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Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal (5‑Minute Thesis Competition) – A fantastic evening at the new competition from the Higher Education Authority
The first year of the Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal (5‑Minute Thesis) competition was held in Dublin at the end of November with great success. Postgraduate students from across the entire island were eligible to give presentations about their theses. Describing a university thesis within five minutes is quite a challenge, but all the participants performed very well.
Dr Rosemary Day, a board member of the Higher Education Authority and Head of the Department of Media and Communication Studies at Mary Immaculate College, officially opened the competition. In her opening remarks, Dr Day emphasised the central role of the Irish language in Ireland’s society, culture, and heritage, and stated that the competition was organised to recognise the Authority’s role under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 in supporting the Irish language within the higher education sector, and in promoting student participation and success in the higher education system.
Not only does this competition give students an opportunity to improve their academic and communication skills through Irish, but it also provides them with a chance to share their research at a national level.
Tim Conlon, Joseph McInerney, Peadar Ó Rathaille, Liadain De Paor, Megan Byrne, Pól Ó Sniadhaigh, Alex Candon, Nora Murphy, Caolán Mac Grianna, Dr Jack Gleeson
The Candidates
There was a large crowd in attendance on the night at the Wood Quay Venue, who listened attentively to the candidates from a wide range of academic disciplines, including education studies, psychology, renewable energy, and literature. Candidates from five higher education institutions across the island took part. The following students were selected to participate:
- Alex Candon from Dublin City University
- Caolán Mac Grianna from University of Galway
- Joseph McInerney from Queen’s University Belfast
- Liadain De Paor from Trinity College Dublin
- Megan Byrne from University of Galway
- Nora Murphy from Dublin City University
- Peadar Ó Rathaille from Munster Technological University
- Pól Ó Sniadhaigh from Dublin City University
Dr Rosemary Day launching the competition
Preparation Workshop
The challenge facing these students was to present their research in a way that was accessible, engaging, and concise. Not only that, but each student had only five minutes to do so. To help them prepare for the competition, they were given the opportunity to attend a preparatory workshop led by Eoin McEvoy, an Educational Technologist at University College Dublin (UCD). Eoin is also the director of the arts collective AerachAiteachGaelach.
The workshop was highly successful, and the results of that work were clearly evident on the night. The Higher Education Authority would like to thank Eoin again for this extremely valuable contribution.
Judging Panel
There were three judges on the panel for the competition, who worked hard on the night to select the winners. Dr Rosemary Day is Head of the Department of Media and Communication at Mary Immaculate College and is also a board member of the Higher Education Authority. She has a strong interest in community radio, and among her achievements is the founding of Raidió na Life, the Irish-language radio station for Irish-speakers in Dublin.
Also present on the night was Rónán Ó Muirthile, who is Head of the Faculty of Film, Art and Creative Technologies at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire (IADT). Rónán is involved in his institution’s executive management and also serves on the steering committee of FilmEU. In addition to being an academic, he is an active practitioner in the television sector and has received two IFTA awards for his work.
Alongside them was Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Vice President for Irish at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). Pádraig holds a degree in Early and Modern Irish from Trinity College Dublin, where he worked with the Students’ Union as Irish Language Officer.
The Higher Education Authority would also like to thank the judging panel. The competition was extremely tight on the night, given the very high standard of the candidates. The HEA is very grateful to the judges—this was no easy task!
The judging panel deliberating. Dr Rosemary Day, Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Rónán Ó Muirthile
The Winners
The aim of this competition was to celebrate the research of postgraduate students. Students spend a great deal of time working independently on research to write their theses, and opportunities to share this work with others are rare. Eight participants took part on the night, and the following were selected as the winners:
- First Place: Liadain De Paor from Trinity College Dublin
- Second Place: Megan Byrne from University of Galway
- Third Place: Nora Murphy from Dublin City University
An iPad Air was awarded for first place, an iPad for second place, and a €150 One4All voucher for third place. In addition, the illustrator Selkies, Louise Ní Chuilinn, will work with the three winners to design illustrations of their theses in the form of a one-page comic. These illustrations will be available shortly.
