| Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President | Bryan O'Mahony[1] |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Dublin,Ireland |
| International affiliation | European Students' Union |
| Website | www.amle.ie |
Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly known as theUnion of Students in Ireland (USI), is the national representative body forthird-level students inIreland, being an confederal organisation consisting of third-levelstudents' unions. Founded in 1959, it represents more than 374,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland.[2]
Former presidents of the organisation include formerTánaisteEamon Gilmore, former Chief JusticeJohn L. Murray (1966/67), and broadcasterJoe Duffy (1983–84).
In May 2025, the organisation officially changed name from its original English title, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), to itsIrish language name,Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), following the passing of a constitutional amendment at its 2025 Comhdháil.[3]
The organisation's ultimate governing body is its annual Comhdháil (Congress), consisting of delegates from all of its member organisations. Its executive body meanwhile is Comhairle Náisiúnta (National Council), which meets approximately every six weeks and comprises one voting member from each member organisation, along with non-voting members.[4] Day-to-day operations meanwhile are carried out by the Coiste Gnó (Executive Committee), full-time officers elected at Comhdháil from member organisations.[2] The Coiste Gnó consists of 11 full-time officers, namely a President, Vice Presidents for Campaigns, Academic Affairs, Welfare, Equality & Citizenship, Gaeilge (Irish Language), Postgraduate Affairs, a Vice President for each of the regions (Southern, Border Midlands West and Dublin), along with the NUS-USI President (elected at NUS-USI conferences).[5] As of the 2023 Comhdháil, the national president was Chris Clifford, former president of theMTU Kerry Students' Union.[6]
InNorthern Ireland, AMLÉ jointly operatesNUS-USI with theNational Union of Students of the United Kingdom, under the so-called "Trilateral Agreement",[7] with students being members of both national unions. AMLÉ is a member ofEuropean Students' Union andEURODOC and has provided officer-holders in both organisations.[8][9]
AMLÉ member organisations (student's unions), pay an affiliation fee to fund the national union, proportional to their student populations.[4] Many of these unions were merged from smaller unions ininstitutes of technology, prior to the creation oftechnological universities,[10] although not all student's unions of such institutes have merged.
Notably,University of Limerick Student Life (formerly University of Limerick Student's Union) has not been a member of AMLÉ since the 1990s.
| Student's Union Name | Higher Education Institution |
|---|---|
| NUS-USI Region | |
| Belfast Metropolitan College Student's Union (BMCSU) | Belfast Metropolitan College |
| Queen's University Belfast Student's Union (QSU) | Queen's University Belfast |
| Ulster University Student's Union (UUSU) | Ulster University |
| St Mary’s University College Belfast Student's Union (SMUCBSU) | St Mary's University College |
| Stranmillis University College Belfast Student's Union (SUCBSU) | Stranmillis University College |
| College of Agriculture, Food and the Rural Economy Student's Union (CAFRESU) | College of Agriculture, Food and the Rural Economy |
| Northern Regional College Student's Union (NRCSU) | Northern Regional College |
| North West Regional College Student's Union (NWRCSU) | North West Regional College |
| Southern Regional College Student's Union (SRCSU) | Southern Regional College |
| South West College Student's Union (SWCSU) | South West College |
| South Eastern Regional College Student's Union (SERCSU) | South Eastern Regional College |
| Dublin Region | |
| Dublin City University Student's Union (DCUSU) | Dublin City University |
| Technological University Dublin Student's Union (TUDSU) | Technological University Dublin |
| National College of Ireland Student's Union (NCISU) | National College of Ireland |
| Trinity College Dublin Student's Union (TCDSU) | Trinity College Dublin |
| National College of Art and Design Student's Union (NCADSU) | National College of Art and Design |
| Institute of Art, Design and Technology Student's Union (IADTSU) | Institute of Art, Design and Technology |
| University College Dublin Student's Union (UCDSU)[Notes 1][11] | University College Dublin |
| Southern Region | |
| Carlow College Student's Union (CCSU) | Carlow College |
| South East Technological University Student's Union (SETUSU) | South East Technological University |
| University College Cork Student's Union (UCCSU) | University College Cork |
| Technological University of the Shannon Student's Union (TUDSU) | Technological University of the Shannon |
| Munster Technological University Cork Student's Union (MTUCSU) | Munster Technological University (Cork campuses)[Notes 2][12] |
| Munster Technological University Kerry Student's Union (MTUKSU) | Munster Technological University (Kerry campuses) |
