University of Limerick Alumni Spotlight: Tara Nic Gearailt

San eagrán is déanaí dár Spotsolas Alumni, labhraímid le hAiltire Céimithe agus Gaeilgeoir, Tara Nic Gearailt. Tar éis di céim a bhaint amach ó Scoil Ailtireachta agus Deartha Táirgí Ollscoil Luimnigh in 2023, d'fhág Tara a rian trí bheith mar an chéad mhac léinn ailtireachta i stair na scoile chun a tionscadal tráchtais bliana deiridh a dhéanamh as Gaeilge. 

Anois agus í ag obair ag Karol O’Mahony Architects i mBaile Átha Cliath, déanann Tara machnamh ar na deiseanna gairme iontacha a bhí aici mar chainteoir dúchais Gaeilge, ó ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar Éirinn ag Taispeántas Ailtireachta Idirnáisiúnta Biennale na Veinéise a bhfuil cáil dhomhanda air go dtí a bheith ag obair ar thionscadal atá lonnaithe i nGaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne go hiomlán trí Ghaeilge.

Abair linn píosa beag fút féin?

Is mise Tara Nic Gearailt agus is as Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne mé in iarthar Chiarraí. 

Cad é an cúrsa léinn a ndearna tú staidéar air, agus cén bhliain/bhlianta ar bhain tú an cúrsa sin amach?
Chríochnaigh mé mo chéim san Ailtireacht sa bhliain 2023 i SAUL, Ollscoil Luimní.

Cén fáth gur roghnaigh tú dul le cúrsa in Ollscoil Luimnigh?
Chuas go dtí an lá oscailte a bhí ar siúl nuair a bhíos san idirbhliain sa mheánscoil agus do chuaigh spás an stiúideo i bhfeidhm go mór orm an lá sin. Thaithin sé liom agus bhíos ábalta mé féin a shamhlú ann. 

Cad iad na buaicphointí ba mhó a bhain le do chúrsa(í)? 
Na rudaí is mó a thaitin liom mar gheall ar an gcúrsa ná a bheith ag caitheamh ama leis na scoláirí eile sa stiúideo. Bhí caidreamh iontach eadrainn. Bhíomar go léir ana-mhór lena chéile agus bhí sé sin tábhachtach dúinn don obair a bhíomar ag cruthú. Chabhraigh daoine lena chéile.

Bhí deis agat foghlaim ó fhoireann acadúil aitheanta agus tarraingt ar áiseanna den chéad scoth in Ollscoil Luimnigh. Ar mhiste leat cur síos a dhéanamh ar an taithí sin?
Braithim go raibh an t-ádh liom leis na léachtóirí a bhí againn. Ailtirí iontacha agus inspioráideacha ab ea iad. Cuid acu ó oifigí móra sa tír seo againne agus cuid acu ó thíortha eile. Táim fíor-bhuíoch don am agus don oideachas a thug siad dúinn. D’oscail siad mo shúile ó thaobh na hailtireachta de agus bhí caidreamh ana-mhaith againn leis na léachtóirí chomh maith. 

Cén chomhairle a thabharfá do chairde léinn atá ag machnamh ar staidéar a dhéanamh in Ollscoil Luimnigh?
Chun taithí iomlán a fháil, bain úsáid as na háiseanna, bain úsáid as an gcampus, an leabharlann, an saoirse, dírigh isteach ar rudaí éagsúla nach mbeidh tú ábalta a dhéanamh nuair atá tú ag obair i bpost lán aimseartha. Bí páirteach sna clubanna a bhfuil suim agat iontu agus bain taitneamh as gach blúire de. 

Cén chomhairle a thabharfá do chairde léinn atá ag machnamh ar dhul le do léinn féin?
Bí siúráilte go bhfuil suim láidir agat ann. Sin an rud is mó a thugann tríd an gcúrsa tú. Caithfidh do chroí a bheith istigh ann. A bheith fiosrach, cruthaitheach agus muinín a bheith agat as do chuid smaointe féin agus do chuid dearthaí féin.  

