Dinosaurs, secret treasures in the gallery, and discoveries that could change lives: UCC is full of stories, and I am delighted to share some of them with you in our latest e-newsletter.

Long before the first birds took flight, a reptile with a showy, plume-covered crest roamed the Triassic treetops. Thanks to a team including UCC palaeontologists, this striking creature, Mirasaura grauvogeli, is rewriting what we thought we knew about the origins of feathers.

This year, UCC celebrates 180 years since its founding as Queen’s College Cork in 1845. Alumni and visitors are invited to rediscover the campus on guided tours that reveal its stunning architecture, vibrant culture, and rich scientific heritage. The journey reaches its highlight with an exclusive encounter at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, where visitors can experience one of Ireland’s most extraordinary cultural treasures, The Great Book of Ireland. 

The UCC Alumni Fund thrives thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, whose donations provide grants for a range of projects that directly impact student life, inside and outside the classroom.

Cancer touches so many Irish families but treatments such as precision oncology and immunotherapy have moved forward and are no longer a distant ambition.

Over the summer, UCC alumni from many different years made their way back to campus and other familiar places to mark special reunion milestones. Classmates travelled from home and abroad to catch up, enjoy tours of the university, and remember their student days. Each occasion was marked by warm conversation, reminiscences, and the chance to renew old friendships while making new memories.

Tara Finn (BSc 2015) is a graduate of UCC's Biological and Chemical Sciences degree programme and works at Cork Airport. She began her career as a retail assistant at the airport before earning her Commercial Pilot’s License and an MSc in Aviation Management from Portobello Institute. She now leads out on Business Development and Communications for the airport. Her journey through various roles has given her a deep understanding of the aviation industry and has led to a career that Tara has found incredible fulfillment in. 

For many alumni, UCC was the place where their ambitions took root, a career was launched, and lifelong bonds were forged. A legacy gift is a way to carry that spirit forward, turning personal gratitude into opportunities that will inspire and empower generations yet to come.

The global UCC alumni community includes over 220,000 members living and working across the world. We are delighted to share highlights from recent alumni gatherings, as UCC graduates continue to build connections no matter where they are. 

The UCC Women Graduates’ Association was relaunched to a full house last week with an excellent talk on “100 Years of Empowering Women” by guest speaker, Fiona Ahern.

Do you have an eye for capturing the beauty, energy, and spirit of University College Cork? Whether it’s the iconic Quad, bustling student life, or hidden gems around campus, we want to see your best shots! Submit your photos for a chance to win great prizes and have your work showcased to the UCC community.