About Aisling Deegan Degui
I’m a Speech and Language Therapy student at Trinity College Dublin and a member of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars cohort. I returned to education as a mature student and single parent after experiencing firsthand the impact that Speech and Language Therapists can have on people’s lives, which inspired me to pursue the profession myself.
My research interests focus on socioeconomic inequality, access to education, inclusion, and student belonging within higher education. Through the Laidlaw Programme, I’m exploring how historically elite institutions such as Trinity engage with class and socioeconomic diversity, and how universities can move beyond widening access towards creating genuinely inclusive environments for students from all backgrounds.
Alongside my studies, I’m involved in student representation work as the TAP representative on the Students’ Union Equality and Welfare Committee, where I advocate for equity and inclusion within university life.
Outside of academia, I’m also a DJ with a love for garage and jungle music, and a very dedicated bird mother 🐥
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Recent Comments
This sounds so interesting , we’ve had a huge increase in data centres in Dublin and across Ireland over the last few years as well, so it’s really interesting to see research exploring the wider social and ecological impacts they can have on communities. I really love the focus on Indigenous perspectives and environmental justice within your project. Really excited to follow your research and learn more from it over the summer!
This sounds like such an interesting and important project! As an SLT student, I’ve had placement experience in acute hospitals in Dublin and have seen firsthand how delays in care for patients with swallowing difficulties from COPD can impact PO intake, swallow safety, and overall outcomes. It’s really interesting to see research exploring how healthcare systems, accessibility, and socioeconomic factors influence these experiences across different countries. Really excited to follow your research and see what insights come from it!