Four BICS awards each for DIT and NUI Galway

DIT and NUI Galway came out winners at the annual Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) National Society Awards.

Both colleges scooped four awards on the night with DIT winning Most Improved Society, Best Publicity Campaign, Best Promotional Video and Best Photo.

NUI Galway's Medical Society won Best Society in an Academic, Cultural and Social Field, Draíocht Society won the Best Society in a Civic and Charity Field award while the Best Fresher Award went to first year Arts student Ciarán Mac Choncarraige and Potter Soc won Best Intervarsity.

BICS is a national organisation dedicated to providing a national forum for the societies in Ireland’s Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Education.  The awards ceremony took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Limerick on April 14th.

Events officer for DIT Dance, Dermot Watchorn said for DIT Dance to win two awards was surreal and the society was beyond thrilled at even making it to BICs.

“We honestly can’t believe we won two awards this year. From the start of the year our main aim was just to make it to BICs and the fact that we took home two trophies is incredible”, he said.

Best Event in the large college category was awarded to DCU’s MPS 24 Hour Broadcast. DCU’s Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh was also awarded best individual in a large college. He thanked his friends for getting him involved in society life and said he is excited to end his college career with this award.

“I owe it all to my friends in DCU because they’re the reason I’m involved in societies. I’m absolutely delighted to be able to finish off my time in college on such a good note”, he said.

He went on to say that it meant a huge amount for the 24 Hour Broadcast to win as well.

“Winning Best Event with the broadcast was phenomena too because it’s something that means so much too so many people. The original goal was to not break the stud so all things considered we’re pretty happy with the results”, he said.

Siabhra Medley, auditor of NUI Galway's Draíocht which was winner of the Best Society in a Civic and Charity Field award, said: “Draíocht enables students to make an incredible difference for people in the developing world and allows students to experience cultures that are radically different to their own.

"This year we worked with our partners in Nepal when the earthquake destroyed the orphanage and school our society had built and ensured supplies and vaccinations got to the village where our founder member was stationed.”

Full list of winners:
Best Society (cultural/academic/social in a large college): NUI Galway MedSoc
Best Society (cultural/academic/social in a small college): IT Tallaght Radio Soc
Best Society (civic/charity in a large college): NUI Galway Draiocht Society
Best Society (civic/charity in a small college): IT Tralee SVP Society
Best Event (large college): DCU MPS
Best Event (small college): ITTD Radio Scoiety
Best Individual (large college): Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallagh (DCU)
Joint Best Individual (small college): Martin Crowley (CIT) & Emma Mullan (ITTD)
Most Improved Society (large college): DIT Dance Soc
Most Improved Society (small college): IT Tralee Music Society
Best New Society (large college): UCC Musical Society
Best New Society (small college): ITTD Cumann Gaelach
Best Fresher (large college): NUI Galway
Best Fresher (small college): IT Tallaght
Best Mental Health Promoting Event: GMIT Mental Health Soc
Best InterVarsity: NUI Galway Potter Soc
Best Publicity Campaign: DIT Fashion Soc
Best Promotional Video: DIT Fashion Soc
Best Poster: DCU Photo Soc
Best Photo: DIT Dance Soc