Join us by the Lake

WHEN THE  UCD University  Club opened its doors this summer, it quickly established a loyal and regular following among alumni and the wider UCD community of faculty and staff. The first of its kind in Ireland, the concept for UCD University Club was the vision of UCD President, Professor Andrew J Deeks who was inspired by similar clubs at top universities all over the world. The aim of such clubs is to provide comfortable surroundings and flexible spaces where members can gather and avail of well-appointed amenities delivered with the personal touch and, uniquely, a link to their alma mater.

UCD University Club’s convivial atmosphere is reflected in the warm welcome from its general manager Paul O’Rafferty and his team. “Our aim is for alumni to feel this is a real home from home where they can order ‘the usual’ or choose their favourite table and we know exactly what they mean,” says O’Rafferty.

The Club is located minutes from Dublin’s city centre in the heart of Belfield, adjacent to O’Reilly  Hall, with magnificent views of the lake. The contemporary building, designed by architects Scott Tallon Walker, is configured so that the UCD University Club and O’Reilly Hall are compatibly inter-connected, facilitating business meetings small and large, including conferences for up to 1,000.

UCD University Club membership is open to all alumni, as well as to staff and faculty of UCD and to corporate members and friends of UCD. It’s  the perfect place to pop in for coffee, lunch or dinner, or to socialise, relax, dine, entertain and host business meetings large and small.

“Our aim is for alumni to feel this is a real home from home where they can order ‘the usual’ or choose their favourite table.”

The Club’s contemporary café with full daytime service, and a comfortable bar, are situated on the ground floor with an elegant fine-dining restaurant on the first floor. Other amenities, including the members’ lounge and five meeting rooms (with state-of-the-art audio- visual capability), deliver comfort and convenience. All spaces are designed with flexibility to cater for members’ events, workshops, private dining and special occasions.

THE GROUND FLOOR

The Café A bright space offering early morning coffee and breakfast and all-day healthy, delicious dishes.

Open Monday-Friday from 7.30am-6pm; Saturday 8.30am-3.30pm.

The Bar With views of the lake, the Bar is the ideal spot for pre-or post-dinner drinks. The barfood menu is available daily from 6pm Monday-Saturday.

THE FIRST FLOOR

The Members’ Lounge Reserved for members only, The Members’ Lounge is the place to meet up with

colleagues and fellow alumni or to avail of a quiet space. With high-speed broadband and WiFi, it’s easy to transition from work to relaxation.

Open Monday-Saturday from 7.30am-11.30pm.

The Restaurant The elegant Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Monday- Saturday, with creative, seasonal menus featuring locally-sourced Irish produce.

EVENTS, HOSPITALITY, MEETINGS

UCD University Club’s well-appointed amenities include five flexible spaces for events, hospitality and meetings in addition to the adjacent facilities of O’Reilly Hall. A number of packages suit all requirements. Packages include main room hire, WiFi, AV facilities, complimentary stationery and pens. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea options are available.

Private Dining Dinner packages have a choice of menus and wines, and groups of 6-80 guests can be accommodated for fine dining with waiter service in stunning lake-view rooms.

Receptions Private room hire is available, typically from 5pm-8pm for drinks receptions. Packages are tailored to requirements.

Meetings and Events Meetings and conferences of all sizes can be accommodated in our flexible spaces, from boardrooms to the conference-ready O’Reilly Hall which has capacity for up to 1,000.

The Oak Room Seating up to twelve for dining or conferencing, The Oak Room offers hi-spec private facilities with all the convenience of easy access and parking, and premium catering.

The Birch and The Beech Rooms These rooms can be booked individually or opened into a larger single space accommodating up to 70.

The Cedar and Cypress Rooms On the first floor of the UCD University Club, these rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows enjoy beautiful views of the lake and can be booked individually to accommodate 40 people for dinner or open into a larger single space accommodating up to 80.

In addition, The Cedar and The Cypress rooms can also be linked into the restaurant to accommodate larger events for up to 160.

The Rowan Room A private event room on the first floor of O’Reilly Hall with plasma screen and video conferencing facilities, it can accommodate up to 40 people for private dining or conferencing.

O’Reilly Hall The imposing O’Reilly Hall is ideal for major conferences, meetings, product launches and exhibitions for 100 to 1,000 attendees. The Main Hall is a blank canvas, allowing you design your event to your individual requirements. Competitive delegate packages coupled with an experienced events team will ensure your every need is catered for. UCD University Club members also avail of discounted rates.

Members of the UCD University Club are also entitled to a number of additional benefits including access to the network of the Association of Colleges and University Clubs (ACUC) worldwide, with reciprocal privileges at clubs throughout the US, Canada, Australia, Sweden, UK, Israel and the Netherlands.

