Every January, students from all over the country and from overseas flock to the City Hall in Cork, where Davis College organises DCMUN – the largest international Model United Nations conference in Ireland. This year’s conference, DCMUN 2023, was in session in Cork City Hall from 24th to 27th January. The conference was attended by over 600 students from 35 schools from Ireland and Spain.
This conference hosted by Davis College has been running since 2016 in the City Hall. Students are assigned to be a delegate for a particular country or NGO. It is their prerogative to research their delegation, find out where it stands on the issues relevant to the conference and prepare and deliver speeches. Its organiser, José Horta, established the Model United Nations Club in the school 8 years ago and says that he is extremely proud to see how it has flourished. “The students are now the driving force behind the whole event”, he states. “It is a student-run event, for students. It gives them an opportunity to discuss and attempt to solve issues of global importance, ranging from the question of euthanasia to nuclear proliferation.”
Charlie O’Callaghan, the student who acted as Secretary-General, had no qualms in saying, “It has been the most unique and exciting experience of my life.” Charlie is an example of someone who feels that he has benefitted greatly from the experience of being involved. He credits his involvement in DCMUN, with giving him the confidence and skills required to be successful in so many areas of his life. “My public speaking skills have been developed and polished through my involvement in MUN,” he affirms.