Other Voices: Bringing It All Back Home

For thousands of alumni and students all over the world, UCC holds some of their most treasured memories – and on 29 September, a new and very special one was added to the mix.

It was a night of song and celebration as Other Voices came to campus, with our iconic Aula Maxima, Honan Chapel and Glucksman Gallery providing the backdrops for a spectacular showcase of live music.

Students, staff and alumni of UCC, along with members of the public, gathered to enjoy the musical delights of Other Voices: Bringing It All Back Home, hosted by legendary presenter MayKay. Artists on the night included Mercury Prize nominee SOAK, Cork-born rising star Cian Ducrot, the magnificent Susan O’Neill, and acclaimed experimental artist Biig Piig.

The event – which is the brainchild of broadcaster, musician and UCC alumnus Philip King – marked a special moment of togetherness in UCC’s recent history, with our global university community invited to enjoy the performances via livestreams on YouTube and Facebook.

Autumn Conferrings

Conferrings are one of the most exciting times of the year here at UCC, when our campus springs to life with much colour and celebration. And there was certainly plenty to smile about at our Autumn Conferrings, with graduates from all four colleges and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) conferred in a series of ceremonies held across three weeks in October.

Among those celebrating this season were Tara Hanlon, Quercus Scholar and European Rowing Championship silver medallist, who was conferred with a BComm; and Joan Omosefe Osayande, who was awarded a Sanctuary Scholarship in 2018 and graduated with first-class honours BSc in Medical and Health Sciences.

It was also a special day for UCC President Professor John O’Halloran whose daughter Ailish was conferred with a BSc in Business Information Systems.

UCC was also delighted to welcome aviation entrepreneur Declan Ryan and broadcaster Derek Mooney to campus for honorary conferrings. Mr Ryan, Founder and Managing Partner of Irelandia Aviation, was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws, while Mr Mooney received an Honorary Doctorate of Sciences.

Open Day

The greatest days at UCC are always those that bring our entire university community together, and no event conveys this better than our Open Day. On Saturday, 8 October we were delighted to welcome an estimated 5,000 prospective students and their families to campus, to explore UCC and all it has to offer.

As the first university in the world to receive the Green Campus Award, UCC is committed to contributing to a more sustainable future through all aspects of university life and teaching. And so, it was fitting that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the university’s pledge to ‘Leave No One Behind’, provided the lens through which information was presented on the day.

One of the highlights of the event was Mock Cop27, held in the Aula Maxima, which offered prospective students the opportunity to experience what it would be like to take part in a global negotiation to address climate change.

There were also stands, presentations and activities from schools and departments across the university, as well as our clubs and societies which play such an integral role in life at UCC. On the day, the SAMH (Suicide Awareness and Mental Health) Society and the Scribble Society presented wonderful interactive activities, inviting visitors to create doodles and decorate jigsaws with positive affirmations and actions for happiness.

Another highlight of the day was the multilingual flash mob, where students of UCC’s School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures as well as the Department of Theatre came together with staff in unified protest against sexual violence and victim blaming. Through their highly emotive performance, students conveyed our solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence all over the world. The performance, which was jointly supported by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit and the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, also created the opportunity to raise awareness of UCC's Bystander Intervention Programme.

The day was a huge success due to the collaboration of staff and students across the entire university, and particularly our facilitators: Dr Fionn Rogan, Societies President Mair Kelly, Reuban Murray, and ISSU Executive members Caitlin Faye Maniti, Jack McGinn and Mohammad Naeem.

For more information on Open Days at UCC, visit the dedicated website.

Photography, Other Voices: Bringing It All Back Home: Clare Keogh

Photography, Conferrings: Provision

Photography, Open Day: Ger McCarthy