Suaad Alshleh, amidst her fellow classmates, responds upon discovering that she has achieved first-class results in her final year of medical studies at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). For nearly 70 years, it has been a yearly tradition to announce the results live to final-year students from the university’s staircase.
For me, this moment encapsulates her unrestrained happiness and profound relief at fulfilling a lifelong aspiration. These feelings are echoed by her encouraging peers, who respond with enthusiastic applause and sincere joy. As a photographer, it is an honor to be present with individuals and capture their sentiments during such significant moments. At this event, I was fortunate enough to find myself in the right spot at the perfect time.
Suaad’s narrative becomes even more compelling when we examine her journey to college. At just 11 years old, she escaped from Syria with her parents, ultimately seeking refuge in Ireland when she was 14.
She endured numerous challenges, including residing in direct provision, yet her ambition to attain her objective of becoming a doctor remained strong. In a prior interview with Carl O’Brien featured in this publication, Suaad commended the assistance she had received since moving to Ireland. She has formed numerous friendships here and regards Ireland as her home.
Edna O’Brien funeral procession to the burial site on Holy Island, Co. Clare.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Moynalty Horse Chase, supporting Castle Villa AFC Borora Juniors, in Moynalty, Co. Meath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
State Funeral of former Taoiseach, John Bruton at Rooske Cemetery, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Individuals wait in line for the Veneration of the Relics of Saint Bernadette at Our Lady of Victories Church, Ballymun Road, Dublin. Image: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Senator Michael McDowell, accompanied by Sen Ronan Mullen, Sen. Sharon Keoghan, Verona Murphy, TD, Noel Grealish TD, and Gerard Craughwell, during the official revelation of Family Referendum results at the Central Count Centre, in Dublin Castle on Saturday. Image: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
The Decant Team together with movers from William Tracey & Son (part of the Cronin Group) remove a Lion at the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, as they organize to transport from Merrion Street, Dublin. Image: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
The situation outside the previous Crown Paints factory in Coolock. Several fires have been started at the site of the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock where work was set to commence this week. Image: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
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Gaisce Bronze and Silver Award participants engaged in the yearly Gaisce Defence Forces Challenge, traversing Lough Rea in Engineer RHIB, prior to a demonstration on camouflage and concealment succeeded by SERE Training, showcasing shelter construction, igniting a fire with minimal equipment in a survival situation, all occurring at the Defence Forces training site at Carnagh East, Co. Roscommon. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Viking Long Ships on the river Boyne at the Viking Festival, Boyne Valley Viking Experience has expanded to become the largest Viking festival in Ireland. This year’s theme is ‘Norse-Irish Connections. More than 500 reenactors gather to reconnect with old and new friends, share stories & skills, trade their goods, engage in battles, and sail long ships on the River Boyne beneath the renowned Slane Castle, Co Meath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
President Michael D. Higgins with Chair of Holocaust Education Ireland, Prof. Thomas O’Dowd. (right) and Irish Holocaust survivor Suzi Diamond (81) (center) with second-generation survivor Nichola Zinn-Collis and her daughter Molly (left) at the National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration. The annual ceremony pays tribute to the memory of all those who perished in the Holocaust, including six million Jews, alongside millions who faced persecution on account of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political views, or religious beliefs. The ceremony comprised readings, recollections from survivors, candle-lighting, and musical performances. It is observed on the Sunday nearest to January 27 – the day Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated in 1945. The occasion at Dublin Royal Convention Centre was conducted by Holocaust Education Ireland (HEI) in collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
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