Category: Policy & Strategy

UCD Professor Peter Clinch and Anne Pender launched a report inquiring into why the domestic water charging regime in Ireland failed. Access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services is essential for public health and well-being, but attitudes differ regarding how such services should be funded. In Ireland, the 2014 introduction of a domestic-sector consumption-based charging regime was met with public protests, leading eventually to the suspension of charges in 2016 and a subsequent recommendation by a parliamentary committee that they be abolished.

On Thursday, February 9 2017, UCD hosted the Arthur Cox UCD Women in Leadership Conference 2017. The conference brought over 530 alumni, professionals and students together in O’Reilly Hall, UCD with the aim of assisting women in their careers and professional development. The keynote lecture was delivered by Tina Roche of Business in the Community Ireland and there were numerous panel discussions that addressed women’s role in the media, in STEM, professional services and sport.

On Wednesday February 8 2017, the first international presentation of the UCD Foundation Day Medal was made to UCD Arts & Humanities alumnus Colm Tóibín in the Metropolitan Club, New York. The UCD Foundation Day Medal is presented annually to a distinguished alumnus of national and international recognition whose influence and contribution are a source of great pride to the University.

Speaking at the presentation the President of UCD Professor Andrew J. Deeks said “UCD is proud to honour Colm and celebrate the distinguished career and literary achievements of one of our most outstanding UCD Arts and Humanities graduates. Colm’s successes reflect UCD’s quest for excellence and uphold the values that UCD hold dear – integrity, excellence, collegiality, engagement, creativity and diversity – values that we believe are in the DNA of our University”.

In delivering the citation fellow UCD graduate, Barbara Jones, Consul General of Ireland in New York, said, “Colm’s work is distinguished by an elegance, brilliance and precision of style. His gifted artistic talents enable him to transfigure the minutiae of everyday life, to reach readers from very different times and places, and to lead us to a greater imaginative understanding of a shared and diverse humanity – qualities comparable indeed to another UCD graduate, James Joyce.” The President of University College Dublin, Professor Andrew J. Deeks presented the medal in front of 250+ UCD alumni, supporters, friends and Irish diaspora who had gathered in New York to celebrate and honour the global success of Colm Tóibín.

Professor Margaret Kelleher, Chair of Anglo Irish Literature and Drama conducted an animated interview with Colm Tóibín to the delight of the audience. Our thanks to colleagues in UCD College of Arts & Humanities, Professor Sarah Prescott, Principal; James Ryan, Director of Creative Writing; & Professor Margaret Kelleher for their support of this event.

Click here for images of the evening, and below for the testimonial video shown on the night, featuring Fintan O’Toole, Anne Enright, James Ryan, Sheila Pratschke, Garry Hynes & Marie Mullen, and also the event highlights videos.

Having received its world premiere at Kilmainham Gaol for the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Signatories returns to the stage in October at The Olympia Theatre Dublin. Originally commissioned by UCD, this stunning list of writers, Emma Donoghue, Thomas Kilroy, Hugo Hamilton, Frank McGuinness, Rachel Fehily, Éilís Ní Dhuibne, Marina Carr and Joseph O’Connor present the seven signatories of the Irish Proclamation, along with the interesting perspective of Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell, who delivered the surrender in the Easter Rising of 1916.

This exciting production, noted for its magnificent writing, is directed by Tony Award-winning director, Patrick Mason, and will be delivered by some of the country’s most outstanding actors; Barbara Brennan plays Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell by Emma Donoghue; Frank McCusker plays Padraig Pearse by Thomas Kilroy; Karen McCartney reads James Connolly written by Hugo Hamilton; Roseanna Purcell who reads Seán MacDiarmada written by Éilís Ní Dhuibne; Stephen Jones plays Thomas MacDonagh by Marina Carr; Shane O’Reilly plays Joseph Mary Plunkett by Joseph O’Connor; Joe Taylor plays Thomas Clarke written by Rachel Fehily and Ronan Leahy plays Éamonn Ceannt by Frank McGuinness – all relay the voices that thread across deeply personal emotions from each historical Irish character.

UCD played a central role in the emergence of the Irish State – from the culturally-driven Gaelic Revival movement to the formation of the Irish Volunteers and Cumann na mBan; from the actual planning of the Easter Rising to the formation of the first Government; UCD lecturers, graduates and even students were all part of the story of Irish independence.

Tickets can be purchased: 

Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun
Friday 30 September & Saturday 1 October | 8pm | €16
Box Office – Tel: 01 883 2100 | www.axisballymun.ie
Complimentary car parking available
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Low price Preview Tuesday 4 October | 8.00pm | €28.50
Wednesday 5 – Friday 14 October | 8.00pm €38.50/€33 (booking charges apply)
Box Office – Tel: 0818 719 300 – ROI / 0870 243 4455 – N. I. / +353 1 4858010 – Int’l Customers / www.ticketmaster.ie

Watch a trailer of Signatories on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b86LazIECHM

Find out more about Signatories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Signatories1916/