Full-Time Elected Officers
The SU Officers are also based in the Students’ Union Building. If you wish to see any of the officers you can pop into the SU Info Centre to see if they are available for a drop-in meeting or to arrange an appointment. The Officers were recently students just like yourself, so they can always relate and help you out in whatever way they can.
Alex Balfe // MSU President
Alex is your President for 2023/24. As SU President Alex is the CEO and Chief Spokesperson/Representative of the Union and represents the interests of Maynooth students when the University makes decisions.
Read more about Alex and her Role
president@msu.ie / (01) 708 6436 / (087) 908 3602
Gavin Fanning // MSU VP Education
Gavin is your VP Education 2023/24. He is here to represent you on all matters related to your education/academics in Maynooth so you get the most out of your degree. The Academic Rep system is also a major part of her brief.
Read more about Gavin and his Role
education@msu.ie / (01) 708 4712 / (087) 278 5204
Niamh Riney // MSU VP Welfare & Equality
Niamh is your VP Welfare & Equality for this year. Niamh can offer students support and advice on well-being matters and direct people to the appropriate support across the University. Niamh will also be running many campaigns across the year, so expect to meet her all across campus!
Read more about Niamh and her Role
welfare@msu.ie / (01) 708 6808 / (087) 630 6433
Kyla Henry // MSU VP Student Life & Deputy President
Kyla studied Media & Sociology here in Maynooth and is your VP Student Life. She wants to ensure that students are getting involved with extra-curricular activities outside of their degree such as; charity, clubs and societies, events, representation, and campus life.
Read more about Kyla and her Role
studentlife@msu.ie / (01) 708 6249 / (087) 957 8923
PART-Time Elected Officers
You will often find your Part-Time officers in the Students' Union building too. These officers are taking on these roles alongside their studies, so you might even see one of them sitting in your class!
Aaliyah Mooney // MSU Science and Engineering Faculty Convenor
In their role as the Science & Engineering Faculty Convenor, Aaliyah is a primary means of communication between the students and the Academic Representatives in the faculty, and the MSU Executive. Always here to help!
science@msu.ie
Ben Holmes // MSU Arts, Celtic Studies & Philosophy Faculty Convenor
In his role as the Arts, Celtic Studies & Philosophy Faculty Convenor, Ben is a primary means of communication between the students and the Academic Representatives in the faculty, and the MSU Executive. Always here to help!
artsrep@msu.ie
Amina Traboue // MSU Social Sciences Faculty Convenor
In her role as the Social Sciences Faculty Convenor, Amina is a primary means of communication between the students and the Academic Representatives in the faculty, and the MSU Executive. Always here to help!
socialscience@msu.ie
Roddie McGuinness // MSU Oifigeach na Gaeilge
In his role as Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Roddie will ensure we are heading towards a bilingual Union, University, and society. Always here to help!
gaeilge@msu.ie
Sian Cowman // MSU Doctoral Postgraduate Representative
As the Doctoral Postgraduate Representative, Sian is responsible for dealing with issues relating to the education, welfare and student experience of doctoral postgraduate members of the Union. Always here to help!
doctoralrep@msu.ie
Vacant // MSU Postgraduate Representative
In their role as Postgraduate representatives, they will be responsible for dealing with issues relating to the education, welfare and student experience of postgraduate members of the Union.
Full-Time STAFF
It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make MSU tick. From Representation and Communications to Events and Finance- your SU full-time staff support your Officers to ensure that your Union is able to represent MU and SPCM students’ interests to the highest level.
Dillon graduated from Maynooth University with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and is currently undertaking an MSc Management and Corporate Governance from Ulster University. Throughout his academic life, Dillon has been an active contributor to MSU with a multi-varied perspective of the organisation. Dillon was previously positioned as Deputy Returning Officer, assisting the Returning Office in supervising and executing elections and referendums. Dillon also functioned as an Operations Team member, providing assistance to the sabbatical officers and coordinating their events.
Dillon was elected as Vice President Education / Deputy President of MSU in 2015 and as President and CEO in 2016, overseeing budgets and annual workstream planning, and acting as a primary student representative to the Governing Authority & Academic Council and Chief Spokesperson of the Union. Subsequently, Dillon joined the MSU full time staff team as a Union Development Administrator, working to build upon successful policies enacted in his term as President of MSU.
In his current role of Director General, Dillon is primarily focused on enhancing student representation, transparency, and student engagement in decision making. His key areas of interests lie in bolstering student democracy, accountability, and constitutional compliance throughout MSU.
Dillon is a member of the Corporate Governance Association of Ireland (CGAI) and is studying to become a chartered member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).
dillon.grace@msu.ie / (01) 474 7253 / (086) 874 6967
Sandra Byrne is the Finance & Operations Manager for Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU). Sandra joined MSU in June 2012 in a finance capacity and took up her current role in April 2017. Sandra and the team of staff at MSU oversee all of the operations, services and supports that MSU strives to deliver each day, through the Student Centre Facilities, the MSU Bar and Venue, the Front Office Information and Services Centre and the MSU Londis Shop in the John Hume Building on behalf of their student members, the President, Elected Officers, and representative groups of MSU.
Sandra had over 20+year experience in large scale industry in Ireland and fully embraced the move into the Student Union Sector, grasping very quickly the mission and principles of what the Students’ Union sets out to achieve and prides itself on making sure that everything is done in the best interests of its members.
Sandra alongside the current and past Student Union Presidents, Executive and team of staff in MSU have overseen the growth and development of the organisation over the past number of years into a place where the culture and ethos wholly embrace the true sense of a student lead organisation, and look forward to continuing to build on that into the future.
sandra.byrne@msu.ie / (01) 708 6070 / (087) 297 7075
Ann Marie returned to education back in 2007 as a mature student. She studied to be a teacher, right here in Maynooth University. Having received her qualifications, she decided she loved Maynooth so much that she would stay!
As Front Office Manager she can be found in the SU Info Centre which is located on the right within the SU building.
The SU Info Centre offers student centered services, and Ann Marie is more than happy to assist you if you are looking for your Student Leap-Card, to meet your MSU officers, hoodies, printing, binding, information, parcel-point, etc.
Always prepared with a smile, just pop in and say hello to Ann Marie anytime you are in the SU.
frontdesk@msu.ie / (01) 708 3669
Louise joined the Accounts Office back in 2015 and instantly found herself at home! With over 25 years years of bookkeeping and payroll experience, across many companies and sectors, she provides a safe pair of hands for the Union's finances.
Louise works away from the limelight on the practical work of accountancy and plays an important role in producing reliable financial information. If you work for the Union in any capacity Louise will be one of the first faces you see as she sets you up on payroll and begins your induction.
accounts@msu.ie / (01) 708 6049
Seán Masterson is the Academic Representation Administrator at Maynooth Students’ Union. Seán joined MSU first as an Academic Representative and Student Senator in 2018. In 2021 Seán graduated from Maynooth University with a bachelor’s degree in Business (Marketing).
In the final year of their degree, Seán was a part-time Executive Officer in MSU whilst working as a representational operations team member. After working for MSU as a part-time representational operations team member Seán applied to take on the role they are currently in.
Seán works closely with the Vice President Education and the Faculty Convenors to ensure that the academic representation system of the Union is constantly developing!
sean.masterson@msu.ie
The SU Shop is headed up by General Manager Brian and Assistant Manager Fiona. They lead the student staff and ensure the busy shop delivers on providing students with the best value on campus.
Brian and his team are always happy to hear about any ideas or suggestions to improve our offering. Just tell them what you are thinking next time you are in the shop!
(01) 708 3876