Cumann Staire

Events
An Cumann Staire organises many events over the academic year, academic and social. These are attended by students and staff alike.
Academic
The elected secretary for the committee organises guest lectures/talks for the academic year. These normally are lecturers from around the world and Ireland. The usually consist of a lecture given for 40-50 minutes and a questions and answers session with the audience for 15-25 minutes. Afterwards all are invited for an informal discussion with light refreshments. The lectures are generally well attended by students and staff alike.
Social
The Society also organises several social events throughout the academic year. At the start of the year, Cumann Staire usually has a meet & greet session for new members on the evening after the Socs Day festivities. Throughout the academic year, table quizzes, films, television series' and parties are put on by the society. These include annual Hallowe'en and Christmas parties, film screenings and at least one table quiz per year for its members. Cumann Staire are also the organisers of the Arts Ball, the biggest formal university ball of its kind west of the Shannon and possibly Ireland.
Arts Ball
The Arts Ball is the largest and most popular of the balls at NUIG. The ball has become steadily bigger over the years. The Arts Ball has been in operation since at least the 1960s. The ball helps raise money for charity and its popularity has also been covered in local newspapers. The ball has grown from 500 attendees to nearly 1,700 attendees in 2011. The ball grew significantly when it moved to a the Salthill Hotel in 2009, as it is the biggest venue available in Galway. The Ball consists of a five course dinner and afterwards musical acts play to the crowd. In 2011, the Arts Ball was host to the Rubberbandits, who were well received by the crowd. The UK's biggest Indie DJ's: Propaganda DJs also played the Ball and After party as well as Torann, Blue Moose, Whitewater and Hot Fuss.
Trips
Several trips are organised by the society for its members each year. There is traditionally one weekend away to a national destination and one or two trips to international destinations abroad. Places that the society have visited previously are Edinburgh, Germany, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia Italy, Estonia, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey amongst other places abroad.
The society has made several trips to Mainz in Germany, as Cumann Staire has a strong relationship with the university's historical society. Many students from the University of Mainz have taken their Erasmus year in Galway, and have joined the society and become committee members during their year.
Destinations
*2011/12 - Belfast
*2010/11 - Belfast, Istria, Romania and Estonia
*2009/10 - Derry, Mainz and Turkey
*2008/09 - Mainz & Zagreb
*2007/08 - Italy & Slovenia
*2006/07 - Mainz & Serbia
*2005/06 - Edinburgh
Conferences
As a historical society, Cumann Staire regularly attends and encourages its members to attend conferences. The society also organises History conferences. Cumann Staire has been chosen to host the 2012 annual IHSA conference.
National
Cumann Staire always attends the annual IHSA conference in Ireland. This is organised by the IHSA which is an association for Irish history students. Cumann Staire was overwhelmingly chosen to host the 2012 annual IHSA conference at the AGM on the last day of the proceedings at the 2011 conference in Cork. Galway was in recent years host to the conference in 2004 & 2008. Society members also attend other conferences in Ireland on behalf on their society usually in relation to their research interests.
International
Cumann Staire also regularly attends international conferences with ISHA (International Students of History Association), whom host several seminars across Europe each year and one annual conference. Cumann Staire is currently the first and only Irish section of ISHA. Cumann Staire has become a member in recent years and have attended events in Pula and Zagreb in Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Lithuania. Members also attend other international conferences on behalf of the society.
Links
An Cumann Staire has many links with universities and students societies in Ireland and futher afield. Cumann Staire is a member of several history students associations, The Irish History Students Association (IHSA) and The International Students of History Association (ISHA). Cumann Staire attends conferences held by these associations. Due to the proximity of Irish cities, it is unusual if Cumann Staire does not attend the annual IHSA conference. Cumann Staire was one of the founding member societies at the first annual congress in 1950. The society was also overwhelmingly chosen to host the IHSA annual conference in 2012 at the AGM which came at the end of the 2011 Conference in Cork. Cumann Staire became an ISHA member in 2006 and has since attended conferences across the continent. An Cumann Staire is the only ISHA section that is a society that runs non-related ISHA events. The society has also many links with universities and their societies throughout the world. Cumann Staire has visited and met student societies in Italy and Ireland and epecially those from Mainz. The society partakes in trips to Mainz in Germany as Cumann Staire has a strong relationship with the university's historical society.

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