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Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
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Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly known as the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), is the national representative body for third-level students in Ireland, being an confederal organisation consisting of third-level students' unions. Founded in 1959, it represents more than 374,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland.
Former presidents of the organisation include former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, former Chief Justice John L. Murray (1966/67), and broadcaster Joe Duffy (1983–84).
In May 2025, the organisation officially changed name from its original English title, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), to its Irish language name, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), following the passing of a constitutional amendment at its 2025 Comhdháil.
The organisation's ultimate governing body is its annual Comhdháil (Congress), consisting of delegates from all of its member organisations. Its executive body meanwhile is Comhairle Náisiúnta (National Council), which meets approximately every six weeks and comprises one voting member from each member organisation, along with non-voting members. Day-to-day operations meanwhile are carried out by the Coiste Gnó (Executive Committee), full-time officers elected at Comhdháil from member organisations. The Coiste Gnó consists of 11 full-time officers, namely a President, Vice Presidents for Campaigns, Academic Affairs, Welfare, Equality & Citizenship, Gaeilge (Irish Language), Postgraduate Affairs, a Vice President for each of the regions (Southern, Border Midlands West and Dublin), along with the NUS-USI President (elected at NUS-USI conferences).
In Northern Ireland, AMLÉ jointly operates NUS-USI with the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom, under the so-called "Trilateral Agreement", with students being members of both national unions. AMLÉ is a member of European Students' Union and Eurodoc, and has provided officer-holders in both organisations.
AMLÉ member organisations (students' unions), pay an affiliation fee to fund the national union, proportional to their student populations. Many of these unions were merged from smaller unions in institutes of technology, prior to the creation of technological universities, although not all students' unions of such institutes have merged.
Notably, University of Limerick Student Life (formerly University of Limerick Students' Union) has not been a member of AMLÉ since the 1990s.
Chief Justice John L. Murray was the organisation's president in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983–84. Several Irish politicians also started their careers as presidents of the organisation, including former Labour Party leaders Pat Rabbitte and Eamon Gilmore, and former chairman of the Labour Party, Colm Keaveney. Annie Hoey held the post from 2016 to 2017 and became the first former female president to be elected to national office during the 2020 Seanad election as the Irish Labour Party candidate for the Agricultural Panel.
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Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly known as the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), is the national representative body for third-level students in Ireland, being an confederal organisation consisting of third-level students' unions. Founded in 1959, it represents more than 374,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland.
Former presidents of the organisation include former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, former Chief Justice John L. Murray (1966/67), and broadcaster Joe Duffy (1983–84).
In May 2025, the organisation officially changed name from its original English title, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), to its Irish language name, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), following the passing of a constitutional amendment at its 2025 Comhdháil.
The organisation's ultimate governing body is its annual Comhdháil (Congress), consisting of delegates from all of its member organisations. Its executive body meanwhile is Comhairle Náisiúnta (National Council), which meets approximately every six weeks and comprises one voting member from each member organisation, along with non-voting members. Day-to-day operations meanwhile are carried out by the Coiste Gnó (Executive Committee), full-time officers elected at Comhdháil from member organisations. The Coiste Gnó consists of 11 full-time officers, namely a President, Vice Presidents for Campaigns, Academic Affairs, Welfare, Equality & Citizenship, Gaeilge (Irish Language), Postgraduate Affairs, a Vice President for each of the regions (Southern, Border Midlands West and Dublin), along with the NUS-USI President (elected at NUS-USI conferences).
In Northern Ireland, AMLÉ jointly operates NUS-USI with the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom, under the so-called "Trilateral Agreement", with students being members of both national unions. AMLÉ is a member of European Students' Union and Eurodoc, and has provided officer-holders in both organisations.
AMLÉ member organisations (students' unions), pay an affiliation fee to fund the national union, proportional to their student populations. Many of these unions were merged from smaller unions in institutes of technology, prior to the creation of technological universities, although not all students' unions of such institutes have merged.
Notably, University of Limerick Student Life (formerly University of Limerick Students' Union) has not been a member of AMLÉ since the 1990s.
Chief Justice John L. Murray was the organisation's president in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983–84. Several Irish politicians also started their careers as presidents of the organisation, including former Labour Party leaders Pat Rabbitte and Eamon Gilmore, and former chairman of the Labour Party, Colm Keaveney. Annie Hoey held the post from 2016 to 2017 and became the first former female president to be elected to national office during the 2020 Seanad election as the Irish Labour Party candidate for the Agricultural Panel.
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