Dundalk IT Students’ Union are appealing for landlords who wish to rent their properties out to students to contact them.
The Students’ Union puts a list together each summer of properties available close to the college.
To get on this please contact Students’ Union president Aaron Lawless on 042 9370390 or 085 2781462 or email president@dkitsu.ie
The accommodation list is due to go live next week.
Paddy Duffy and Aaron Lawless celebrate their recent election success
Local men Aaron Lawless and Paddy Duffy were recently voted in as the new president and vice president of the Dundalk IT Students’ Union.
Fourth year marketing student Aaron is from Blackrock, while third year accounting and finance student Paddy is from Louth Village.
The pair will replace outgoing duo Brian Fitzpatrick and Paddy O’Rourke in July.
Aaron’s campaign aims
Dundalk IT Students’ Union raise the flag at the campus yesterday
Yesterday was a highly significant day in Dundalk IT as students raised a rainbow flag at the front of the campus.
The flag not only serves to show their support for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming Marriage Equality Referendum on May 22nd but also reminds all students that the campus is a safe place that celebrates the uniqueness of every student.
Before raising the flag, the DkIT Students’ Union set a target of 1,000 signatures to highlight the support throughout the campus for the initiative. This target was surpassed with ease with almost 2,000 signatures secured in just one day.
Speaking at the unveiling of the flag, DkIT Student Union president Brian Fitzpatrick was keen to stress the importance of the gesture. He said: “Equality plays a central part in how we operate in DkIT. I feel that this flag has two importances. Firstly, we hope it will serve as a reminder to staff, students and the local people of Dundalk to get out on May 22nd and vote ‘Yes’ for Marriage Equality. Secondly, it sends out a strong message to all current and prospective students that DkIT is a safe place to be different and to celebrate your uniqueness and be proud of who you are.
“Although the flag has been raised in the run up to the referendum, it will remain in place long afterwards to remind all students, current and prospective, that DkIT is a welcoming campus for all,” said Brian.
Also present at the raising of the flag was John Ruddy from Dundalk Outcomers who spoke of his delight at the new addition to the Dundalk campus.
“We are immensely proud of the DkIT students,” he said.
“This makes a strong statement for the inclusion of all students and support for the more vulnerable ones. We’re delighted with this great show of support for the upcoming referendum. We hope all students across the region will follow the lead of DkIT and use their vote on May 22nd.”
What the new facility is supposed to look like but progress on converting it has been slow
Dundalk IT Students’ Union have demanded a full refund of the €125 each student paid towards the new DkITSport facility, which was to open last year at the former JJB premises at Dundalk Retail Park.
An emergency class rep meeting was called by the Students’ Union yesterday, with 87 class reps in attendance being told that the latest information from the college was that the facility will not be open until this summer.
At the start of the 2014/2015 academic year in September, each student paid an additional €125 on their college fees towards the former JJB facility, which DkIT were set to convert into a major sports centre.
In exchange for the €125 they would receive full membership to the gym facility.
This was to open in September or October but when it failed to do so DkIT Students’ Union renegotiated that students would receive a refund on a pro-rata basis.
This would mean that if the facility opened in February they would receive €62.50 back. However, after hearing that the facility will now not be open until June, students have demanded that their money be refunded in full, with the levy not coming into place until the facility is fully operational in September.
Students’ Union President Brian Fitzpatrick said: “This year in DkIT the students have grown very frustrated due to many cuts and changes to our vital services.
“We promised the students that we would stick by them throughout this process and ensure that they will be treated fairly. The only fair option now is for a full refund as otherwise there would be a blatant breach of the original plebiscite voted on by the students in 2012.”
The Students’ Union previously blocked plans to build a velodrome in the facility, a venture that was put forward by college representatives in conjunction with Cuchulainn Cycling Club.
Paddy O’Rourke
Dundalk IT student Paddy O’Rourke has been named in goal for Ireland for tomorrow’s match with Australia in the International Rules series.
The Meath man is the current vice president of the Students’ Union.
The game is at 9.45am Irish time and will be shown live on TG4.
Meanwhile, Willville’s Dave Kearney will make a long-awaited return from injury after being named on the wing for Leinster’s RaboDirect Pro 12 clash with Treviso at the weekend. His older brother Rob will also be in action at the weekend having been named yesterday at full back for Ireland’s test match against Australia on Saturday evening.
John Temple
Residents close to Dundalk IT have called on the Students’ Union to either cancel their annual Rag Week event or get an event licence for it.
College Manor resident John Temple has compiled a highly critical report on the 2014 event having taken on board the views of residents in his own estate, College Heights, Rockfield, Langfield and along Hoey’s Lane.
He said that while significant sums of money – up to €20,000 – were raised for charities from the event, similar amounts were spent repairing damage caused by students during Rag Week.
Mr Temple said in light of the action taken by residents in the vicinity of Croke Park earlier this year against the Garth Brooks concerts, he felt residents close to DkIT had a right to request a similar licence be obtained for Rag Week.
