As the students are settling into college life and adjusting to their new surroundings in Galway city, there’s another being who is bee-coming a popular topic of discussion.
University of Galway’s campus as well as Galway city’s sights has been graced with the presence of a new buzzer called Marcus. A plushie bee that excels in Law and bee-coming the face of baking soc; that’s a sweet-as-honey story for students and lecturers.
Students are growing fond of the little buzzer and become excited when he updates his social media on Law facts, baking soc shenanigans and Galway scenery photos. SIN had the pleasure of interviewing Ella Sophia, a student in Law and mam to Marcus the Bee.
Q. How long have you been a mam to Marcus?
I’ve had him since April 2021. My sister picked him up in a garden centre because my dad is a bee keeper and she wanted to show him the plush. She put him back and I picked him up again because I didn’t have the heart to put him back, he was too cute. I ended up buying him.
Q. What inspired you to create Marcus’s own Instagram page?
My best friend suggested that I should make Marcus an account, almost like a spam account, but it ended up being all about Marcus and showing the world through his eyes as well as his “19 buzzinesses” he runs.
Q. Does anyone give hate over having Marcus out in public?
I’ve seen a few people give me strange looks in public when I whip a bee out of my bag and take pictures of him, but most people don’t pay me any attention. A lot of people have even said to me that Marcus is cute.
Q. How’s the change from Limerick to Galway? Is he liking it here?
Marcus is much preferring his busy life in Galway, studying Law and being involved with the baking society. There’s a lot more to do living in Galway city, but he misses all the flowers in the countryside back home. He spent the summer working in Johnson & Johnson in Limerick; going back to college was quite the change.
Q. Are there any Galwegian bees that have caught his eye so far?
So far, he hasn’t met any Galwegian bees, but he does have two daughters, Marlene and Martina who come up from Limerick to visit him.
Q. You’re a part of the University of Galway’s baking soc; how are you finding it?
Marcus has been kept busy with baking soc this year. He attended both society days, representing the society and getting people interested in what we do. We’ve held two big baking events, making banana bread and Biscoff blondies. They were a great success and we had a really great turnout for all our events this year. All of our members are lovely people and we have a wonderful committee too. It’s a great society to join because it’s non-academic. It’s a brilliant way to de-stress.
Q. You post a lot about your Law lectures; what is your favourite module?
Tort Law has become Marcus’s favourite module last year. The lecturer made it very entertaining and it was a good opportunity for content for a segment called “Law with Marcus” where I would take something out of context from the law lecture and put it on his story. This year, he’s enjoying company law, however, he already knows all the laws from having nineteen buzzinesses.
Q. Your account grows nearly every day, do you hope to become a bee influencer or is this just for fun?
I like to think Marcus is already a bee influencer, but it would be cool if he became more well known. I love taking pictures of him and being creative with his content. A lot of people have told me that they love seeing what he posts and what he’s getting up to.
