GRADUATE ASSOCIATIONS
GRADUATE ASSOCIATIONS: UCD WOMEN
Established in 1902, the UCD Women Graduates’ Association (WGA) is affiliated to the Irish Federation of University
Women (IrFUW), University Women of Europe (UWE) and the International Federation of University Women (IFUW),
which has consultative status within the UN. Membership forms can be obtained by writing to the Honorary
Secretary, UCD-WGA, c/o UCD Development & Alumni Relations, Room 102, Tierney Building, Belfield, Dublin 4 or by
email to women.graduates@ucd.ie. Yvonne McGarry-Groarke (MApplSc ’81) is the current WGA President.
Girl’s under-15 Public Speaking
• The recipients of the proceeds from
Competition Final 2008
the charity bridge night and the
book sale on campus in September
Individual winner of the UCD heat of the Public Speaking
were UCD New ERA Programme,
Competition, Grace de Blaca, Sion Hill, won the Irish Federation
Ruhama (national support group for
of University Women’s Final at Queen’s University Belfast on 1
trafficked women) and Mary Akrami
March. The winning team of the UCD heat was Loreto Dalkey.
from Afganistan who runs a shelter
Holly O’Callaghan, Una O’Boyle-Finnegan and Kathy Clinch took
for woman in her own country.
the runner-up prizes. Other schools that participated in the UCD
• Following the WGA submission to
competition were Coláiste Íosagáin Stillorgan, Loreto St
Mary Akrami
the Department of Defence on
Stephen’s Green, St Killian’s German School, St Joseph’s Lucan,
‘Women in the Defence Forces’,
Holy Child Killiney and St Gerard’s Bray.
Comdt Mary Carroll, a UCD
graduate and currently the
highest-ranking woman in the
Defence Forces, delivered a lecture
on ‘The role of women in
peacekeeping in the army’. The
lecture took place in Belfield in
October and was followed by
Comdt Mary Carroll
a reception.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Some of the other activities that took place during the year
were the annual outing to Kilquade Gardens and Powerscourt
House and Gardens, the Annual Dinner, a reception for new
members in Newman House and a Christmas Evening Party.
Visits to the National Concert Hall recently included the
performance of pianist Lang Lang. There were also visits to the
Pictured at Queen’s University Belfast: Niamh Hynes, President
Irish Federation; Grace de Blaca, overall winner; Yvonne
Gate Theatre, Japanese Art Exhibition in the Chester Beatty
McGarry-Groarke, WGA President; and Annette Durkan,
Library, a walking tour of central Dublin and some exhibitions
chairperson, Public Speaking Committee
in Collins Barracks Museum and the National Gallery of Ireland.
EVENTS HELD IN 2007
Further information & contact details
• The WGA was happy to be invited to partake in ‘Farewell to
The WGA has continued to influence public policy on
the Terrace’ in May. These events provided the ideal
matters affecting women in general and women
opportunity to showcase its UCD Photo-Call and to increase
graduates in particular. If you feel you might be
the WGA membership. Dr Ann Lavan, Sociology Department,
interested in our organisation, either socially, or to offer
read an abstract from the book Newman to New Woman,
your expertise as a woman graduate to improve the
which was made available to a wider audience.
status of women and girls both nationally and
• UCD-WGA had many representatives at The Triennial
internationally, please email Annette Durkan at
Conference of the International Federation of University
nettdurkan@eircom.net, Margaret O’Gorman at
Women, which was held in Manchester 10-17 August. The
margaretog@eircom.net, or Yvonne McGarry-Groake at
theme was ‘Women as Agents of Change’ and the opening
ymcgarry@eircom.net. Membership forms can be
address was delivered by Mary Robinson. Other contributors
obtained by writing to the Honorary Secretary, UCD-
to the conference from Ireland were Dr Marion Gibson,
WGA, c/o UCD Development & Alumni Relations, Room
Queen’s University Belfast and Dr Ceppie Merry, Trinity
102, Tierney Building, Belfield, Dublin 4 or by email to
College Dublin.
women.graduates@ucd.ie.
UCD CONNECTIONS PAGE SIXTY THREE
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