Student Independent News (SIN)

We invited every candidate, in the local byelection for Gaillimh Thiar/Galway West, to sit down and discuss some issues that are important to students. We asked each candidate the same questions and gave them the chance to share their views. The questions we asked were; Do they support a fully publicly funded free third level education? What would they do to house students What would they do to improve Nightlife? What would they do to improve public transport, especially for commuting students?

MacHale Park in Castlebar Back in December, SIN reported on the rapidly changing values in the GAA, and whether professionalism has gone too far in our national games. A concerning decision taken by Connacht GAA ahead of this weekend’s Connacht football semi-final between Mayo and Roscommon backs up this sentiment, as children will now be charged an alarming €35 for entry to the seated stand in McHale Park, instead of €5, an increase of 700% overnight.

With 90% of job applications now submitted online, there are growing concerns that those at lower socio-economic status are often left behind. In a phenomenon known as the digital divide, young people who do not have access to devices and Wi-Fi connection are left at a severe disadvantage in terms of accessing education and employment. Ashling Johnston is a digital skills tutor at An Cosán, Ireland’s largest community education organisation.

“You have cancer.” Three words with the power to change a life completely. Devastating, disorienting and, depending on circumstances, filled with uncertainty. A moment that forces a person to reconsider who they are, what they value, and what lies ahead. In that space, there are very few choices. The only real one is to keep going. Writer and performer Jenny MacDonald knows that moment intimately.

After more than a decade of building his name, Ciarán Clarke had the chance to break through and showcase their talents on the biggest stage they had ever encountered. With half a million dollars and a shot at gold hanging in the balance, he trained tirelessly, knowing this was the chance that everything had been building towards. Through sheer bad luck, however, the opportunity was gone in a split second.

Umar Rashid is a former American College Basketball player who moved across the Atlantic to Galway with these hopes of continuing his basketball journey while also documenting his story online. Umar was born in New York before moving to Georgia, he started playing basketball at 7 years old which led him to playing Division 3 basketball in college in Clevland, Ohio. He explained how playing at this level was very competitive. He played there for 4 years before graduating in May 2025.

Students from University of Galway have secured a wide spread of nominations at this year’s National Student Media Awards (SMEDIAs), with recognition spanning radio, podcasting, Irish-language journalism and public interest reporting. Among the nominees, Finn Brady has been shortlisted twice, receiving nods for both Journalist of the Year and Iriseoireacht trí Ghaeilge (Scríofa).

University of Galway’s Student’s Union (CMLOG) attended this year’s Comhdháil in full force for four days of procedure, debate and craic. Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éireann Comhdháil MMXXVI (a.k.a. 2026 by those who are not Roman nor pretentious) was held at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo. The annual event is AMLÉ’s foremost decision-making body.

Road signs at the Tyrone/Donegal border The social divide between those living within the six county area of Ireland still governed under the British and those living in the Republic is one in which I never encountered in such depth until I moved to Galway to begin my studies. I come from a border community only 30 minutes from the Cavan/Fermanagh border in a town called Enniskillen. Growing up within a Catholic nationalist background, I always felt comfortable with my Irish identity.

Photographer Trevor O’Donoghue, on his touring exhibition: “The Cost of Breathing”, illustrating the different emotions of living with a disease. Produced for the International Eradication of Poverty Day, Trevor O’Donoghue’s series of self-portraits highlights the unseen expense of having Cystic Fibrosis (CF). His exhibition, which is currently embarking on a national tour throughout Irish libraries, was initially launched at the CFI National Conference 2026 on Saturday 7 February.