Latest news with #EllieDunne
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Irish Times
NCAD could not ‘wipe slate clean' after student with Down syndrome failed exam, WRC hears
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has heard a third-level institution made 'every effort' to support a young artist with Down syndrome pursuing a degree – but that it could not 'wipe the slate clean' after she failed a crucial first-year module. The director of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) gave evidence on Thursday that in the wake of a 'heated' meeting with the student's parents, the woman's mother, a journalist, told her 'they would make sure that my reputation was damaged'. Ellie Dunne (25) – who is said by her legal team to be the first student with Down syndrome to enrol on a degree programme at NCAD on Thomas Street in Dublin 8 – is pursuing a complaint under the Equal Status Act 2000 against the college. Her case is the college failed to provide her with reasonable accommodation during her first semester after starting in September 2023 and that disability discrimination continued when the college required her to re-sit a failed first-year module. The college's lawyers have denied discrimination 'in the strongest possible terms'. READ MORE At an earlier WRC hearing on Wednesday , the college's head of academic affairs, Dr Siún Hanrahan, said some 32 per cent of the college's approximately 1,400 students had self-declared additional needs of some description. She said the college offers a range of supports to these students. Some were 'tailored' packages on foot of a needs assessment while 'less tailored' support was available more broadly to those who had simply self-declared additional needs. Dr Hanrahan said there was a 'significant difference' between the requirements of the level-five art course completed by Ms Dunne at Stillorgan College of Further Education and the level-eight bachelor's degree at NCAD. Ms Dunne had access to assistive technology and an educational support worker who was available for two days a week, the tribunal heard. After Ms Dunne failed a module, the college made the support worker available for five days. . The witness said Ms Dunne's parents, Katy McGuinness and Feidhlim Dunne, took it as 'a very offensive thing that Ms Dunne had not successfully achieved the learning outcomes of the module'. Ellie Dunne, centre, with her parents Katy McGuinness and Felim Dunne at the WRC in Dublin. Photograph: Stephen Bourke '[Their] view was that the slate should be wiped clean,' she said. 'Under the [academic] regulations, that's just not possible.' . The tribunal heard the college proposed to allow Ms Dunne re-sit the assessment with access to workshops and without academic penalty, and to have it considered by an exam board the following autumn. Barrister Rosemary Mallon, for the respondent, instructed by Paul McDonald of AJP McDonald Solicitors, pointed out she asked Ms Dunne in cross-examination last year whether she 'knew about that offer'. Ms Mallon said Ms Dunne had indicated she did not know about it and would have liked to have availed of it. 'If Ellie didn't know, it was because she was not told by her parents?' Ms Mallon asked Dr Hanrahan. 'Yes,' Dr Hanrahan said. At a January 2024 meeting 'any suggestion of a repeat was met with a lot of opposition,' the college's director, Prof Sarah Glennie said, but mediation was agreed to by the family. Prof Glennie said that during a phone call two days later Ms McGuinness said 'they would make sure that my reputation was damaged' and that 'they would bury me in the process'. 'That was directly said, that they would 'bury you' in the process?' adjudicator Breiffni O'Neill asked. Prof Glennie confirmed this. In cross examination, counsel for the complainant Aisling Mulligan, appearing instructed by KOD Lyons, put it to the witness that Ms McGuinness had 'disputed' telling Prof Glennie she 'would be buried'. Prof Glennie said: 'That is my recollection.' When the disputed remark was first raised last year by Ms Mallon, Ms McGuinness said it was 'a phrase not familiar to me'. The case has been adjourned to October.