An raibh tú i do bhall d’aon chlub nó d’aon chumann? Ar mhiste leat cúpla rud a insint dúinn faoin taithí sin má bhí.
Gan dabht, bhíos páirteach i SofA, an cumann ailtireachta, agus is iontach an cumann é sin. Bhíos mar bhall den chumann Gaelach chomh maith agus bhí sé sin tábhachtach dom. Bhraitheas go rabhas níos cóngaraí don bhaile agus mé ag labhairt Gaoluinne leis na baill eile. Chuamar ar thurasanna chuig imeachtaí éagsúla ar nós Oireachtas na Samhna i gCill Áirne agus ceardlanna i mBaile Átha Cliath a d’eagraigh Conradh na Gaeilge agus a thug seans dúinn bualadh le cumainn Ghaelacha ó Choláistí eile ar fud na tíre.  

Cad iad na cuimhní is fearr atá agat ar do chuid ama in Ollscoil Luimnigh?
Na cuimhní is fearr atá agam ná na laethanta istigh sa stiúideo i dteannta gach duine eile san rang. Gan dabht bhí brú agus strus orainn ag amanta áirithe ach ag an am céanna bhí craic agus comhluadar againn. Thugamar tacaíocht dá chéile. Ní raibh aon duine ina aonar. 

Tá cáil ar Ollscoil Luimnigh mar ‘Home of Firsts’ – an dtagann tú leis sin? An raibh aon chéad taithí phearsanta agat féin gur mhaith leat a roinnt linn?
Nílim tar éis teacht trasna ar an téarma sin go dtí seo ach do scríobh mé mo thráchtas ailtireachta as Gaoluinn agus táim ar an gcéad duine chun é sin a dhéanamh in Ollscoil Luimní agus sa tír chomh maith chomh fada agus is eol dom. Bhí mo thráchtas ana-bhainteach leis an teanga agus le cultúr na Gaoluinne. Bhíos ag díriú isteach ar conas a d’fhéadfadh an ailtireacht cabhrú le gnéithe den chultúr sin agus iad a cheiliúradh.  

An bhfuil aon suíomh nó ionad ar leith ar an gcampas atá gar dod’ chroí?
Bhuel, is dócha gur chaitheas furmhór mo chuid ama isitgh sa stiúideo ag tarraingt agus an cruthú múnlaí so i ndáiríre, sin é an áit is mó a thaithin liom. 

Conas mar a d’ullmhaigh do chúrsa agus do chuid taithí ginearálta in Ollscoil Luimnigh tú don suíomh oibre?
Ar an gcéad dul síos, is cúrsa fada é, cúig bliana ag staidéar agus chaitheas bliain eile i mbun taithí oibre in oifig Ailtirí McCulloughMulvin, idir an tríú bliain agus an ceathrú bliain. Do bhí an bhliain sin ana-thábhachtach ó thaobh ullmhú don suíomh oibre. Ullmhaíonn an coláiste tú ó thaobh do chuid dearthaí a fhorbairt agus ilomad rudaí eile ach tugann an taithí oibre blaiseadh duit ar shaol na hoibre mar ailtire.  

An bhfuil do chumas sa Ghaeilge ina bhuntáiste i do shaol gairmiúil?
Cinnte deimhneach tá! Táim tar éis scata deiseanna a fháil le cúpla bliain anuas mar gheall ar an nGaoluinn. Cuirim i gcás, bhí deis agam taisteal chuig an Iodáil chun a bheith páirteach sa taispeántas Éireannach sa Venice Biennale. Ina dhiaidh sin fuaireas deis alt a scríobh san irisleabhar Architecture Ireland mar gheall ar mo chuid ama i Venice. Chomh maith leis sin thugas léacht mar gheall ar mo thráchtas mar chuid den chéad ócáid Ailtireachtúil a d’eagraigh an AAI. Agus faoi láthair, mar chuid de mo phost táim ag obair ar thionscadal atá lonnaithe i nGaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne agus tá sé ar fad trí mheán na Gaoluinne. 

