Imagine you get to represent Ireland at a heated debate on international policy.
You debate with other delegates, each representing their own country’s position, and work together to pass a resolution that addresses topics from international security to human rights.
This is exactly what you get to do when you join the Model United Nations Society (MUN Soc).
Learning diplomacy through debate
An MUN conference is an accessible way to learn about how the United Nations works and offers debates to everyone, whether at a secondary school or university level.
“No previous experience is needed,” Auditor of MUN Soc, Rakshit Kapoor explained.
According to Rakshit, MUNs help students develop a deeper understanding of global affairs. Participants will learn about “what is happening around the world, (…) why things persist, why they happened and how it impacts you or the larger population at last,” he said.
Through these conferences, you can also gain firsthand experience in international policymaking. In the real world, many countries often disagree on major issues. “So how do you get people on board? What policy can you make to cater to every single nation in the world?” Rakshit explained.
He is currently completing his postgraduate degree in Global Environmental Economics at the University of Galway. After participating in several international MUN conferences, he was surprised by the lack of similar events in Ireland when he arrived in Galway in 2024.
“I thought, why not do it? Why not just start something of my own here?” – and so he set up the society.
MUN in Galway
In recent years, there has been a gradual shift, with more MUN conferences being organised across the country.
According to Lit & Deb Society Auditor Hugh Gately, secondary school MUN conferences had previously been largely limited to “private schools and Dublin-based schools”.
Despite it being such an “exclusive thing,” Hugh said he wanted to set something up in Connacht, “that was accessible for schools regardless of the status of the school, and all students could come and enjoy it.”
Therefore, in January 2025, the Lit & Deb Society organised the first secondary school MUN conference at the University of Galway, with more than 80 students participating. The second conference in 2026 already saw more than 100 participants.
Following the success of the secondary school conferences, the society decided to organise the first university-level conference in Ireland “in at least seven years”, Hugh said. During UGMUN (19 to 21 February 2026) more than 100 delegates from Ireland and around the world debated across six committees, including the Economic and Financial Committee and Legal Committee.
“What makes MUN so enjoyable is that it is a gathering of people with one very common interest but coming from a huge array of walks of life and interests and pursuits,” Hugh said.
ÉireMUN 2026
From 13 to 15 March 2026, MUN Soc was planning to host ÉireMUN 2026, the “biggest Model UN conference in the Republic of Ireland”. However, the event was unfortunately cancelled at the last minute.
More than 100 delegates from across the globe were expected to attend. The agenda would have included pressing issues such as the situation in the Middle East, a discussion on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, or international arms trade.
Despite the cancellation, the society will continue to organise events and expand the opportunities for students interested in diplomacy and international affairs. If you want to find out more about the society and hear about their future events, make sure to check out their Instagram.
