The Day I Met Donald Tusk

On the 10th April this year, I had the honour of meeting the President of the European Council Donald Tusk. The chance to greet this pinnacle of European democracy occurred after his speech to the UCD Law Society. Mr Tusk, who was Poland’s longest serving Prime Minister, was in the University to receive a lifetime membership of the society. This is an honour which was bestowed on many people before him including Judge Judy Sheindlin and Former Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald.

The President delivered an outstanding and witty speech where he won over fans with his knowledge about Ireland. Mr Tusk spoke about personalities like Sinead O’Connor and Conor McGregor. The assembled audience were amazed when he described how Brexit makes him “furious”. Mr Tusk said what everybody else in the room was thinking. I’ll never forget waking up in the early hours of the 24th June 2016 feeling angry myself. Brexit will be the defining moment of our generation and I admire Donald Tusks’ determination and commitment to continue the stability of the Union.

Following his speech, I was honoured to speak to the President before he sat back into his car. Mr Tusk took time to talk about my College course and I thanked him for his work in Europe. It is a conversation that I will always remember and gave me great momentum as I faced into the exam period. Following this, the sirens blazed and the cavalcade departed as the President of the European Council left UCD after a thought provoking evening. Donald Tusk is somebody to watch as Britain makes its final preparations before exiting the European Union in March 2019. The manoeuvres of Mr Tusk along with those of Jean-Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier will decide the fate of the bloc forever.

By Cian Byrne.

The day I met Samantha Power

I remember watching President Barack Obama nominate Samantha Power for the role of United States Ambassador to the United Nations. I had never heard of Mrs Power before her nomination to be the Ambassador. However, I quickly learned about her courage and determination to strive for justice and peace. I had no idea that the Pulitzer Prize winning publisher was about to take one giant leap into my life as my focus began to turn to the Junior Certificate Examinations.

While on holiday in Kerry, my family and I stopped for lunch at the Fisherman’s Bar in Waterville. Following a delicious lunch, we strolled down the street when Samantha Power turned the corner. When she walked by, I decided to say hello. I’ll never forget stopping the Ambassador and saying “Excuse me, are you Samantha Power?”. She replied “I sure am”. I could not believe that the US Ambassador to the UN would be walking through a town along the famous Ring of Kerry. We took a photo and continued on our journeys following a very inspirational discussion.

Following the chat, I sent a letter to Mrs Power in the United Nations. She replied and urged me to continue my interest in foreign affairs. The Ambassador said that young people were needed to bring “energy and passion” to solving “seemingly intractable problems worldwide”. These words served as inspiration as I commenced my Junior Certificate exams.

A few years later, I read an article about Samantha Power in The Irish Times and found out that she was visiting Ireland in November 2017. I later discovered that the now former Ambassador would be visiting University College Dublin where I have been pursuing a BA degree in Economics and Politics. I sat down in the George Moore Auditorium where Mrs Power and her husband Cass Sunstein were introduced by Professors Orla Feely and Niamh Hardiman from UCD. During the Question and Answer session, I introduced myself. Even though we had met four years previously, Mrs Power still remembered me by recalling how we had taken a photo. I was amazed that someone who had been at the forefront of top level diplomacy would remember me after all those years. It was great to speak to her family afterwards and share my memories of that day with them.

The legacy of the twenty eighth Ambassador to the UN will be assessed for many generations to come but my experience of the Pulitzer prize winner will always be positive. I hope that young people across the world can use her work as an example of what hard work and perseverance can achieve.

By Cian Byrne.