Cuireann sé iostas ar fáil ar champas na hollscoile le haghaidh seachtar is fiche áitritheoir gur mic léinn de chuid COC iad agus gur mian leo páirt ghníomhach a ghlacadh i  nGaeltacht na hOllscoile.  Chun cur lena fhás agus lena fhorbairt, bheartaigh Bord na Gaeilge ar an Ionad Cónaithe a aistriú sa bhliain 2007 go dtí Brú na hOllscoile, Crosaire Victoria.  Athainmníodh an tIonad mar Áras Uí Thuama i gcuimhne ar an Iar-Ollamh agus Iar-Ghobharnóir de chuid COC, Seán Ó Thuama. Scoláire, file agus drámadóir ab ea é agus bhí sé an-ghníomhach i nGluaiseacht Athbheochana na Gaeilge.  Bhí sé ina bhall den Chomhairle Ealaíon agus ina chathaoirleach ar Chomhairle na Gaeilge agus, ina dhiaidh san, ar Bhord na Gaeilge. Chun a cháil a chomóradh agus chun an cion agus an meas a bhí ag a chuid mac léinn agus a chomhghleacaithe air a cheiliúradh, measadh go mba oiriúnach an bheart é an t-Áras so a ainmniú i gcuimhne air.

Tógadh an t-Áras geal nua-aimseartha seo sa bhliain 2006.  I ngach ceann de na naoi n-árasán tá seomra comhluadair, seomra codlata/ staidéir le seomra "en suite", áiseanna tí ar fheabhas, guthán poiblí, teilifís ar cábla, ceangal idirlín faoi bhanda leathan atá saor in aisce. In aice láimhe, tá slí chun rothar a pháirceáil go sábháilte, maoir chónaithe agus siopa ollmhargaidh mar a bhfuil rogha gach bia ar fáil. Níl cearnóg láir na hollscoile féin ach deich neomat de shiúl na gcos ó Áras Uí Thuama.

Is í an Ghaeilge an gnáth-theanga chumarsáide a bhíonn in úsáid gach lá in Áras Uí Thuama. Is cuid tábhachtach de pholasaí Gaeilge choiste rialaithe na hollscoile bunú agus buanú na mion-Ghaeltachta so i gceartlár an campais. Bronnann Bord na Gaeilge scoláireacht de €500 i ndeireadh na bliana acadúla ar gach áitritheoir a chomhlíonann coinníollacha na Scéime Cónaithe agus a glacann páirt ghníomhach sa scéim.  Is i gcomhar le Comhlacht Iostas Campais COC a eagraíonn Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha an scéim agus gearrann An Comhlacht na gnáth-tháillí iostais ar gach áitritheoir.   Tá fáilte roimh gach mac léinn cur isteach ar áit in Áras Uí Thuama ag deireadh na bliana acadúla.

Is cuid láir de ghréasán Gaeilge na hollscoile Áras Uí Thuama agus glacann na háitritheoirí páirt  in imeachtaí rialta an Árais, in imeachtaí an tSeomra Caidrimh, in imeachtaí na Cuallachta agus Spraoi Cois Laoi, i gcúrsaí Scéim na Scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta agus Dhún Chíomháin.    Is ann don ionad iostais le cúig bliana déag, tá a áit fhéin bainte amach aige ó shoin i stair na hollscoile, agus táthar cinnte i gcomhthéacs stádas nua na Gaeilge in Éirinn agus san Aontas Eorpach, gurb ó neart go neart a raghaidh sé sna blianta atá amach romhainn.

Bhí Aodh Ó Tuama, mac léinn sna hEalaíona i láthair ag Oscailt Oifigiúil Áras Uí Thuama. Cónaíonn sé san Áras faoi láthair agus is garmhac do Sheán Ó Tuama féin é.
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Áras Uí Thuama is officially opened at University College Cork (UCC)

Áras Uí Thuama was officially opened yesterday (March 5th 2008) by Dr Michael Murphy, President, UCC.  An Irish language Residence was established at UCC as part of the complex of apartments at Castlewhite in 1993. The Residence provides accommodation on the university campus for twenty seven residents who are all students at UCC and wish to play an active role in the University's Gaeltacht.

In order to facilitate its growth and development, Bord na Gaeilge decided to move the Residence to University Hall on Victoria Cross in 2007.  The Residence was renamed Áras Uí Thuama in memory of Seán Ó Tuama a Professor and Governor of UCC. A scholar, poet and dramatist, he was very active in the Irish Language Revival Movement.  He was a member of the Arts Council and chairperson of Comhairle na Gaeilge, and, subsequently, Bord na Gaeilge. In order to celebrate his fame and to mark the affection and esteem in which he was held by  both his students and colleagues, it was thought to be very appropriate to name the Residence in his memory.

This bright, modern building was constructed in 2006.  In all nine apartments, there is a communal room, as well as a bedroom/study "en suite", superb domestic appliances, a public telephone, cable television, and free broadband internet connection. Nearby, there is a place where bicycles may be safely parked, caretakers and a supermarket with a wide range of food. The university's main campus is only a ten minute walk from Áras Uí Thuama.

Irish is the daily language of communication in Áras Uí Thuama. A core feature of the Irish language policy of the university's governing body is the establishment and preservation of this mini Gaeltacht in the middle of the campus. Bord na Gaeilge awards a scholarship of €500 to every resident at the end of the academic year who has satisfied the conditions of the Residential Scheme and is actively engaged in it.  Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha organises the scheme in conjunction with UCC's Campus Accommodation Company and the Company charges every resident the usual accommodation fees.  All students are welcome to apply for a place in Áras Uí Thuama at the end of the academic year.

Áras Uí Thuama is a central element of the Irish language network in UCC and the residents take part in regular Áras events.  They are also involved in occasions in An Seomra Caidrimh, activities organised by An Chuallacht, the events of Spraoi Cois Laoi, in the Gaeltacht Scholarship Scheme and in Dún Chíomháin.    The Irish language accommodation project is in existence for fifteen years, and has already made university history and, in the context of the new status which the Irish language has received in Ireland and in the European Union, it is certain to go from strength to strength.

Pictured at the official opening of Áras Uí Thuama is Arts student, Aodh Ó Tuama, grandson of the late Seán Ó Tuama and resident at Áras Uí Thuama.

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