Surgeon Noonan’s achievements honoured by UCC

2 Oct 2026

A celebration in the Aula Maxima in early October marked the success of this year’s UCC Surgeon Noonan Society team who raised more than €250,000 for medical aid initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Through a variety of student-led initiatives including coffee mornings, live music events, pub quizzes and bucket collections, these remarkable students raised vital funding that will support health infrastructure such as maternity wards and HIV clinics, as well as essential supplies including antibiotics and sterile equipment.

Surgeon Noonan is a registered charity founded in 1977 and run voluntarily by 4th year medical students from University College Cork. It is the largest student-run charity in Ireland.

The charity was named in honour of Dr. Tim Noonan, a UCC educated surgeon who dedicated much of his professional career to impactful work in Nigeria and the Congo.

Over the course of the academic year, the charity’s 55 members have raised a total of €251,412.97. All of this money was donated directly to hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa across Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. Their biggest fundraising event of the year was Jazz Weekend, where €55,617.47 was raised over three days in venues across Cork City. Another standout event was February’s annual fundraising gala in Rochestown Park, which raised €26,133.

In June 2026, these 55 medical students completed a 4 week elective placement across 9 different hospitals in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, and Tanzania. This opportunity showed the students exactly where the funds they raised will be spent. 

UCC President Professor John O’Halloran MRIA welcomed the students involved to a special reception recognising the ongoing success of their initiative. The event provided an opportunity for the students to reflect on the progress they have made throughout the past year, outline the impact of their work and celebrate the significant contribution they have made.