Cumann Staire
Encyclopedia
Events
An Cumann Staire organises many events over the academic year, academic and social. These are attended by students and staff alike.Academic
The elected secretary for the committee organises guest lectures/talks for the academic year. These normally are lecturers from around the world and Ireland. The usually consist of a lecture given for 40–50 minutes and a questions and answers session with the audience for 15–25 minutes. Afterwards all are invited for an informal discussion with light refreshments. The lectures are generally well attended by students and staff alike.Social
The Society also organises several social events throughout the academic year. At the start of the year, Cumann Staire usually has a meet & greet session for new members on the evening after the Socs Day festivities. Throughout the academic year, table quizzes, films, television series' and parties are put on by the society. These include annual Hallowe'en and Christmas parties, film screenings and at least one table quiz per year for its members. Cumann Staire are also the organisers of the Arts Ball, the biggest formal university ball of its kind west of the Shannon and possibly Ireland.Arts Ball
The Arts Ball is the largest and most popular of the balls at NUIGNational University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
. The ball has become steadily bigger over the years. The Arts Ball has been in operation since at least the 1960s. The ball helps raise money for charity and its popularity has also been covered in local newspapers. The ball has grown from 500 attendees to nearly 1,700 attendees in 2011. The ball grew significantly when it moved to a the Salthill Hotel in 2009, as it is the biggest venue available in Galway. The Ball consists of a five course dinner and afterwards musical acts play to the crowd. In 2011, the Arts Ball was host to the Rubberbandits, who were well received by the crowd. The UK's biggest Indie DJ's: Propaganda DJs also played the Ball and After party as well as Torann, Blue Moose, Whitewater and Hot Fuss.
Trips
Several trips are organised by the society for its members each year. There is traditionally one weekend away to a national destination and one or two trips to international destinations abroad. Places that the society have visited previously are EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
amongst other places abroad.
The society has made several trips to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
in Germany, as Cumann Staire has a strong relationship with the university's historical society. Many students from the University of Mainz have taken their Erasmus year in Galway, and have joined the society and become committee members during their year.
Destinations
- 2011/12 - BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
- 2010/11 - BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, IstriaIstriaIstria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
, RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... - 2009/10 - DerryDerryDerry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... - 2008/09 - MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
& ZagrebZagrebZagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city... - 2007/08 - ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
& SloveniaSloveniaSlovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... - 2006/07 - MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
& SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans... - 2005/06 - EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
Conferences
As a historical society, Cumann Staire regularly attends and encourages its members to attend conferences. The society also organises History conferences. Cumann Staire has been chosen to host the 2012 annual IHSA conference.National
Cumann Staire always attends the annual IHSA conference in Ireland. This is organised by the IHSA which is an association for Irish history students. Cumann Staire was overwhelmingly chosen to host the 2012 annual IHSA conference at the AGM on the last day of the proceedings at the 2011 conference in CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Galway was in recent years host to the conference in 2004 & 2008. Society members also attend other conferences in Ireland on behalf on their society usually in relation to their research interests.
International
Cumann Staire also regularly attends international conferences with ISHAIsha
* Hebrew word meaning "woman"* Isha'a, the Fard daily Salah prayers in Islam* A Sanskrit term for "God, deity", see Ishvara* A name meaning: deity; the ruling Goddess; the Lord, One who protects, Supreme.* Another name of Goddess Kali* An Indian given name...
(International Students of History Association), whom host several seminars across Europe each year and one annual conference. Cumann Staire is currently the first and only Irish section of ISHA. Cumann Staire has become a member in recent years and have attended events in Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
and Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Members also attend other international conferences on behalf of the society.
Links
An Cumann Staire has many links with universities and students societies in Ireland and futher afield. Cumann Staire is a member of several history students associations, The Irish History Students Association (IHSA) and The International Students of History AssociationInternational Students of History Association
The International Students of History Association is an international non-governmental organization of students of history. Based and active mainly in Europe, ISHA's goals are to facilitate communication and provide a platform of exchange for students of history and related sciences on an...
(ISHA). Cumann Staire attends conferences held by these associations. Due to the proximity of Irish cities, it is unusual if Cumann Staire does not attend the annual IHSA conference. Cumann Staire was one of the founding member societies at the first annual congress in 1950.http://www.cumannstaire.com/history.php The society was also overwhelmingly chosen to host the IHSA annual conference in 2012 at the AGM which came at the end of the 2011 Conference in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Cumann Staire became an ISHA member in 2006 and has since attended conferences across the continent.http://www.cumannstaire.com/history.php An Cumann Staire is the only ISHA section that is a society that runs non-related ISHA events. The society has also many links with universities and their societies throughout the world. Cumann Staire has visited and met student societies in Italy and Ireland and epecially those from Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. The society partakes in trips to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
in Germany as Cumann Staire has a strong relationship with the university's historical society.