The Journal
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Get the look: From vibrant pop art to Joanne McNally's Zig Zag stool
ADD SOME COLOUR to your home with these fab new colourful finds. The ZigZag stool at CA Design can act as a stool, a side table or a pedestal for a plant. The Zig Zag stool at CA Design As spotted in the home of Joanne McNally, we love the colourful, glossy Zig Zag stool by Polspotten at CA Design (€385). A fun and versatile piece it can be used for a multitude of purposes be it a side table, a plant stand, a pedestal for a treasured possession of a stool. The glossy lacquered finish comes in a range of colours including pale blue and pink as well as olive green and coral red making this a great talking point in any room whatever your personal taste or style. Addison Ross. Addison Ross. The Bobbin Lamp by Addison Ross Blending style, functionality and technology, these new LED Bobbin lamps by Addison Ross deliver brilliant illumination while bringing a brilliant pop of colour to your home. They are available in 10 stunning colourways including cherry, sage, yellow, watermelon, pink, orange and cappuccino so there's a shade to suit every décor style and mood. €150. Ciara O'Neill's new releases Artist Ciara O'Neill's latest series of paintings Wildflowers sold out on the day of the release. A new original series of Wildflowers paintings will be released in July. Thankfully fans of her work can choose from three limited edition fine art prints of the series released last week. Artist Ciara O' Jacinta Fahy Her Echoes original paintings and prints are also currently available online as well as her popular mini paintings which, at €240 each, always sell out quickly. Ciara has over 60 limited edition fine art prints in her collection priced between €110 and €440 depending on size and format. Outdoor rug by Kukoon. Kukoon's colourful outdoor rugs Not only does Irish company Kukoon Rugs stock brilliant spill-proof, stain resistant, washable rugs that are made from recycled cotton and chenile but they have just released their range of indoor/ rugs which come in a variety of sizes, colours and patterns. If neutrals are more your thing you can opt for their Rubus, Saule or Souci designs or if you want to add a punch of hot colour to your outdoor space go for this Ruskin style in terracotta. Prices from €35 to €235 depending on size. Advertisement The beautiful ethical rug by Ellie Dunne and The Galway Wool Co-op. Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane 40 Shades of Green: Ellie Dunne x The Galway Wool Co-op The 40 Shades of Green blanket is a new and unique collaborative piece between Ellie Dunne, a young artist with Down Syndrome, and the Galway Wool Co-Op. The 40 Shades of Green blanket named after the Johnny Cash song of the same name calls to mind the palette of the Irish landscape and blends Ellie's artistic vision with the skill of the spinners and weavers of the Galway Wool Co-Op; a farmer-owned and run co-operative which is dedicated to preserving the cultural significance of Irish wool and restoring its economic value for farmers. This very special ethical piece measures 140cm x 180cm (plus fringe) retails at €675 and is available from this Thursday April 30th from Irish Design Shop and Nordic Elements. , and The mini vases at Hopeless Botanics start at €7. Colourful vases at Hopeless Botanics Hopeless Botanics are suckers for colour and have put together a range of vases that are simply lovely for holding flowers or foliage or simply as decorative items. Their vases start at just €7 for some of their colourful mini vases going up to around €65 for their larger Heikki vases. The colourful mini vases are easy to style – perfect with just one of your favourite flowers from the florist or a piece of foliage from the garden. Also popular with shoppers at the moment are their hand painted Odina vases which start at around €20. Colourful items from the The Stockholm 2025 range at IKEA. IKEA. IKEA. Ikea's Stockholm 2025 collection IKEA's Stockholm 2025 collection celebrates 40 years of timeless Scandinavian design and is designed to work whether you're investing in several pieces at once or adding to your existing furniture collection. The focus is on timeless design and great quality materials so here you'll find natural materials such as pine, oak, leather, wool and rattan used across the furniture and accessories with attention paid to the handmade in the form of mouth-blown glass vases and handmade rugs that should last many years if cared for properly. While most of the collection is neutral in keeping with the timeless appeal, some of the colourful pieces in the collection also caught our eye including the brown, blue and white rug (from €345), the pure wool cushion covers (€18) and the green cabinet with brass fittings (€399). Clare O'Connor's unique hand-painted side tables. Clare O'Connor. Clare O'Connor. Clare O'Connor's abstract art side tables Clare O'Connor is a multidisciplinary artist and designer from Co. Meath who has created a brand of wearable art and homewares. She uses a dynamic juxtaposition of organic and organised forms, complimentary and contrasting colour and stripes to create vibrant and colourful pieces designed to bring joy to people's homes. Clare has just launched a new range of hand painted colourful side tables (€550). Made with acrylic, collage and resin each dynamic piece is completely unique. Joanne Mooney has collaborated with Turkish rug company Torug Rugto to create her Picnic Parade design. Joanne Mooney x Torug Rugto Irish influencer Joanne Mooney featured in our last Alliance Home Magazine but we had to include her again this week as the Irish woman has just launched her first ever rug design in partnership with Torug Rugto – a brilliant home decor brand based in Istanbul, Turkey. Joanne's 'Picnic Parade' rug design features squiggly edges, a gingham pattern and plenty of colour – all very characteristic of Joanne's personal style and is made in India from 100% New Zealand Wool – the first piece in what will surely become a world of colourful home accessories. €147.95 to €755.95 depending on size.
