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President of Ireland visits University College Cork
- Uachtarán na hÉireann visited Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne and UCC in first official trip to Cork.
Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly visited Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne (Terence MacSwiney Community College) in Knocknaheeny, Cork, on Wednesday 27 May, while later attending a series of engagements at University College Cork (UCC).
The visit highlighted the ongoing partnership between UCC and Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne through the Barr na gCnoc project, a university-assisted community schools initiative, funded by the HEA, focused on educational and social enhancement using Irish-language education as an enabler.
During her visit to Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne, President Connolly met students participating in the Barr na gCnoc initiative, attended a musical performance, and met the prize winners of the Young Scientist Competition.
President Connolly then travelled to UCC, where she met UCC President Professor John O’Halloran, viewed the historic Book of Lismore, the 1916 Proclamation in UCC Library, and addressed students and staff. The visit to the university also included a traditional music performance.
“We warmly welcome the President of Ireland to Cork and UCC. Our partnership with the Terence MacSwiney Community College centres on improving access to higher education and working together with the school and the community, the team behind this project have delivered remarkable results,” stated Professor John O’Halloran MRIA, President of UCC.
“It is a great honour to have our work in the Barr na gCnoc project recognised by Uachtarán na hÉireann, and for that recognition to be shared with the Irish-language community of UCC,” Professor Pádraig Ó Macháin, Barr na gCnoc project lead and Professor of Modern Irish at UCC, said.
“We in Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne are absolutely delighted to be part of the Barr na gCnoc Project and we are honoured that Uachtarán na hÉireann will recognise the success of this partnership during her visit. The involvement of UCC is a very welcome endorsement of our students and the wider Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill communities. We have gained so much from the support, guidance and friendship of our colleagues in UCC. Professor Pádraig Ó Macháin, Project Lead, and Ms. Adel Coleman, Project Manager, have walked alongside us in the spirit of partnership—sharing in our successes and supporting us through every challenge. Our Board of Management and Cork ETB join us in extending a sincere céad míle fáilte to Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly," Principal of Terence MacSwiney Community College, Phil O’Flynn, said.
Through the Barr na gCnoc project, UCC partners closely with the school to address barriers to educational and social inclusion. The initiative focuses on four core pillars: Advocacy, Student Support, Teacher Support, and Parent Support. Improved educational aspirations is an outstanding impact of Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne and Barr na gCnoc. A commissioned study into the impact of the school and the Barr na gCnoc initiative found that parents and pupils consistently expressed increased aspirations toward third-level education, particularly at UCC.