NORTH AMERICA
Chicago
140 alumni arrived at The Gage in October for an exclusive fireside chat with Jacques Nienaber, in collaboration with Leinster Rugby. The event took place on the eve of the Ireland vs New Zealand match in Chicago, and a lucky raffle winner went home with a signed Leinster jersey. Attendees were welcomed by Triona McCormack, UCD Vice-President for Strategy and External Engagement, and were gifted a Leinster Rugby cap signed by Jacques.
Vancouver
UCD beanie hats and vouchers were the much-coveted prizes, as 35 alumni turned out for a fun pub quiz in Smiths in Gastown. The Vancouver Chapter organised a monotype art printing workshop on Granville Island in May, with a social taking place at Granville Island Brewery afterwards.
San Francisco
44 graduates joined a mentoring circles event at the University Club of San Francisco in November. The event brought together leading experts across many industries. Experienced alumni mentors hosted dedicated tables, where attendees asked questions, gaining first-hand insights into their career paths. The UCD Alumni Chapter also collaborated with UCC and the Irish Network Bay Area for a March Mixer at The Beer Hall.
Toronto
Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, welcomed attendees to an evening with acclaimed author Colm Tóibín. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Ireland Canada University Foundation, the UCD Dobbin Centre for Canadian Studies, and UCD College of Arts and Humanities.
New York
UCD Business Alumni hosted Gregory Harrington for a masterclass, “One Step Closer”, at the KPMG headquarters in New York in March, attended by around 80 alumni. Through the lens of music, Gregory shared profound insights into motivation, discipline, and business excellence. The New York UCD Alumni Chapter organised an end-of-summer social in September, and a festive social in GMT Tavern in December.
ASIA PACIFIC & MIDDLE EAST
China | Beijing and Guangzhou
Alumni and students gathered in Beijing and Guangzhou to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. A total of 130 attended a special panel discussion at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, while 40 joined the inaugural Guangzhou event hosted at GYICC. The events were attended by Professor Dolores O’Riordan, UCD Vice-President for Global Engagement, Professor Jeremy Simpson, Principal and Dean of UCD College of Science, and Professor Paul Fanning, Provost of UCD’s Joint International Colleges in China.
Indonesia | Jakarta
30 alumni and partners gathered in Jakarta in November 2025 for an evening at the Residence of the Ambassador of Ireland, following the launch of the Indonesia Alumni Chapter in 2024. The event provided an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with each other and with the University. Professor Jeremy Simpson, Principal and Dean of UCD College of Science, and Associate Professor Aifric O’Sullivan, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, attended.
India | Delhi
26 alumni gathered in Delhi in January to celebrate the launch of the Delhi UCD Alumni Chapter and reconnect and strengthen ties with the University’s growing community in India. Professor Jeremy Simpson, Principal and Dean of UCD College of Science, and Professor Karan Sonpar, Full Professor and Chair in Organisational Behaviour and Associate Dean (Global Business Engagement) at UCD College of Business, attended, alongside the Ambassador.
United Arab Emirates | Dubai
The Dubai UCD Alumni Chapter was launched in October 2025 with a dinner attended by 27 alumni. Professor Jeremy Simpson, Principal and Dean of UCD College of Science, Professor Kevin McDonnell, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, and Associate Professor Abdollah Malekjafarian, UCD School of Civil Engineering, attended the event. Additionally, 11 alumni joined Dubai Chapter representatives in November 2025 for a walk, talk and breakfast event in Dubai.
Singapore
In May, UCD Business Alumni were hosted by Graham Hartnett, Deputy Head of Mission, at Ireland House in Singapore, where UCD alumni and members of the Singapore employers consultation group enjoyed an evening of networking. Branded A Taste of Ireland, the event facilitated great connections, and attendees left with a goody bag of treats from Ireland.
LATIN AMERICA
São Paulo
UCD Alumni continued to strengthen its presence in South America with its second networking event in São Paulo, Brazil. The event took place at the Consulate General of Ireland and was hosted by UCD alumnus Robert Jackson, Consul General of Ireland in São Paulo, with Professor Dolores O’Riordan, UCD Vice-President for Global Engagement, also in attendance. It provided an opportunity for attendees to reconnect with the University and expand their local professional networks.
UK
London
London alumni gathered throughout the year for a series of professional and social events that strengthened connections across the UCD community. In February, 200 alumni attended UCD Alumni London Live, the University’s flagship annual event in the city, held at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly. The evening featured a panel discussion with alumni Ryan Tubridy, Oriole Cullen, Tony Chambers, and Professor Orla Feely, President of UCD. The event also provided an opportunity to recognise and thank supporters and donors based in London.
Three career mentoring-focused events took place during the year. In September 2025, College of Business alumni attended an event at the TrueLayer offices in London, along with students from UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business who travelled to London as part of their Finance & Consulting programme. UCD alumni Aoife Byrne and Hanna-Lil Malone shared insightful reflections on their journeys through university, entrepreneurship, and beyond.
In October 2025, an industry-focused mentoring evening, attended by 46 alumni, featured round-table discussions facilitated by 11 experienced alumni, with opportunities for networking, career development, and knowledge-sharing.
In January 2026, the annual Law Student Trip brought 10 London-based law graduates and current law students together for discussions on early career experiences, transitions into the legal profession, and insights across a range of practice areas. Professor Laurent Pech, Professor of Law and Head of UCD Sutherland School of Law, addressed attendees and shared his perspectives on developments in the legal profession.
FRANCE
Paris
Alumni in France gathered for two events at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. 25 alumni and Erasmus students attended a networking event in October 2025 aimed at supporting students and recent arrivals to France. In January 2026, 30 alumni attended the annual Newman Debate, on the motion “This House is in Praise of Idleness.”
Watch Parties
Approximately 80 alumni across Boston, Paris, and London gathered to watch Ireland vs New Zealand with our UCD Chapter Representatives in November. In February, the Dubai UCD Alumni Chapter organised a Six Nations Watch Party at McGettigan’s Ibn Battuta Gate, Dubai, to cheer on Ireland vs England.
■ ucd.ie/alumni/get-involved/global-community/
