Rocking their funky socks, staff and students gathered from all over the university, along with VIP guests from the Down Syndrome Centre Cork, to mark World Down Syndrome Day 2025 World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

The id+ Futures team and students are so proud of our olympian, Joseph “Joe-Joe” Sheehan, a student on the Certificate in Social Citizenship. Joe-Joe is representing Ireland as part of the Irish Floorball Team at the Special Olympics Winter Games currently being held in Turin, Italy.  He already has an impressive medal haul of four golds, three silvers, and two bronzes across regional and Ireland Games and also plays golf and football. We wish Joe-Joe and the team all the best. The Team Ireland Floorball team are playing with skill, heart, determination and team spirit through the divisional matches so far and we wish them all the best of luck on their journey.   A man of the match performance by Joseph “Joe-Joe” Sheehan versus Switzerland, helped secure a bronze medal for Team Ireland's floorball team following an incredible campaign. Big congratulations to all involved. 

Bystander Intervention week was celebrated in UCC and across the HE sector this week. Led by Prof Louise Crowley and Celine Griffin, staff and students engaged with a range of events including staff and student workshops, information stands, engagement with our community partners and a staff insight session to enhance student and staff take up of the training. On Wednesday more than 400 students attending the Information stand, committed to engaging with the Bystander training over the coming months.