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In the latest instalment of the Ó£ÌÒÉç½» Alumni Spotlight Series, we speak to Maud Keane.

Sa mhír is déanaí den tsraith 'Alumni Spotlight' de chuid Ollscoil Luimnigh, labhraímid le Maud Keane.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Maud Keane, I’m 23 years old and I currently work in marketing. 

1. Abair linn píosa beag fút féin?

Maud Ní Catháin is ainm dom, táim thrí bliana agus fiche d’aois, agus obraím i margaíocht. 

2. What course/s did you study, and what year/s did you graduate? 

I first studied Applied Languages as my undergraduate degree, and I graduated from that course in 2023. Then, I started my Master's in Marketing straight away, and just graduated from that in January.

2. Cad é an cúrsa léinn a ndearna tú staidéar air, agus cén bhliain/bhlianta ar bhain tú an cúrsa sin amach?

Ar dtús, rinne mé stáideair ar an gcúrsa fóchéime ‘Teangacha Feidhmeacha’ in Ollscoil Luimnigh, agus bhain mé amach an cúrsa sin i 2023. Thosaigh mé láithreach mo chuid céim mháistreachta margaíochta, agus níor bhain mé amach an chursa sin ach sa mhí Eanair.

3. Why did you choose to study at Ó£ÌÒÉç½»? 

My sister went to UL before me, and I visited her on the Open Day when I was in Leaving Cert year and just fell in love with the campus! I’m so glad, looking back, that I chose UL, and that definitely shows, since I chose to stay on for an extra year for my master's. 

3. Cén fáth gur roghnaigh tú dul le cúrsa in Ollscoil Luimnigh?

Chuaigh mo dheirfiúr go dtí OL romham, agus thug mé chuairt uirthi ar an lá oscailte fad is a bhí mé sa séiú bhliain, agus thit mé i ngrá leis an gcampas! Táim chomh sásta, ag breathnú siar, gur roghnaigh mé OL, agus is cinnte go léiríonn sé sin, mar roghnaigh mé fanacht ar feadh bliana breise le haghaidh mo Chéim Mháistreachta. 

4. What were the highlights of your course/s? 

The highlight of my master’s was definitely submitting my research project. I really enjoyed working on it and was so proud of the final piece, but I was also very happy to be finished it! My research explored the link between consumer identity and liquid fashion consumption, specifically clothing rental. 

4. Cad iad na buaicphointí ba mhó a bhain le do chúrsa(í)?

Is cinnte gurb é buaicphointe mo Chéim Mháistreachta mo pháipéar taighde a chur isteach. Thaitin a bheith ag obair air liom, agus bhí mé chomh bródúil as an bpíosa deiridh, ach bhí mé chómh sásta é a chríochnú ag an am gcéanna! D’fhéach mo thaighde thart ar an nasc idir féiniúlacht c´Ç³¾³ó²¹±ô³Ùó¾±°ùí agus tomhaltas faisin leachta, go háirithe éadaí a fháil ar chíos.

5. As a Ó£ÌÒÉç½» student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your experience like? 

During my master’s, we studied topics that were both relevant and forward-thinking, and the opportunities for live projects made it even more impactful. Getting to apply what we learned in real-world scenarios was definitely invaluable. It’s made such an impact on my own work ethic, to be part of an environment that encouraged innovation.

5. Bhí deis agat foghlaim ó fhoireann acadúil aitheanta agus tarraingt ar áiseanna den chéad scoth in Ollscoil Luimnigh. Ar mhiste leat cur síos a dhéanamh ar an taithí sin?

Le linn mo chéim mháistreachta, rinneamar staidéar ar roinnt thipaicí a bhí ábhartha chomh mhaith le fadcheannach, agus chuaigh sé go mór i bhfeidhm orm buíochas le na deiseanna do thionscadail bheo. Is cinnte go raibh sé fíor-luachmhar an méid a d’fhoghlaimíomar a chur i bhfeidhm i gcásanna sa saol fíor. Chuir sé tionchair ar m’eitic oibre féin a bheith mar chuid de thimpeallacht a spreag nuálaíocht.

