JUST over 20 Primary school students from Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra Dublin now hold the dual distinction of being Ireland’s youngest
‘graduates’ and the class that’s travelled the furthest to experience University College Cork’s (UCC) magical Junior Conferring Programme.
UCC’s Junior Conferring Programme – the only one on offer from any university on the island of Ireland – is legendary for its free and colourful tours for primary school children, which ends in a mini-conferring ceremony and procession around UCC’s Quadrangle.
Since opening its doors in 2006, the programme has wowed thousands of children annually, who are often prone to likening UCC’s gothic style campus to Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.
It has attracted over 25,000 schoolchildren from all over Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Clare to date. Demand has grown year on year, as has the reach of the programme, if the visit by Gaelscoil Bharra from Dublin is anything to go by.
JP Quinn, Head of the Visitors’ Centre, UCC, feels the emphasis of the engaging outreach programme is on encouraging children to dream big, by making them more aware of what a third level institution does and the promising opportunities it can open up for them.
“We were delighted to welcome the students and staff of Gaelscoil Bharra to UCC,
? said Mr Quinn.
“The visit was made even more special by the fact that this is the furthest a school has ever travelled to take part in our Junior Conferring Programme.
“We hope that this is the start of many visits, not just by the wonderful young minds from Gaelscoil Bharra, but from schools all over Dublin and indeed Ireland.
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The Cabra students got to meet and greet
‘Hedwig’ the owl during their visit to UCC, thanks to Trabolgan Birds of Prey in Cork.
The UCC Junior Conferring Programme is free and runs all year round. Primary school principals and teachers are welcome to contact the UCC Visitors’ Centre to arrange a visit.
Free campus tours demonstrating UCC’s picturesque campus and remarkable history are also available to community groups, school summer schemes and visitors in general.
Schools interested in applying for the Programme can contact the Visitors’ Centre at 021-4901876 or via email at visitorscentre@ucc.ie.