Fáilte is fiche go dtí eagrán an gheimhridh de Independent Thinking – iris Choláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh.

As we approach the end of 2022, this is a wonderful time to pause and reflect on the special moments we have shared together as a community during a year which saw our campus spring back to life. We celebrated that spirit of togetherness during the first semester of the 2022/23 academic year with a series of special events including Other Voices: Bringing It All Back Home, autumn conferrings and, of course, our Open Day. In this issue of Independent Thinking, we look back on the joy, colour, song and celebration that these events brought to our campus and community.

We were given further reason to celebrate when the Glucksman Gallery was announced as European Art Museum 2022 at a gala ceremony in the Museum of Modern Art, in Luxembourg. In this issue, the gallery’s director, Professor Fiona Kearney, discusses the significance of receiving this prestigious award, and the artistic ambition and innovation at the heart of the Glucksman team’s work.

This is an exciting time for broadcaster and UCC alumnus John Creedon, who recently picked up an An Post Irish Book Award for his latest publication, An Irish Folklore Treasury. In this issue, John discusses the importance of remaining curious and how learning is a lifelong journey.

Recently, we hosted four inspirational alumni, to honour them with one of the highest accolades given by the university – Alumni Achievement Awards. In a special ceremony, we celebrated Ross Frenett, Founder and CEO of Moonshot (BA Joint Arts, 2009); infectious disease epidemiologist and health specialist Professor Noel Gill (Medicine, 1974); former Irish field hockey and rugby sevens international Audrey O’Flynn (Commerce, 2008; Corporate Finance, 2010); and Dr Maria Kelly, radiation oncology leader (Medicine, 1983).

Elsewhere in the issue, Katie Ní Loingsigh explores our rich connection with the University of Montana, and we pay tribute to the incredible Dr Patrick O’Leary, NUI Registrar and other para-athletes who have worn the skull-and-crossbones with pride.

I hope you enjoy the latest edition of Independent Thinking.

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Professor John O’Halloran 

President, University College Cork