Kilcullen Diary: CPC students participating in Model UN event in Poland

Friday, October 03, 2025

CPC students participating in Model UN event in Poland

Images: CPC.

Six CPC students are taking part in a Model United Nations Conference this week in Toruń, Poland, writes Brian Byrne. CPC is the only Irish representation at the ToMUN event, among over 250 participants from 18 schools in several countries.

It's the 10th ToMUN, and the theme of the main conference is Understanding the Roots of Polarisation to Achieve Harmony. At yesterday's opening ceremony, Irish Ambassador to Poland Patrick Haughey highlighted the importance of Model United Nations events in building unity, teamwork and cooperation. He said he hoped the new generation would create a more inclusive and collaborative future.

At MUN events, participants take the role of delegates from different countries in discussions in various UN committees. The CPC students at ToMUN are Ruth Moloney (UNICEF) representing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, James Meehan (Human Rights Council) representing Bulgaria, Eleanor Steed (HRC) representing the United Kingdom, Jan Keating (WHO) representing Kenya, Ella Doyle (WHO) representing Germany, and Michalina Nikelewska (UN Women) representing Ethiopia. They are accompanied by CPC teachers Niamh Thorpe and Fiona Murphy.

The students have been preparing for the event in recent weeks at the new CPC MUN Club, formed as an after-school activity in September, under the direction of Ms Thorpe. The Erasmus+ programme, with which CPC became involved last year, has facilitated their attendance at ToMUN.

The three-day meeting includes various sessions of the relevant committees, and culminates on Saturday afternoon with a General Assembly Plenary Session. The participants also have an opportunity to tour Toruń.

The United Nations supports Model UN simulations by building and maintaining strong links between the UN and Model UN participants. It shares first-hand knowledge about the work of the UN at Model UN conferences and guides organisers to create accurate and authentic simulations.