Rónán Ó Muirthile, Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Dr Rosemary Day, Nora Murphy, Liadain De Paor, Megan Byrne, Dr Jack Gleeson
The first year of Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal was a great success. It generated significant interest, and other students have already expressed an interest in taking part in the next competition. The initiative is off to a strong start, and we look forward to seeing it grow and develop in the years ahead.
A paperweight was presented to each participant.
Órlaith Ní Thuathaigh from Conradh na Gaeilge served as the host on the night. Órlaith is an Irish Language Activism Coordinator.
There was a large crowd in attendance on the night at the Wood Quay Venue.
Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal – Oíche iontach ag an gcomórtas nua ón Údarás um Ard-Oideachas
D’éirigh go hiontach leis an gcéad bhliain den chomórtas Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal i mBaile Átha Cliath ag deireadh mí na Samhna, 2025. Bhí deis ag mic léinn iarchéime ó fud fad an oileáin páirt a ghlacadh agus cur i láthair a dhéanamh faoina dtráchtas. Is mór an dúshlán é cur síos a dhéanamh ar thráchtas ollscoile laistigh de chúig nóiméad ach d’eirigh go maith leis na hiarrthóirí ar fad.
Chuir Dr Rosemary Day, ar chomhalta boird ar an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas agus Ceannasaí Roinn Léinn na Meán agus Cumarsáide i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál í, oscailt oifigiúil leis an gcomórtas. Ina ráiteas tosaigh, leag Dr Day béim ar an ról lárnach atá ag an nGaeilge i sochaí, cultúr agus oidhreacht na hÉireann agus dúirt gur eagraíodh an comórtas seo chun aitheantas a thabhairt don ról atá ag an Údarás faoi Acht an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas 2022, chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don Ghaeilge in earnáil an ardoideachais agus chun tacú le rannpháirtíocht agus rath na mac léinn sa chóras ardoideachais.
Ní hamháin go dtugann an comórtas seo deis do na mic léinn feabhas a chur ar a gcuid scileanna acadúla agus cumarsáide trí Ghaeilge ach tugann sé deis dóibh freisin agus a gcuid taighde a roinnt ar leibhéal náisiúnta.
Tim Conlon, Joseph McInerney, Peadar Ó Rathaille, Liadain De Paor, Megan Byrne, Pól Ó Sniadhaigh, Alex Candon, Nora Murphy, Caolán Mac Grianna, Dr Jack Gleeson
Na hIarrthóirí
Bhí slua bhreá i láthair ar an oíche in Ionad Ché an Adhmaid a d’éist go haireach leis na hiarrthóirí a bhí ó gach disciplín ollscoile amhail léann an oideachais, an tsíceolaíocht, fuinneamh in-athnuaite, agus an litríocht. Bhí iarrthóirí ann ó chúig insitiúid ardoideachais ó fud an oileáin. Is iad na mic léinn seo a leanas na hiarrthóirí ar fad a roghnaíodh chun a bheith páirteach:
- Alex Candon ó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath
- Caolán Mac Grianna ó Ollscoil na Gaillimhe
- Joseph McInerney ó Ollscoil na Banríona Béal Feirste
- Liadain De Paor ó Choláiste na Trionóide Bhaile Átha Cliath
- Megan Byrne ó Ollscoil na Gaillimhe
- Nora Murphy ó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath
- Peadar Ó Rathaille ó Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan
- Pól Ó Sniadhaigh ó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath
Dr Rosemary Day ag cur tús oifigiúil leis an gcomórtas
Ceardlann Ullmhúcháín
Is é an dúshlán a bhí roimh na mac léinn seo ná a gcuid taighde a chur i láthair ar bhealach atá sothuighte, spreagúil, agus gonta. Ní hamháin sin ach ní raibh ach cúig nóiméad ag gach mac léinn chun é sin a dhéanamh. Chun cabhrú leis na mic léinn ullmhú don chomórtas, tugadh deis dóibh freastal ar cheardlann ullmhúcháin a threoraigh Eoin McEvoy ar Theicneolaí Oideachais é in UCD. Chomh maith leis sin, is é Eoin an stiúrthóir ar an gcomharghrúpa ealaíne AerachAiteachGaelach.