6. What advice would you offer to students considering studying at Ó£ÌÒÉç½»? 

I would recommend UL wholeheartedly, it was the best experience of my life to date for sure. One thing I always say about UL is that there's something for everyone, and that it’s so important to go and find it – get involved in clubs and societies, put yourself out there and make the most of your time there!

6. Cén chomhairle a thabharfá do chairde léinn atá ag machnamh ar staidéar a dhéanamh in Ollscoil Luimnigh?

Mholfainn OL go diongbháilte, ba é an t-eispéireas is fearr de mo shaol go dtí seo gan dabht. Rud amháin a deirim i gcónaí faoi OL ná go bhfuil rud éigin ann do chách, agus go bhfuil sé chomh tábhachtach é a aimsiú – glac pháirt i gclubanna agus i gcumainn, cuir tú féin amuigh agus bain an lántairbhe as do chuid ama ann!

7. Were you a member of any clubs or societies? If so, tell us about your experience?

I was part of UL Student Council and UL Student Executive for two years as the UL Student Experience Chairperson. I loved this role! It allowed me to make a real difference in UL and have my voice heard, as well as meeting tonnes of new people. 

7. An raibh tú i do bhall d’aon chlub nó d’aon chumann? Ar mhiste leat cúpla rud a insint dúinn faoin taithí sin má bhí.

Bhí mé mar chuid de Chomhairle na Mac Léinn OL agus Feidhmeannach Mac Léinn OL ar feadh dhá bhliain mar Chathaoirleach Eispéireas Mac Léinn Ollscoil Luimnigh. Bhain mé an-sásamh as an ról seo! Thug an ról sin deis dom fíor-dhifríocht a dhéanamh in OL agus mo ghuth a chloisteáil, chomh maith le bualadh le lear mór daoine nua.

8. What are some of your favourite memories from your time here? 

I had such an amazing five years at UL, it’s so tough to narrow it down to a few. I’m definitely so grateful for all of the friends I made throughout my college experience, they’re friends for life for sure. I don’t think I’ll ever forget graduating from my undergraduate degree – I felt so proud of myself, but also so sad to be finishing college with all my friends. 

8. Cad iad na cuimhní is fearr atá agat ar do chuid ama in Ollscoil Luimnigh?

Bhí cúig bliana iontach agam in Ollscoil Luimnigh, tá sé chomh deacair é a laghdú go cúpla chuimhní. Is cinnte go bhfuil mé chomh buíoch as na cairde go léir a rinne mé le linn mo thaithí ar an gcoláiste, is cairde saoil iad go cinnte. Ní dóigh liom go ndéanfaidh mé dearmad go deo ar ag bronnadh mo fóchéime - mhothaigh mé chomh bródúil asam féin, ach chomh brónach freisin a bheith ag críochnú san OL le mo chairde go léir.

9. UL is known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced here, that you would like to share? 

There are so many! I think one of my favourite ‘firsts’ that I experienced during my time at UL was my first ‘proper’ job, working at Raidio Rí Rá as part of my Co-op during my undergrad. This job involved writing and recording Irish language radio shows, and it gave me so much confidence, not only in the language, but in my own capabilities. 

9. Tá cáil ar Ollscoil Luimnigh mar ‘Home of Firsts’ – an dtagann tú leis sin? An raibh aon chéad taithí phearsanta agat féin gur mhaith leat a roinnt linn?

Tá an oiread sin ann! Sílim go raibh mo chéad phost ‘ceart’ ar cheann de na taithí phearsanta is fearr liom a d’fhulaing mé le linn mo chuid ama in Ollscoil Luimnigh, ag obair ar Raidio Rí Rá mar chuid de mo thaithí oibre le linn m’fhochéime. Is éard a bhí i gceist leis an bpost seo ná cláir raidió Gaeilge a scríobh agus a thaifeadadh, agus thug sé an oiread sin muiníne dom, ní hamháin sa teanga, ach i mo chumas féin freisin.

10. Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you? 

For sure. I actually loved the Glucksman (except for during Study Week), and I’ll definitely always remember the different accommodations that I lived in, because they hold such special memories with some of my best friends. 

10. An bhfuil aon suíomh nó ionad ar leith ar an gcampas atá gar dod’ chroí?

Go cinnte. Thaitin an Glucksman go mór liom (ach amháin le linn Seachtain Staidéir), agus is cinnte go gcuimhneoidh mé i gcónaí ar na socruithe éagsúla a raibh cónaí orm iontu, mar tá cuimhní speisialta acu le roinnt de mo chairde is fearr.

11. Has your career benefited from being a Gaeilgeoir? 

Absolutely – my first roles with Raidió Rí Rá, and then, as a content creator with BLOCTG4 were entirely as Gaeilge, and it was in these roles that I really figured out how much I enjoyed media and social media, and in the end helped me to make the decision to go on to do a master's in marketing.

11. An bhfuil do chumas sa Ghaeilge ina bhuntáiste i do shaol gairmiúil?

Cinnte – bhí mo chéad róil le Raidió Rí Rá agus ansin mar chruthaitheoir ábhair le BLOCTG4 go hiomlán as Gaeilge, agus is sna róil seo a thuig mé go mór an taitneamh a bhain mé as na meáin agus na meáin shóisialta, agus sa deireadh chabhraigh sé liom cinneadh a dhéanamh dul ar aghaidh chun máistreacht a dhéanamh sa mhargaíocht.

12. Why was it important to you to speak and study Irish? 

When I decided to study Applied Languages, I had always intended on studying Irish, I had always enjoyed it in secondary school. As our national language, it’s so important to keep a connection to the language and to keep speaking it, as it’s such a huge part of our cultural identity – even if only cúpla focal, here or there.

12. Cén fáth go raibh sé tábhachtach duit deis a bheith agat an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a staidéar?

Nuair a bheartaigh mé staidéar a dhéanamh ar theangacha feidhmeacha, bhí sé ar intinn agam staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge, mar bhain mé taitneamh as i gcónaí sa mheánscoil. Mar ár dteanga náisiúnta, tá sé chomh tábhachtach ceangal a choinneáil leis an teanga agus í a labhairt, mar gur cuid chomh mór dár bhféiniúlacht chultúrtha í - fiú mura bhfuil ach cúpla focal, anseo nó ansiúd.

13. What has been a career highlight so far?

A career highlight for me so far has definitely been working on and launching our new website with Juspy. I learned so much throughout the process and got to apply many of the skills I developed at Ó£ÌÒÉç½». Seeing everything come together was so rewarding.

13. Luaigh buaicphointe gairmiúil éigin go dtí seo.

Buaicphointe gairmiúil domsa go dtí seo is cinnte a bheith ag obair ar agus ag seoladh ár suíomh idirlín nua le Juspy. D’fhoghlaim mé an méid sin le linn an phróisis agus fuair mé go leor de na scileanna a d’fhorbair mé in Ollscoil Luimnigh a chur i bhfeidhm. Bhí sé chomh luachmhar gach rud a fheiceáil ag teacht le chéile.

14. What are your plans for the future? 

I’m actually not sure right now. I’ve really enjoyed being out of college and working with Juspy for the last couple of months, and I’ve been thinking about moving abroad at some point this year. Where? I’m not too sure yet – I’ve just come back from holidays in Australia, and it’s very tempting.

14. Cad iad na pleananna atá agat don todhchaí?

Nílim cinnte faoi láthair. Bhain mé an-taitneamh as a bheith as an gcoláiste agus ag obair le Juspy le cúpla mí anuas, agus bhí mé ag smaoineamh ar b’fhéidir bhogadh thar lear ag am éigin i mbliana. Cá háit? Nílim róchinnte fós- tá mé díreach tar éis teacht ar ais ó laethanta saoire san Astráil, agus chuaigh sí i bhfeidhm orm.