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The Bridge: Alumni Newsletter

Summer Reunions

11 Sep 2025
BSocSc 1985 pictured at their class reunion on campus

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.

View the photo gallery for recent class reunions here


BSc Mathematical Science ‘74: Celebrating 51 Years

The BSc Mathematical Sciences class of 1974 reunited this May to celebrate an impressive 51 years since graduation, marking the occasion with a day of connection, conversation, and campus nostalgia.

The group gathered in the Glucksman Gallery for a relaxed breakfast to begin the day, before setting off on a guided campus tour led by James Power of Visitor Services. With plenty of stories shared along the way, the tour offered a chance to revisit old haunts and take in the many changes to the university landscape since their student days.

Alumni made the journey from as far afield as Canada, Malawi, and the UK to attend the reunion. The day concluded with a celebratory lunch at Hayfield Manor.


BSc Dairy Science ‘85: Marking 40 Years

The BSc Dairy Science class of 1985 reunited in May to celebrate their 40th anniversary, returning to campus for a day filled with reconnection, reflection, and celebration.

Alumni travelled from near and far, including Denmark, France, the UK, and the USA, to mark the occasion. The group was welcomed back to the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, where they enjoyed presentations by Professor Alan Kelly, Head of School, and Dr Eileen O’Neill, Senior Lecturer in Food Science.

Following the talks, David Waldron, Chief Technical Officer, led the group on a guided tour of the school’s facilities. The visit continued with a broader campus tour hosted by James Power of Visitor Services, offering alumni the chance to see how much the university has grown and changed over the decades.


Golden Jubilee Celebration: Honouring the Classes of 1975

In June, UCC welcomed back 140 alumni and friends to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Classes of 1975. This milestone event brought together graduates from across all faculties, uniting classmates and companions to mark 50 years since their time at UCC.

Attendees made the journey from across Ireland, representing all provinces, as well as from Canada, the US, the UK, and Italy. The day began with an ecumenical service in the Honan Chapel, followed by a warm welcome reception in the Aula Maxima. Guests then enjoyed guided tours of the evolving campus and the Glucksman Gallery, offering a chance to reflect on the past while seeing the university’s ongoing transformation.

The celebrations culminated in a gala luncheon in the Devere Hall at Áras na Mac Léinn, where the Class of 1975 gathered to reconnect and share stories from their student days.

Here’s what some attendees had to say after the event:

“Thank you for a wonderful day at UCC. The meal was marvellous and it was wonderful to link up with people I had last met in 1975! The organisation was fabulous, and the tour was great.” Bernie Wise, MB

“It was a fantastic day, meeting up with people who were there during my time and rekindling old friendships.” Mary Lynch, BA

“I had a most wonderful day celebrating with old friends, from start to finish it was a huge success.  The lovely service in the Honan set the tone for the day. The President made us feel special and gave a warm welcoming speech. Overall, it was a day I will remember in the years to come as a memorable one.” Geraldine Carroll, BComm

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BComm Class of 1974 Enjoys Annual Reunion

Following the success of last year’s Golden Jubilee Reunion, the BComm Class of 1974 gathered once again for a special reunion on Saturday, 14 June at the Rochestown Park Hotel.

“Our BComm class enjoyed our Golden Jubilee last year so much we decided we would have a get together annually,” said John Bourke. “None of us looked a day over... 75.”

A total of 16 classmates attended the event, where laughter and memories were shared freely.


BA European Studies Class of 1995 Celebrates 30-Year Reunion

The BA European Studies Class of 1995 marked their 30th anniversary with a reunion dinner at Hayfield Manor on 21 June. Earlier in the day, the group enjoyed a nostalgic campus tour led by JP Quinn, Head of Visitor Services, which was a highlight for many.

“It really is great to be able to gather 30 years later. We all have the fondest feelings when we remember our time in UCC,” shared organiser, Kate Cuddy

The event was a joyful celebration of lasting friendships, shared memories, and the enduring bond with UCC.


BA Class of 1965: 60th Anniversary Reunion

The BA Class of 1965 came together on 3 July to celebrate a very special milestone, their 60th reunion. The group met for refreshments in the beautiful surrounds of Léas at the Glucksman, followed by a campus tour led by JP Quinn, and rounded off the day with a relaxed lunch at the River Lee Hotel.

Alumni travelled from Cork, Galway, Dublin and Spain to mark the occasion. It was a day filled with stories, memories, and lots of laughter.

Mary Hurley, became a Maths teacher and later deputy principal at Christ King Secondary School in Cork.  Another classmate, Mary O’Sullivan (Gonzalez), received the prestigious Salamanca Scholarship in her final year. This took her to Spain, where she met her husband and has lived ever since. Mary later became a lecturer at the University of Seville, where her husband was also a professor.

During the campus tour, a stop at the Common Room, once the old library, sparked a lovely memory for Kay Burke, who told us that her first paid job after graduating was working there in the UCC library.

Reflecting on the day, Mary Hurley remarked, “It was a memorable occasion and was thoroughly enjoyed by us all. Her sentiment was echoed by Catherine Bernadette Casey who said “It was lovely to meet classmates I hadn't seen for years.”


Civil Eng Class of 2005 Celebrates Their 20th Anniversary

The Civil Engineering Class of 2005 marked their 20th anniversary this July with a lively reunion in Costigan’s Pub, just a short stroll from campus. Blessed with fine weather, the group enjoyed a campus tour, kindly arranged by James Power, before settling into the cosy parlour area of Costigan’s for an evening of catching up. Tom Murphy reported that there were around 35 classmates there on the night, including several who had travelled from as far afield as the UK, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.

With plenty of food and drinks in the parlour area, everyone settled in for a relaxed, happy evening, the perfect way to celebrate 20 years since graduation.


B.Soc. Science Class of 1985: 40th Reunion

The Bachelor of Social Science Class of 1985 celebrated their 40th reunion this July in Tom Barry’s on Barracks Street  and by all accounts, it was a night to remember! Maureen Canty said, “We had an amazing day on Tuesday. Everyone really enjoyed the tour, and we closed out Tom Barry’s with a mighty music session, just like we used to do 40 years ago.”

One attendee summed it up perfectly in the WhatsApp group: “It was great to see all the friendly, familiar faces and share the memories, and now we’ve made new ones! We won’t leave it so long until the next reunion.”


Friends Reunited

Advancement Office

An Oifig Cothaithe

Cork University Foundation is incorporated in Ireland as a limited liability company and a registered charity (CRN: 243605, RCN: 20033385, CHY11831). Room 2.12, Western Gateway Building, Western Road, Cork, T12 XF62

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