Socs News
UCC Societies Win Three Awards at Board of Irish College Societies National Awards 2025
UCC Societies were successful at the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) national awards last week in Sligo winning three awards.
The Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) is a national organisation constituted in 1995, dedicated to providing a national forum for the societies in Ireland’s Universities, Colleges, and Institutes of Education. The purpose of the National Awards is to recognise the huge effort made by the many individuals who run student societies across Ireland.
UCC Societies took home awards in three categories:
Best Individual: Amy O’Callaghan
Amy is Vice-Chairperson of UCC Choral Society, as well as Secretary on UCC Psychological Society and Ordinary Committee Member on UCC Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Society. Amy has had a successful and action-packed year. Some of her achievements include managing travel arrangements for participation in the Derry International Choir Competition and Festival, implementing a mentoring programme to ensure smooth leadership transition for incoming committee members and facilitating planning for the All-Ireland Choral Intervarsity.
Best Departmental Society -UCC Chemical Society
UCC Chemical Society celebrated their 100-year anniversary this year. The committee had an exceptional year, organising events for students that were well balanced in terms of both educational and social opportunities. Some examples include organising ‘Blow Your Mind’ week in collaboration with Maths, Physics, Biology and Data societies, Chemical Bonding night for freshers and a postgraduate information evening to ensure students at all levels were included and the John Tobin quiz in memory of a past PhD student. The society also fostered strong relationships with the School of Chemistry with many events attended by both staff and students.
Best Cultural or Social Society -UCC Pop Culture Society
UCC Pop Culture (Pop Soc) had another exceptional year. Having just celebrated their second birthday; they have already racked up an impressive array of accolades. This year alone, they won 9 Stars Awards (UCC Societies Awards) and their publication Etc. Magazine won a SMEDIA award. After winning Best New Society at BICS last year, they can add another BICS award to their trophy cabinet. Pop Soc provides a community for students to come together and leave with new friends. This year they organised an impressive 48 events ranging from large club nights (Sad Girls Songs, Best Songs Ever) to engaging speaker events (Duolingo Meet the Creator Talk, Keelin Moncrief Book swap with Feminist Society and English Literature Society). They collaborated with 17 Societies, Clubs, CUBS, and the Students Union this year exemplifying the vast community that is UCC Societies.
Congratulations to the all the winners and the nominees who made the trip to Sligo!
This year-to-date UCC Societies have held just under 2500 events, providing students with educational, social, and developmental opportunities during their student experience journey in UCC. With 118 societies across various categories -Arts/Cultural/Debating, Socials, Creatives, Political and Activism, Academic, Charitable and Religious, students have ample opportunities to pursue their existing interests or cultivate new passions or talents. UCC Students can join one or more UCC Societies through the Clubs and Societies Portal: https://candsportal.ucc.ie/