RAG Revolution

Published on April 19, 2012 at 3:18 pm by Kelly O'Brien
 

A few months ago I set out on a mission along with a small band of recruits to introduce the RAG revolution to the University of Limerick. The goal is simplistic in theory. Create an educated, socially active and engaged student body that are active in shaping the future of Ireland. In practice it proved to be a huge undertaking and one that has gotten us a lot of attention and critical acclaim as our counterparts in DCU have claimed the title of Irelands best new society.
But why would anyone bother you ask? Where did this passion come from? It all happened a little over a year ago when a group of students in DCU noticed that students were growing ever more apathetic towards the social problems surrounding them. Rather than sit back and watch this happen they decided to do something about it. News spread quick of their success and when we here in UL got wind of the idea we felt it was far too good of an opportunity to pass up. We too felt that students here were far too passive. That they weren’t engaged in the social issues that surrounded them. That they simply didn’t care.

But we at UL RAG took a different view on things. What if the students of UL did care but they just didn’t know it? That they did want to make a difference but didn’t know how? So we set out to provide a platform for students to get involved. To be the instigators of their own social projects. To be leaders not followers and bring thought to action. Action was the key word and within 8 weeks UL RAG has had plenty of it!

Being not of sound mind I and Tom Feehan the co-founder and P.R.O of the society set out to recruit and spread the good word. We never expected to get the response that we did. With little or no platform to promote ourselves on we still managed to capture the imagination of a group of highly enthusiastic and hardworking individuals. Within 1 week of being an active society we had already raised 650 euros for charity with well over 100 hours of collective voluntary time being logged.

RAGSTOCK Volunteers with The Original Rudeboys

Move forward another 2 week and a couple of hundred more voluntary hours and we had assisted in raising in and around 2,000 for charity. Turning our attention to tackling social issues we began work on the UL Says No Campaign along with Development Society, Out in UL and UL TV and ran the  “What cheers you up” campaign throughout ULSU’s Mental Health Week.

Along with all the voluntary bucket shaking, promotions, campaigning UL RAG introduced to the University for the first time innovative methods of volunteering such as multimedia. We had the assistance of 3 photographers, 1 graphic designer and 3 Video editors who added a new dimension to what it means to give a little back.

Our final event of the semester was perhaps one of the most ambitious, audacious and challenging projects that any new society has taken on. RAGSTOCK 2012 saw us host a charity gig in The Stables Club with four bands, late bar and DJ Set with the main attraction being up and coming Irish Hip Hop trio The Original Rudeboys. The planning, preparation, promotion and on the night administration of the event was a huge undertaking. However with the support of a strong committee and a large band of volunteers the night ended up a fantastic one for all involved. The Original Rudeboys rocked the stage to their adoring fans and we could all relax at the end of an exhausting week and hold our heads up high.

Having been mentioned in several local newspapers, university press releases and student newspapers as well as being mentioned on the Mooney Show on RTE Radio 1 to a listenership of over 120,000  by DCU RAG Chairperson Ronan O’Dailaigh and featuring twice on UL FM and pictures of our events being used to promote the University by the Press Office we now have a well deserved and hard earned strong established presence in the University of Limerick.

With DCU RAG co-founder Daithí de Butleír now at advanced stages of securing large amounts of funding for a potential National Organisation “RAG Ireland” the future is looking bright for one of UL’s hardest working societies and when RAG Ireland reaches its goal of establishing a RAG Society in every college in the country by 2020 UL can stand proud and say that we were there at the beginning.

UL RAG are actively recruiting so get involved now. ULRAGSOC@gmail.com and become part of the team in advance of September and  the beginning of the new academic year 2012/13.

Kevin Bolger


 

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  • Xoxsallyannmwahxox

    Fantastic Kevin!!! So proud of all of ye!!! Bring on next year!! We will do so much together!!

  • Kevin Bolger

    Thanks Sally! Next year is going to be unreal. Really excited about it all. It’s all lining up very nicely!