He said that if this permit were required it would allow local Gardaí to seek further resources to police events.
Speaking to LMFM, he said: “From our discussions with Gardaí, when they have a large crowd attending Oriel Park or a similar public event they can apply to get additional resources from headquarters.
“If this is properly organised and licensed then similar to at football games and other public events then the Gardaí in Dundalk will be able to apply for extra resources. At present you’re dealing with two patrol cars, four guards, for around a thousand students on the street at night,” said Mr Temple.
The ball will take place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Dundalk IT Graduation Ball, which will take place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday October 31st.
The event has been organised to coincide with the annual conferring ceremony that Thursday and Friday.
Those interested in attending are asked to reserve their tickets with the Students’ Union office at 042-9370390 before Wednesday October 29th.
There is a limit of two tickets per graduate and these will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The price of the tickets is €20 each.
Meanwhile, anyone looking for accommodation can contact the Crowne Plaza for special overnight rates by emailing enquires@crowneplaza.ie
Patricia Hanlon RIP
The death has occurred suddenly of Dundalk IT student Patricia (Tricia) Hanlon at her home in Tobberleheen, Ballinagar, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Tricia died on Monday 12th August, She was a second year student DkIT, studying Public Relations.
Tricia is Reposing at her home in Offaly from 1pm today until Rosary tonight at 9pm. Removal on Thursday to St Joseph’s Church, Ballinagar for 2pm Funeral Mass. Burial after Mass in Croghan Cemetery. House private on Thursday, please.
Dundalk IT’s Student Union have issued a statement in the wake of Tricia’s passing.
It read: “We here in The Students’ Union, along with all of Tricia’s classmates and wide circle of friends around Dundalk, would like to take this opportunity to send our deepest condolences to Tricia’s parents and family, at this very sad time.
“Should any student need support during this difficult time please find that Fr Paddy is available in his office, F117 in the Student Services block, (beside the shop & opposite the bank), from 11am – 2pm on Friday 15th August for pastoral support. The counselling service is also available from Monday, please feel free to contact Gertie directly (Gertie.Raftery@dkit.ie), or through Student Services, if you need that support.
“There is a bus organised for students who may wish to attend tomorrow’s Funeral Mass in Tullamore. Bus will leave DkIT at 11am sharp.
“May Tricia’s soul sit at the right hand of God and may she Rest In Peace.”
Anyone wishing to travel on the bus to Tricia’s Funeral Mass is asked to contact the Students’ Union via their Facebook page.
Pictured are Brian Fitzpatrick, DKIT Students’ Union; Amrutaben Patel from India; Yuke Cai from China. The Re-Imaging programme offers funding to community groups and local authorities across Northern Ireland and the Border Region that want to tackle sectarianism and racism
Students from over 40 countries studying at Dundalk IT will have the opportunity to join forces with residents of the neighbouring housing estate of Muirhevnamor to shape a new piece of public art that will connect the campus and surrounding community of Dundalk.
The Students’ Union at DKIT is one of seven groups in the border area to be awarded initial grants totalling £41,229 from the Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities programme which is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE III) managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and the International Fund for Ireland.
The Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities programme offers funding to community groups and local authorities across Northern Ireland and the border region that want to tackle sectarianism and racism. Up to £5,000 is available to fund peace building through local consultation and creative engagement for each project site. Upon completion of this stage, a second application up to £50,000 can be made to produce and install the artwork.
The Dundalk Institute of Technology Students’ Union (DkIT SU) has been awarded £4,700 to facilitate an art project that will be a welcoming symbol of shared space while reflecting the diversity of the college and the changing demographics of the border town of Dundalk. The public art will be installed in the extensive campus grounds, which are used by students and local people alike. It is hoped that the project will provide an opportunity for dialogue between groups while exploring and challenging issues of sectarianism and racism.
Brian Fitzpatrick, President of DKIT Students’ Union, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding and plan to use it to help foster relationships within and between the student population and surrounding communities culminating in the creation of a piece of public artwork in the campus grounds. It is an exciting time for us and we look forward to working together to promote community cohesion and in developing a legacy for the wider community to appreciate and enjoy.”
Other southern border areas to have been awarded funding through the Building Peace programme include Cavan County Council, awarded £15,800 for 4 projects within the Redhills, Ballyconnell, Cootehill and Bailieboro areas and Drogheda Civic Trust, awarded £5,000 for the development of artwork that will help address issues of sectarianism and racism while promoting multi-culturalism.
To find out more about the programme, please click here or contact the Arts Council’s Re-Imaging Communities team on +44 (0) 28 9038 5228.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Brian Fitzpatrick was yesterday returned as Dundalk IT’s student union president for a second term.
The Drogheda man – who plays GAA for the Oliver Plunketts – will be hoping to build on the work he has done in the year ahead and said via his Twitter page that he was “delighted” to be given a second year.
Next Thursday the vice-presidential candidates will go to the polls, with current vice-president Paddy O’Rourke amongst those in contention.
Talk of the Town 