Captivating Moments: Dara Mac Dónaill’s Yearly Visual Diary for The Irish Times

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.

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