College of Arts & Humanities

Saskia Mamah
UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy

Ad Astra Academic Scholarship 2019 & 2020
Edwards/Arkins Medal 2018
Francoise Henry Memorial Medal 2018
Patrick Semple History Medal 2018
Donal Byrne Memorial Medal 2019

Introduce yourself, tell us about your interests and background.
I was born and raised under the beautiful shadow of Sliabh na mBan in South Tipperary, on a dairy farm 
steeped in family history and the calm of nature. As an only child I kept mostly to myself, focusing on school 
and creative pursuits, having convinced myself I would be a published author by the age of 15. After trapping 
myself in a web of spin-off storylines that made completing a plotline impossible, that dream was dashed, but 
history and the arts remained vital. In secondary school, conceptualising a future which combined Horrible 
Histories, Van Gogh and Austen was a challenge. So when the CAO came around, with unflinching confidence 
after four years contemplation, I applied for English and History at UCD with the plan to be a qualified teacher 
at the age of 22. Art History was a casual afterthought, as a result of a need to complete three subject choices. 
By week two of classes, I changed my mind entirely. 

Write about your experience at UCD, and what you have enjoyed so far. 
When starting college in 2018, no one could have guessed that only half of the three-year course would be 
completed on campus. Naturally, that impacted upon the overall student life experience at UCD, but the first 
year and a half were already instrumental in giving me self-confidence and in broadening my experiences. As I 
was that bit younger, turning seventeen right before my Leaving Cert exams, moving all the way to Dublin on 
my own was a huge step in learning independence. Regular public transport was such a thrilling new reality 
and the sheer scale and bustle of the campus - even aside from ‘The Big Smoke’ itself- somewhat 
unexpectedly filled me with a new energy. There was life in the classroom, passion and debate; all along with 
freedom to explore the cultural wealth of the city and, for the first time, meet genuinely like-minded people. 
Perhaps that is why the academic side of things appealed with such vigour: I was no longer alone in wanting to 
gush about paintings or get lost in research. 

Write about how your studies are coming along and aspects of your course that you enjoy / find interesting or 
challenging
The academic skills I developed during my time at UCD set a basis for what I would like to pursue in my future, 
and most importantly, helped me to understand what exactly my passions are. Research, discovery, niche 
perspectives and underexplored avenues in the Humanities as a whole, make me feel as though I have 
something to contribute to the world. The sensation of gaining and then imparting knowledge has, without 
my knowing it, always been the drive behind my pursuits. Furthermore, I feel as though I am part of a new 
generation in Ireland. I have never considered myself anything other than Irish by nationality and culture, but 
the visual evidence of a whole side of my family, who I am only now starting to truly know, forces me to 
acknowledge that changing face of Ireland and academia internationally. Having the opportunity to broaden 
my knowledge of art and history far beyond the popular male and Western canon, was one of the things I 
valued most about my studies here. 

Write about what for you has been the one defining experience
Naturally a huge part of the study of Art History focuses on the artworks themselves, and with the National 
Gallery, Hugh Lane and Chester Beatty Library (among others) in such easy reach in Dublin, visiting and seeing
art in person remained a continual highlight. This experience was increased tenfold by the opportunity to 
travel to Paris for four days in January 2020 (perfect timing!). The chance to see some of the most famous 
paintings in the world - as well as some of the lesser known museums of that most beloved city-, with 
classmates and lecturers, is something I will never forget. 

Tell us what receiving this scholarship means to you.
Receiving the Ad Astra Academic Scholarship provided financial assistance which, given the high cost of living
in Dublin, is always needed. These funds also went towards the trip to Paris and now that I have graduated, 
towards my further studies in the Netherlands. Recipients of the scholarship are also provided with the 
opportunity to attend workshops for soft-skill development such as networking, presentation skills and 
interview techniques. The social aspect of the scholarship is similarly important as it allowed me to meet new 
people outside of my course and faculty, and to be in a community of other academically driven personalities. 
Of course, post-graduation, the Ad Astra Scholarship as well as my other academic awards over the three 
years of study, have been of great value when applying for post-graduate study.

My postgraduate and occupational plans include…
I took a year out in between graduation and a Masters degree as I wanted to focus my aims and gather myself 
in a practical sense before moving, but the desire to study Art History in the Netherlands was an idea at the 
back of my mind for a while. As of September 2022, I have been studying in Leiden University, and relishing 
the return to academia! From this point on, my future is less clear, but I learned that attempts to plan rarely 
come to their expected fruition and so I am allowing myself to be open to new experiences and opportunities 
and see where my studies lead me. 
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that the receipt of the Ad Astra Academic Scholarship afforded 
me, and wish to express my profuse thanks to those who facilitated it. I think that scholarships of that kind, 
which celebrate the academic achievements attained during study (as opposed to just Leaving Certificate 
points while still applying to the degree) are an excellent incentive to achieve more, but also are a wonderful 
reward for those of us who have come into our own in higher level education.