Aisling Cannon | Public engagement | Queen's University Belfast

Aisling Cannon

Student, School of Law

TEDx Talk Title - 'You’ll Never Walk Alone: The Walkie Talkie Girlies’ Story'

My TEDx talk begins with a vivid moment many women will recognise: the fear of feeling unsafe at night. That experience became the spark for Walkie Talkie Girlies, a society I co-founded to create a safe space for people to exercise, socialise and get outdoors.

I will explore how this small act of walking together quickly grew into a recognised student movement, offering not only safety in numbers but also a sense of community. The talk then turns to Project Pink, our flagship campaign, which saw Belfast City Hall and Queen’s University lit pink in solidarity with victims of violence against women and girls. With over 600 participants, support from local leaders, and national media coverage, it demonstrated the power of grassroots activism. Ultimately, my talk shows how collective steps, however small, can spark discussion, and transform fear into hope.

About the Speaker

My name is Aisling Cannon, and I am currently completing an LLM in International Human Rights Law at Queen’s. I am from Donegal, but moved to Belfast in 2022 to study at Queen’s University and graduated with an LLB in Law July this year.

I first became interested in law and human rights after reading Malala Yousafzai’s biography at fifteen years old. Her bravery in fighting for what she believed in inspired me to study law and to advocate for change. I co-founded the Walkie Talkie Girlies Society, to create a safe space for people to exercise, socialise and get outdoors. I have been Chairperson of the society since its establishment in November 2023 and couldn’t be prouder of how much we have grown in the past few years.

Alongside my studies, I’ve had the chance to work at the Queen’s Students’ Union as a receptionist, I’ve peer mentored younger law students and spoke at events on the topics of equality and community. I also was selected to represent Queen’s Law School on the Irish Chief Justice Programme and spent this past summer working in Dublin for one of the Central Criminal Court judges. Outside of academics, I love music and sport, grabbing coffee with my friends and spending time back home in Donegal with my family.