Cén fáth go raibh sé tábhachtach duit deis a bheith agat an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a staidéar?
Rugadh agus tógadh mé sa Ghaeltacht agus mar sin tá meas ana-mhór agam ar an teanga. Is rud speisialta í agus braithim go bhfuil dualgas orainn í a choimeád beo. Bhí mo chuid oideachais ar fad trí mheán na Gaoluinne go dtí gur chuas chuig an gcoláiste. Mar sin bhí fonn orm leanúint ar aghaidh leis an nGaoluinn sa choláiste agus leas a bhaint as aon seans a bhí agam chun í a chur chun cinn. 

Ar mhiste leat do stádas reatha gairmiúil a léiriú dúinn?
Faoi láthair táim ag obair in oifig ailtireachta Karol O’Mahony Architects atá lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath. Ach déanaimid ana-chuid oibre i gCiarraí chomh maith agus mar sin bíonn deis agam a bheith idir an dá áit go minic. Is ailtireacht chaomhnaithe a bhíonn ar bun againn, rud a thaithníonn go mór liom. Chomh maith le a bheith ag obair táim tar éis tosnú ar an dioplóma proifisiúnta i UCD. 

Luaigh buaicphointe gairmiúil éigin go dtí seo. 
Bhuel, an bhliain seo caite cuirim i gcás, dheineas cúrsa caomhnaithe a chuir an Irish Georgian Society ar fáil. Bhaineas ana-thaitneamh as agus is tríd mo chuid oibre a bhíos ábalta é sin a dhéanamh. Bímid bainteach i gcónaí le tionscadail stairiúla agus spéisiúla. Bím ag foghlaim gach lá agus agus is breá liom é sin agus gan dabht go bhfuilim ábalta mo theanga dhúchais a úsáid. 

Cad iad na pleananna atá agat don todhchaí?
Chun a bheith ag dul chun cinn i mo chuid oibre agus i mo ghairm agus chomh maith leis sin go mbeadh seans agam mo chuid smaointe agus deartha a fhorbairt. Ba bhreá liom amach anseo dá mbeadh deis agam dul i mbun léachtóireachta agus mo chuid taithí a roinnt le hailtirí óga. 

Ar mhaith leat aon eolas eile a roinnt linn?
Díreach chun a rá arís cé chomh buíoch is atáim as an oideachas atá faighte agam agus na daoine a thug tacaíocht agus inspioráid dom agus gan dabht na dlúthchairde atá agam. 

In the latest instalment of our Alumni Spotlight we speak to Graduate Architect and Gaeilgeoir, Tara Nic Gearailt. Having graduated from UL's School of Architecture and Product Design in 2023, Tara made her mark by becoming the first architecture student in the school's history to do her final year thesis project through Irish. 

Now working at Karol O’Mahony Architects in Dublin, Tara reflects on the part of the amazing career opportunities she has experienced as a native Irish speaker, from representing Ireland at the world-renowned Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition to working on a project located in the Gaeltacht of Chorca Dhuibhne entirely through the Irish language.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Tara Nic Gearailt and I’m from the Chorca Dhuibhne, the Gaeltacht in West Kerry. 

What course/s did you study, and what year/s did you graduate?

I studied Architecture at SAUL and graduated in 2023. 

Why did you choose to study at University of Limerick?

I went to the UL open day when I was in Transition year and I remember liking the studio space a lot that day. I was able to imagine myself there.  

What were the highlights of your course/s?

I think the times that I enjoyed the most and look back on was the time spent in the studio with the rest of my classmates. We all had a great relationship with each other, we were a close group and that was important to be within an environment like that while being creative and producing work. People helped one another. 

As a University of Limerick student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your experience like?