D’éirigh go haoibhinn leis an gceardlann agus bhí toradh na hoibre sin le feiceáil ar an oíche. Ba mhaith leis an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas buíochas a ghabháil le hEoin arís as an obair thar a bheith luachmhar seo a rinne sé.
Painéal Moltóirí
Bhí triúr ar phainéal moltóirí don chomórtas a d’oibirgh go crua ar an oíche chun na buaiteoirí a roghnú. Is ían Dochtúir Rosemary Day Ceann Roinn na Meán agus Cumarsáide i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál. Is comhalta boird í ar an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas í. Tá an-spéis aici sa raidió pobail agus i measc na n-éachtaí atá bainte amach aici le linn a gairme ná Raidió na Life a bhunú, an stáisiúin raidió do chainteoirí Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath.
Chomh maith leis sin, Bhí Rónán Ó Muirthile linn ar an oíche agus is é Cheann Dhámh na Scannánaíochta, na hEalaíne, agus na teicneolaíochta cruthaithí é in Institiúid Ealaíne, Deartha agus Teicneolaíochta Dhún Laoghaire. Tá Rónán páirteach i bhfeidhmeannas a institiúide agus chomh maith leis sin tá sé ar an gcoiste stiúrtha de FilmEU. Ní hamháin gur fear léinn é Rónán ach is cleacthóir gníomhach é in earnáil na teilifíse agus tá dhá gradaim IFTA faighte aige as an obair sin.
Agus in éindí leo san, bhí Pádraig Mac Brádaigh an Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge ar Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn. Tá céim bainte amach ag Pádraig sa Luath agus Nua-Ghaeilge ó Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, áit ar oibrigh sé d’aontas na mac léinn mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge. Ba mhaith leis an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas buíochas a ghabháíl freisin leis an bpainéal moltóirí. Bhí comórtas an-ghéar ann ar an oíche os rud é go raibh caighdeán na n-iarrthóirí ar an leibhéal is airde.
Ba mhaith leis an Údarás um Ard-Oideachas buíochas a ghabháil leis an bpainéal moltóirí, ní raibh jab éasca acu ar an oíche!
Painéal Moltóirí i mbun oibre. Dr Rosemary Day, Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Rónán Ó Muirthile
Na Buaiteoirí
Bhí sé mar sprioc ag an gcomórtas seo ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar thaighde na mac léinn iarchéime. Caitheann mic léinn go leor ama ag obair leo féin ag déanamh taighde chun tráchtas a scríobh agus is annamh iad na deiseanna chun an obair seo a roinnt le daoine eile. Bhí ochtar páirteach ar an oíche agus is na daoine seo a leanas a roghnaíodh mar bhuaiteoirí ar an oíche:
- Céad Áit : Liadain De Paor ó Choláiste na Trionóide Bhaile Átha Cliath
- Dara Áit: Megan Byrne ó Ollscoil na Gaillimhe
- Tríú Áit: Nora Murphy ó Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath
Bronnadh iPad Air ar an gcéad áit, agus iPad ar an dara áit agus dearbhán One4All de luach €150 ar an tríú áit. Ina theannta sin, oibreoidh an maisitheoir Selkies, Louise Ní Chuilinn, leis na triúr buaiteoirí chun léaráidí dá tráchtais a dhearadh ar leathanach amháin de ghreannán. Beidh na léaráidí seo le feiceáil go luath.
Rónán Ó Muirthile, Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Dr Rosemary Day, Nora Murphy, Liadain De Paor, Megan Byrne, Dr Jack Gleeson
D’éirigh go hiontach leis an gcéad bhliain de Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal, cuireadh spéis go mór ann agus tá suim léirithe ag mic léinn eile cheana féin páirt a ghlacadh sa chéad comórtas eile. Bhí tús láidir ag an togra seo agus táimid ag súil go dtiocfaidh fás agus forbairt air sna blianta amach romhainn.
Bronnadh tromán páipéir ar gach iarrthóir
Is í Órlaith Ní Thuathaigh ó Chonradh na Gaeilge a d’oibrigh mar bhean an tí ar an oíche. Is í Órlaith Comhordaitheoir Gníomhaí Gaeilge.
Bhí slua bhréa i láthair ar an oíche in Ionad Ché an Adhmaid