legislators and so many other things, of the future and by right of our existence we must voice our concerns and the specific issues that affect us.”
“By celebrating those that came before and continue to work towards dismantling the system and creating a better world, we are creating spaces for the activists of tomorrow”: she continued.
Herstory’s Chief Executive Melanie Lynch commented: “Never before in history have young people risen up together on this scale across the world. Power to students as they lead the light.”
Next year, St. Brigid’s Day will become the first public holiday to be named after a woman.