We were very lucky with the lecturers we had teaching us. Brilliant and inspirational architects, some from architecture offices in Ireland and others international. I’m very aware and appreciative of the education they gave us. They opened our eyes to the architecture world and we also had a very good relationship with our lecturers which I think made a huge difference.  

What advice would you offer to students considering studying at University of Limerick?

To immerse yourself in the full college experience, use the facilities, the campus, the library, the freedom, focus, and explore the things you might not be able to do when you are working full time after college. Join the clubs and societies you have an interest in. Enjoy every bit of it! 

What advice would you offer to students considering studying your course?

To make sure you have a strong interest in it, it will be the main driving force for you completing the course. Your heart has to be in it. To be inquisitive, creative and to have confidence within your own ideas and designs. 

Were you a member of any clubs or societies? If so, tell us about your experience?

Of course, I was a member of SofA, the architecture society and it was great! I was also a member of the Irish society and that was important to me. Being able to speak Irish with the other members made me feel closer to home. We went on various trips and to events like to the Oireachtas na Samhna in Killarney along with workshops in Dublin organized by Conradh na Gaeilge which gave us a chance to meet students from other Irish societies from other colleges around the country.  

What are some of your favourite memories from your time here?

My fondest memories are of the times spent in the studio with everyone else in the class. Of course we felt pressured and stressed at times but we enjoyed ourselves and we were in it together. We supported each other. No one was on their own.  

UL is known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced here, that you would like to share?

I haven't come across that term yet but in saying that I did write my architecture thesis in Irish. I am the first student in UL and I think the country to have done so. My thesis was very much based around the language and the Irish culture. I was investigating how architecture can help preserve and celebrate elements of our culture. 

Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?

Well, I suppose I have to say the studio as it’s where I spent the majority of my time drawing and making models. 

How did your course/s and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?

Firstly, it’s a long course, 5 years of studying plus a year of work experience, although optional but highly recommended. I spent a year working for McCullough Mulvin Architects in between 3rd and 4th year. That year was extremely beneficial and important for me with preparing and getting to understand the workplace and what it would be like after college. College prepares your design development along with many other things but it's the work experience that is vital in giving you a proper taste of what the working world of an architect is like.   

Has your career benefited from being a Gaeilgeoir?

It has! I have been very lucky over the past few years and have been given many opportunities because of the Irish Language. For example, I got the opportunity to travel to Italy to be part of the Irish exhibition at the Venice Biennale. After that, I was asked to write an article in Irish about my experience for Architecture Ireland. As well as that I gave a lecture about the thesis at the first Ailtireachtúil event run by the AAI. Currently, I’m working on a project located in the Gaeltacht of Chorca Dhuibhne which is being done fully through the Irish language.  

Why was it important to you to speak and study Irish?

I have such a respect for the language because of growing up in the Gaeltacht. The Irish language is a very special thing and I feel an obligation to help keep it alive. My entire education was through Irish up until I went to college therefore I wanted to keep using it as much as I could throughout college and promoting it any chance I had.  

Could you update us on where you are now in your career?

I’m currently working at Karol O’Mahony Architects. Our office is situated in Dublin although many of our projects are located in Kerry which allows me to be in between the two places often. It is mostly conservation work that we are involved in which I enjoy and have a great interest in. As well as working, I am also undertaking my Professional Diploma in UCD. 

What has been a career highlight so far?

Well, in the last year, I completed a conservation course with the Irish Georgian Society which I really enjoyed. We are often involved in historical and special projects with work. Learning and expanding my knowledge each working day is important to me. Also, the fact that I am able to use my native tongue within my work on a daily basis is hugely important to me. 

What are your plans for the future?

To progress within my work and my career along with having the opportunity to develop my own ideas and designs. I would also like to get involved with teaching at third level in the future and share my experiences with young architects. 

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Just to say again how appreciative I am for the education I was given in SAUL, to the people who gave me support and inspiration and of course to the friends I made along the journey.