Pádraig Mac Brádaigh will be the sole candidate running for the new Oifigeach na Gaeilge (Irish Language Officer) in the upcoming Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) sabbatical election.
This is the first time in which the position will be a paid sabbatical role following a successful referendum earlier this month.
Mac Brádaigh is the union’s current part-time Oifigeach na Gaeilge and was the campaign leader for the YesGaeilgeTCD campaign that pushed to create the new position and give equal status to the Irish language within the union.
A full-time Oifigeach na Gaeilge was first proposed at TCDSU council in November, where it was approved to go to referendum.
The referendum also voted in favour of the Gaeilge Initiative, a dedicated fund to promote the official use of Irish on campus.
The referendum introduced an €4 student levy increase to fund the new initiative, passed by a landslide 90% majority and the highest voter turnout for a union referendum in six years.
The union’s Oifigeach na Gaeilge will be voted on along with the other sabbatical officers in the upcoming elections.
The other 14 candidates running in the sabbatical elections were announced last Friday.
Communications and marketing candidate Michael McInerney dropped out of the race earlier today, keeping the current number of candidates running at 14.
Campaigning for the elections will begin on Monday February 19 with a hustings on the steps of the Dining Hall.
Ainmníodh Pádraig Mac Brádaigh mar an t-aon iarrthóir d’Oifigeach na Gaeilge
Tarlóidh an toghchán i dteannta leis na dtoghcháin AMLCT eile
Beidh Pádraig Mac Brádaigh mar an t-aon iarrthóir ag seasamh d’Oifigeach na Gaeilge sa toghchán shabóideach atá ag teacht aníos ag Aontas Mac Léinn Coláiste na Tríonóide (AMLCT).
Is é seo an chéad uair a mbeidh an ról mar ról shabóideach lán-aimseartha agus íoctha i ndiaidh an reifreann níos luaithe sa mhí.
Is é Mac Brádaigh Oifigeach na Gaeilge leath-aimseartha faoi láthair agus b’é ceannaire an fheachtais don fheachtas YesGaeilgeTCD a chur brú ar phobal na hollscoile chun vóta a chaitheamh ar son post lán-aimseartha d’Oifigeach na Gaeilge agus stádas cothrom a thabhairt do Ghaeilge san aontas.
Moladh agus glacadh an rún d’Oifigeach na Gaeilge lán-aimseartha don chéad uair ag comhaire AMLCT i mí na Samhna.
Chómh maith le ról shabóideadh a cruthú, chaith pobal na hollscoile vóta i bhfábhar do thionscnamh Ghaeilge, ciste a gcuirfidh airgead ar fáil chun an Ghaeilge a spreagadh ar champas.
Ghlac an reifreann le méadú €4 ar thobhach mac léinn chun an tionscnamh a thacú. Rith an reifreann le 90% ag vótáil i bhfábhar, agus an líón is mó do vótálaithe do reifreann an aontais i 6 bhliain.
Beidh an toghchán Oifigeach na Gaeilge ar siúl i dteannta leis na róil shabóideacha eile.
Ainmníodh na 14 iarrthóirí eile atá ag seasamh sna toghchán an Aoine seo chaite.
Thit Michael McInerney, iarrthóir Cumarsáide agus Margaíochta, amach as an rás níos luaithe inniu, ag coimeád an uimhir d’iarrthóirí ag 14.
Tosóidh feachtasaíocht do na toghcháin ar Dé Luain, Feabhra 19, le toghchánaíocht taobh amuigh den Halla Bia.
