2,027 students from Maynooth University (MSU) voted to remain with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) with a total of 2,142 votes cast. Polls opened at 9am on Wednesday the 8th of March and closed at 6pm on March 8th. Final result was 95.7% of MSU voters said yes to USI.
Speaking after the result was announced, USI President Annie Hoey thanked the campaign team and the students of Maynooth University. “Almost 96% of students in Maynooth see the worth of having their voices heard on a national level. We heard on the ground that students knew the work of USI, the work done on mental health and our fight against students loans. I look forward continuing our fight for publicly-funded higher education with MSU and to campaign for stipends for their student teachers while on placement. Together, we are indeed stronger”.
Speaking at the count today, referendum campaign led and current Maynooth University student Ciarán Watts said, “It’s absolutely brilliant to re-affirm our membership with USI. I’m absolutely delighted that the work that USI has done and plans to do is recognised by the students. Maynooth students want to take the lead in the fight for publicly funded education, and that’s what they said here today.”
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 2,142
YES: 2,027
NO: 90
QUORUM: 1,575