On Saturday, January 18th, our group set off for the Model United Nations (MUN) conference at the University of Galway. We took the 7:30 AM train from Athlone Train Station to Galway Ceannt Station, arriving at 8:36 AM. From there, we walked to the Alice Perry Engineering Building on campus. Our delegation included seven students: Abdur Safdar (Australia), Cian Flood (United Kingdom), Finian O’Neill (France), Finnan McDonagh (United Kingdom), Noel Philip (Australia), Oisín Moran (Nigeria), and Safwan Said (United Kingdom).
When we arrived, we registered, picked up our country placards and name badges, and headed to the lecture hall for the opening ceremony. The event organiser welcomed everyone, and the conference began with an opening plenary session, where we debated the topic of space weaponisation. The Haiti delegation won the debate with a strong majority of votes.
Afterward, we were assigned to our respective committees and councils:
- Disarmament & International Security (DISEC) – Finian
- Economic & Financial Questions (ECOFIN)
- Social, Cultural & Humanitarian (SOCHUM) – Cian
- Special, Political & Decolonisation (SPECPOL) – Myself
- UN Security Council (Security) – Abdur, Finnan, Oisín, and Safwan
- Special Committee on Education (Education)
Committee Sessions – Saturday
Before the discussions began, each delegate gave a policy statement outlining their country’s stance on the key issues. We then engaged in lobbying—where we spoke with other delegates, discussed resolutions, and sought support in the form of signatures.
First Committee Session Topics:
- DISEC: The Role of Private Military Contractors (PMCs) in Armed Conflicts
- SOCHUM: Advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by 2030
- SPECPOL: Addressing the Ongoing Effects of Colonization and Decolonization
- Security Council: Tensions Between North and South Korea
Despite our best efforts, none of our proposed resolutions were passed in this session. Afterward, we enjoyed lunch provided by the event organisers.
Second Committee Session Topics:
- DISEC: Securing Global Supply Chains Against the Illicit Arms Trade
- SOCHUM: Combating Misinformation and Its Impact on Democracies
- SPECPOL: Addressing the Issue of Non-Self-Governing Territories
- Security Council: Preventing the Spread of Extremist Ideologies Through Social Media
Committee Sessions – Sunday
On Sunday, January 19th, we left at 7:00 AM by bus for the University of Galway, arriving at 8:42 AM. After signing in and taking a few group photos, we proceeded to our next committee sessions.
Third Committee Session Topics:
- DISEC: Disarmament Strategies to Address Non-State Actors in Conflict Zones
- SOCHUM: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis and Increasing Access to Mental Health Care
- SPECPOL: Reviewing Ongoing Peacekeeping Operations Worldwide
- Security Council: The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Warfare
During this session, a merged resolution in SPECPOL, created by the delegations of Australia, Egypt, Afghanistan, and South Korea, was passed with seven votes—the only resolution from our group to be successfully approved.
Fourth Committee Session Topics:
- DISEC: Preventing an Arms Race in Emerging Technologies (AI, Hypersonic Weapons, and Quantum Warfare)
- SOCHUM: Ensuring Gender Equality in the Workplace
- SPECPOL: The Prospect of Colonizing the Moon and Outer Space Territories
- Security Council: Preventing Armed Conflict Over the Arctic
Closing Plenary & Awards
The final plenary session presented a fictional crisis scenario: a massive earthquake caused destructive waves along the coasts of West Africa, Portugal, and Spain, while the mythical land of Atlantis re-emerged. The debate was lively, with different countries proposing resolutions to address the situation. Finian suggested launching a nuclear attack on Atlantis, and in an unexpected turn, the Mexican delegation was removed from the debate through the motion to evict.
After the plenary, awards were given out. Before heading home, we took a short trip to Eyre Square before catching the 6:00 PM train back to Tullamore.
Reflections on the Experience
This MUN conference was an exciting and enriching experience. We made new friends, developed our debating skills, and learned more about global issues. Participating in discussions and navigating the formal procedures of diplomacy was both challenging and rewarding.
Finnan’s Perspective: “As France in the Security Council, I had veto power, meaning I had a key role alongside four other countries in deciding the fate of resolutions. We debated various topics, including the tensions between North and South Korea and the ownership of the Arctic. While the discussions were intense, it was an incredible opportunity to meet new people and develop my skills in diplomacy and negotiation.”
A big thank you to Ms. O’Brien and the University of Galway for making this event possible!