Members of all generations enjoy UCD University Club’s many attractions. As well as easy accessibility and parking, and the comprehensive suite of facilities, there’s the beauty of the surrounding landscape to enjoy. General manager Paul O’Rafferty notes that many members walk around the campus before enjoying a cappuccino or breakfast at the Club or make a date for lunch at The Café.

“It is a great place to meet people by arrangement, but also a fantastic place to bump into people you haven’t seen for ages.” Members can also host family occasions in The Restaurant or in the private dining lake-view rooms, The Cedar and The Cypress. “We find that members appreciate the options to host birthdays, anniversary parties and other family get-togethers in the Club. They say it’s more convenient than a hotel, and has a distinctive, friendly atmosphere offering privacy and comfort.”

“This is one of the best things to happen in Belfield for years,” says UCD alumna Professor Gerardine Doyle, Director of the Michael Smurfit Business School and Associate Dean of UCD College of Business. “It has transformed how I do business. I can book a meeting room or a table in The Restaurant and host visiting academics or corporate partners. The team look after our requirements and the Club is convenient, comfortable and has all the essentials.”

UCD alumnus Enda Scott (BSc 1999, MBA 2008) is managing director of the medical devices division of  DCC  Vital and places great value on the company’s corporate membership of UCD University Club. Having worked in the US, UK and Europe and now based in the UK, the Club’s international-standard facilities are key for Scott, who hosts meetings with corporate partners and clients in the Club as well as internal meetings. “It is a superb venue, professionally equipped and staffed but with the personal touch.”

“We always get a lovely welcome,” says UCD alumnus Professor Niall O’Higgins, Professor Emeritus of Surgery, UCD and recently appointed Chair of the National Screening Committee. One of six brothers, he and his wife, Dr Roisin Healy, retired paediatric emergency medicine specialist, often meet his siblings in The Café. “It has a very pleasant atmosphere and very good service,” he says. Brothers and UCD alumni, Kevin O’Higgins, former judge of the Circuit Court, High Court and European Court, and Jim O’Higgins, solicitor, have also taken up Club membership.

For many members, a visit to The Members’ Lounge represents an opportunity for colleagues to “get away from the office”. A group from the School of Veterinary Medicine appreciate the comfortable setting and the chance to have a casual meeting or read a newspaper, away from the bustle on campus. John Buckley and colleagues Susan Caffrey, Oisin MacDonnacha and Karen O’Connell are known to the team  at the Club now: “The sense of collegiality is special – it has the effect of making you relax, and putting your guests at ease.”

Alumna Eleanor Flew, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services is also a fan. “The Club is particularly useful for meetings away from the office.”

Architectural photographer Alice Clancy uses the Club for informal meetings. “I meet colleagues here and we can work and talk in a quiet environment. I love The Café for its light and airy space.”

Members from the School of Computer Science are also regulars: “You can get lovely coffee, lovely food and the surroundings are peaceful,” says Imelda Huggins, who is often joined by colleagues Rosemary Deevy and Ian Bonar.

The Club prioritises excellent service and creative cuisine. In both The Café and The Restaurant, menus celebrate seasonality and Irish food provenance with exciting and healthy menu selections. There are also various catering packages as well as bespoke options designed for all events hosted by members, including private dining occasions, dinners, receptions, workshops and meetings.

The Club also hosts a variety of members-only social, professional and educational activities, including fascinating talks from high-profile alumni, networking events, themed wine dinners and live music.

UCD University Club membership is open to all alumni. We warmly invite you to join up and enjoy the UCD University Club’s comfortable surroundings and excellent facilities. Don’t wait!

UCD UNIVERSITY CLUB MEMBER PRIVILEGES

• A welcoming atmosphere to relax, dine, work and socialise
• Stylish and varied rooms for dining, meeting and entertaining
• A curated schedule of members’ events
• Members are entitled to host three guests per visit
• Hot desk facilities in The Members’ Lounge and high-speed WiFi throughout
• Reciprocal benefits worldwide via ACUC
• Reduced room hire rates (subject to availability)

MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES

• For membership enquiries, please contact Anne Marie Fisher on +353 1 716 2187 or email club@ucd.ie
• Individual alumni membership, €75 per annum; Corporate membership, from €800 per annum
• Members who join before 31 December 2019 will be deemed founder members with their annual membership rate fixed for five www.ucd.ie/universityclub

OPENING HOURS

• The Café

Monday to Friday 7.30am-6pm Saturday 8.30am-3.30pm

• The Bar

Monday – Saturday 10.30am-11.30pm

• The Restaurant

Lunch: Monday to Friday 12.30pm-2.30pm
Dinner: Monday to Saturday 6pm-9pm

Enquiries to +353 1 716 2826