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NEWS: Gripping SU election defeat for GAA-law ticket
In the Students’ Union elections result, the GAA-law team of candidates dramatically failed to gain student support, winning only one seat.
BY BRENDAN HUGHES
Of the seven positions on offer, the Critchlow ticket swept the board by capturing six of the seven places on the SU executive team. However, Presidential candidate Daniel Critchlow lost out to the law-GAA bloc’s Gareth McGreevy.
The results were announced last night in the Speakeasy Bar to a packed crowd of campaigners, supporters and onlookers. In a record turnout, 4525 students voted in the elections; an 18.9% increase on last year.
Fiona Kidd defeated Stephen Connolly on the first count to win the VP Campaigns and Communications Sabbatical position. The clearly shocked and emotional Kidd thanked her team in her speech.
The VP Education post was won by Nathan Anderson, beating Fionnuala McKenna by around 100 votes.
Adam McGibbon finally won the VP Welfare post, after losing to the resigning Susan Kearney in last year’s election. Greg McLarnon came third, with Aine Ní Cheara placing second.
“I didn’t expect to get this. Thanks so much to all my running mates. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a pessimistic person. Congratulations to everybody!” McGibbon said.
It was also second-time-success for Jay Downs, who beat Alex Redpath to win VP Community. Earlier in the year, Redpath won the role of Speaker over Downs in a student council vote. An ecstatic Downs repeatedly punched the air, thanking his team.
A strong Sinn Féin campaign for VP Equality and Diversity candidate Grace Lynch failed to slay competitor Samantha Tan, who became the second ever international student to win an Executive post.
Many were surprised by Niall Bole’s victory in the VP Clubs and Societies category, narrowly winning the post over Niamh McKernan through second and third preference votes. Candidates looked stunned at the final result, with McKernan visibly showing frustration from the stage. Niall ‘Riggs’ McDermot came third.
“Oh dear God! I wasn’t expecting this. Thanks to Sam my girlfriend, I’ve been invisible for the last week. Thanks to everyone and all who voted!” Bole said in his speech.
After the storming success of Critchlow’s team, the Speakeasy crowd gasped as Critchlow himself failed to win the President post and complete the set. Winning candidate and current VP Campaigns Gareth McGreevy was absent from the election result due to commitments at the Waterfront Hall. A visibly intoxicated VP Barry Duffy took to the stage to offer words of thanks on McGreevy’s behalf.
For all the instant reactions from last night, click here: http://www.thegown.org.uk/2010/03/03/news-su-election-result-live-blog/
Tags: Belfast, election, Gown, newspaper, qub, Queen's, queen's university, student, students, su, The Gown
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 10:38 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Councillor and Random Councillor.
Interesting it may be.
Our society (Queens Young Unionists) endorsed nobody in these elections.
One individual decided to endorse the GAA lot.
A brave number more decided to endorse the Centre candidates.
All speaking for themselves of course!
I am absolutely delighted with the results of this years election. I wish I was going to still be a student next year.
I am only frustrated that Bole fo VPCS didn't win by more. I am sick and tired of people talking as if Sporting teams are more important than anything else at this university. I've heard so many comments in the union foyer "wouldn't have a clue about how to run a team or a club" or "doesn't know how the Queens Sport system work".
Anybody who has anything to do with Clubs and Socs at the union knows how the Queens Sport system operates. Indeed anybody who has half a brain can see that the relationship between the clubs at the PEC and the union is weird and disjointed, with Karl Oakes having to manage more than his share.
And furthermore, I think anybody who runs a society properly will have more than enough experience to understand how to help sporting clubs. I understand that the Dragonslayers's (which Bole has been a part of) Qcon event is the biggest of its type on the island, with thousands of people attending. I think if he helped with that then he can handle the rest.
Interesting it was. Few seemed to celebrate as enthusiastically as the Unionists in the Speakeasy as Jay Downs defeated the speaker. Clearly they did not endorse the rather bizarre decision of a fellow member of the UUP to stand on the same ticket as the GAA. One assumes the student electorate questioned the motivations of a candidate who could be so fluid in his principles, in order to accomodate a pursuit of power.
I found it interesting Councillor that members of the UUP such as Peter Gray and Colin Sloan campaigned for Critchlow's ticket!
Can't wait for the next council meeting! Have heard a lot about how the new executive plan to support the Gown. Good on 'em! Good to see students looking out for one another and supporting the right things!
Loved the bit about Barry Duffy, absolute brilliance. Not surprised Connolly was a sore loser, second time losing. Good to see Bole winning, about time someone from a non-sports club held the Clubs and Societies post so that now maybe clubs and societies will get proper recognition and funding!
A 'change' has arrived.
I loved the fact that the visible president didnt even bother to turn up. Like you would think that this one commitment would take priority over a choir....
Well done to all of the candidates, regardless of whether or not they managed to win.
On a small technicality, Samantha Tan is actually the second international student to win a sabbatical election - Siva Thirumalai was elected as VPCS in 1996/97.
Interesting decision for the(member of the Ulster Unionist's )speaker of the council to stand on the GGA/SF ticket, also interesting to note he was defeated, even more interesting will be to see how the Ulster Unionists vote in the next meeting of council.
Loved Stephen Connolly's consolidation speech when he lost.
Staggered up on stage, viably drunk said something along the lines of "Thanks for voting for the disco party!" and staggered off again. Didn't tank anyone and didn't congratulate Fiona a sore looser if ever I saw one.
"visibly intoxicated" lol!
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@Smiling Student - the unionists seemed overjoyed at WAR's defeat. I saw that chap Sloan beaming ear to ear and cheering in a frenzy! I wouldn't be a natural Downs supporter, but it was pleasing to see Redpath put to the sword.
Boo to insidious invidiousity!
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