| Burren College of Art Student's Union (BCASU)[Notes 3][13] | Burren College of Art |
| Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Region | |
| Atlantic Technological University Student's Union Galway-Mayo (ATUGMSU) | Atlantic Technological University (Galway, Mayo campuses)[Notes 4] |
| Atlantic Technological University Student's Union Donegal (ATUDSU) | Atlantic Technological University (Donegal campuses) |
| Atlantic Technological University Student's Union Sligo (ATUSSU) | Atlantic Technological University (Sligo campus) |
| Comhaltas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe (CMLOG) (University of Galway Students' Union)[Notes 5] | University of Galway |
| Maynooth Student's Union (MSU) | Maynooth University |
| Dundalk Institute of Technology Student's Union (DKITSU) | Dundalk Institute of Technology |
| Atlantic Technological University St. Angela's College Sligo Students Union (ATUSTACSSU) | St. Angela's College |
Chief JusticeJohn L. Murray was the organisation's president in 1966/67 and broadcasterJoe Duffy held the post in 1983–84. Several Irish politicians also started their careers as presidents of the organisation, including formerLabour Party leadersPat Rabbitte andEamon Gilmore, and former chairman of the Labour Party,Colm Keaveney.Annie Hoey held the post from 2016 to 2017 and became the first former female president to be elected to national office during the2020 Seanad election as theIrish Labour Party candidate for the Agricultural Panel.[14][15]
Political strategistFrank Flannery,Cambridge University andYale ProfessorDenys Turner all served as president, whileSDLP LeaderMark Durkan was Deputy President and Minister of State at the Department of HealthAlex White TD served on the organisation's officer board. Broadcaster and journalist Howard Kinlay was the first president of the Students Union in TCD before becoming president of USI. The chain of student hostels owned by the organisation were called Kinlay House in his honour.[16] Chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission, Kieran Mulvey, was president of the UCD Students Union and later deputy president of USI.[17]
Other figures that have been involved in the student movement but did not hold elected positions in the national union include the ninth President of IrelandMichael D. Higgins (President of the Students' Union inNational University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway),[18] Supreme Court JusticeAdrian Hardiman (President of the Students' Union inUniversity College Dublin), Stormont Minister for the EnvironmentAlex Attwood MLA (President of the Students' Union inQueen's University Belfast), former MinisterSéamus Brennan TD (Secretary of the Students' Union in UCG), Labour SenatorIvana Bacik (President of the Students' Union in TCD), Independent SenatorRónán Mullen (President of the Students Union in UCG), Socialist Party TDClare Daly (President of the Students Union inDublin City University),[19]Fianna Fáil TDCharlie McConalogue (Vice President of the Students' Union in UCD) and SenatorAveril Power (President of the Students' Union in TCD). While Averil Power was president, former Fine Gael TDLucinda Creighton was active in the USI,[20] although she never held elected office herself.[citation needed]
Former Fianna Fáil senatorJames Carroll was education officer and later president of the Students' Union in UCD; andMayor of Derry Martin Reilly was a sabbatical officer in Queen's.Jemma Dolan, Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone was vice president for Campaigns and Communications for the University of Ulster Students Union.[21] Political activist and victim of themiscarriage of justice after the Sallins Train Robbery, Osgur Breatnach, was a member of the Students' Representative Council of UCDSU.[22] Irish Ambassador to theUnited Kingdom Dan Mulhall was deputy president of the Students Union inUniversity College Cork. Aviation Regulator Cathal Guiomard andCentral Bank of Ireland Commissioner Neil Whorisky were both Presidents of UCGSU.[23] The debt relief activist and campaignerDavid Hall was vice-president of the Students' Union in Maynooth in the 1990s.[24]
Nick Ross was deputy president at Queen's Students' Union,Ryan Tubridy was involved in UCD Students' Union,Morning Ireland presenterAine Lawlor was president of the Students Union in TCD as was fellowRTÉ journalist and presenterMark Little, while broadcaster and journalistMary Raftery held Students' Union positions in a number of Colleges, culminating in a term as Education Officer inUCD Students' Union,[25] where she was the first full-time female officer in the Students' Union.[26] Eugene Murray, editor ofToday Tonight and later head of TV Current Affairs with RTÉ was President of TCD SU in 1971.[27] In 2020 the organisation's deputy president, Michelle Byrne, resigned following undercover reporting by a right wing student publication 'The Burkean'.[28]
Member organisations of theEuropean Students' Union (ESU) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Members |
| .png) |
| Associate members | ||
