The NUI Galway Mincéirs Whiden Society aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students from the Traveller Community on campus and increase their participation in third-level education.
Socities Officer at NUI Galway Ríona Hughes said it was fitting that the Mincéirs Whiden Society secured the award on the eve of International Traveller and Roma Day which is 8 April.Mincéirs Whiden means Travellers talking in the Cant language. The society was co-founded by Traveller students at NUI Galway in 2018.
Founder member and NUI Galway alumnus Jason Sherlock said every college should have a Traveller student society and has offered support to anyone who wishes to establish one. At present, 1% of the Irish Travelling People hold a third-level qualification according to the Society.
To mark the celebrations, every pub in a ten mile radius closed for the day.