Latest news with #MTU
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork LGBTQ+ GAA club Na Laochra Aeracha to play history-making match
Cork club Na Laochra Aeracha will host Belfast's Aeracha Uladh in the first ever Gaelic football match between two LGBTQ+ inclusive GAA clubs. The game throws in at the MTU Cork GAA grounds on Saturday evening at 7pm. 'The fact that it's the first time two gay teams have played each other in a GAA match - it's huge,' said Na Laochra Aeracha chairperson Aaron Kelly. 'It should be a lot of craic, and making history as well.' The Cork side hope to arrange a challenge game against Dublin's Na Gaeil Aeracha in the coming months and there are plans forming for this to be just the beginning. 'We're hoping to maybe do a bit of a blitz between at least three of us within the next 12 months,' explained vice-chairperson Dean Kinsella. 'And maybe this is something we can even do several times a year. Maybe they come down to Cork one weekend, we go to Belfast another weekend, and we go to Dublin another weekend. We may tally up the points as part of an annual competition is what we're thinking. 'At the moment, there isn't anything established in Galway. We were speaking with Sporting Pride last year on potentially setting up something between all four provinces. 'You'd have one in Galway, Belfast, Dublin and Cork now. All we're doing is basically waiting on Galway to set up. And once we have one in Galway, that creates the perfect opportunity for us to do some kind of annual blitz. 'We can still go ahead and do one without Galway but it would be amazing to have a provincial LGBT inclusive blitz.' Na Laochra Aeracha have made tremendous strides since being established 15 months ago. In January, their application to form a new club was approved by Cork GAA. Later this month, their men's team will play their first match in the Seandún Junior C Football Championship when they face Glanmire. They won the shield final at the Glenville 7s in June and earlier this month, their ladies football team won all of their games at a blitz in Kinsale. In August, just six months after players started training, the club will play its first hurling/camogie match in a nine-a-side challenge against Midleton. The club found itself without a sponsor earlier this year but MTU Cork has since come on board. 'We just found ourselves in a very precarious situation at the start of the year where we didn't have a lot of money,' said Kinsella. 'One of the core values of the club is that we didn't want to be charging our members a lot of money, like some GAA clubs can charge, you know, up to a couple of hundred euro a year for membership fees. We just didn't want to do that because we were very cognizant of the fact that a lot of our members are students and they wouldn't have had that amount of money. 'We'd been chatting to a contact we had in MTU and a few of our committee members have been working very, very hard and diligently on building that relationship with that contact in MTU. We managed to get it over the line a few months ago.'
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'Will this be my last one? Very well could be. That decision isn't made yet' - Phil Healy savouring final lap
Immediately after collecting 200m bronze, Phil Healy darted from the podium and down towards the final bend of the MTU track. Unbeknownst to Healy until she spotted them in between races, college housemates from her UCC days had shown up at Wednesday's Cork City Sports to offer support. Spread across West Cork, Waterford, Australia, and New Zealand, full reunions are rare enough occurrences any more. 'I used to live with them from 2013-17. I didn't know they were coming, so it is wonderful to see them here because they have followed my journey the whole way,' said the 30-year-old sprinter. The journey hasn't very many laps remaining. The journey, in all likelihood, is in its final lap. Phil's Cork City Sports debut was as a 17-year-old back in 2012. Of the 10 editions since, she's missed just one. It was on this track seven years ago that she became the first Irish woman to crack the 23-second barrier for 200m. Only Rhasidat Adeleke has since bettered that clocking. Wednesday may well have been Healy's last Cork City Sports outing. This track season might well be her last. Throwing out such forecasting statements is in no way an attempt to retire the former Irish record holder over 100m and 200m. It is simply listening to her words and attempting to pull meaning from them. 'I've come to Cork City Sports every single year it is on. No matter what shape I am in, I just love coming out here and racing. I am not doing Morton Games on Friday, but I wanted to do Cork,' she tells the Irish Examiner once the college reunion is complete and all group pictures taken. 'I know I am at the tail end of my career, and I know I am never going to get these home meets very often. I travel all over Europe to bronze and silver category meets, but to have your own supportive crowd in your own home city, it is very, very special. 'To have family and friends here, a great quality field, and a meet that for me is so enjoyable, it is just so special to come out here knowing that I've done so much in my career to date. Will this be my last one? Very well could be. That decision isn't made yet. But I obviously have to savour every single one that I do.' She reveals that Paris last summer was very nearly the last lap. With her 2023 season and form having been scuppered because of the autoimmune disorder Hashimoto's disease, she rebounded in 2024 to reclaim her spot on the 4x400m relay team. The 50.94 she produced on the third leg of the Olympic final was the fastest of her career. And yet she found herself unable to hang up the spikes when they were within .18 of a medal. Too close to go now. Another lap, another push for a world podium. 'I've done every single major championship and been in the finals, and I suppose you are never going to beat fourth in an Olympic Games. Realistically, I've far more years done in my career than what's left. It is about going out on my terms. 'I did debate last year whether I was going to continue or not. For me always, Paris was going to be the end, but when you come fourth in an Olympic Games, it is very easy to continue. 'And so, it is just about coming out, enjoying it, and obviously you always have that competitive streak and you want to make the relay squads and championships. Before, maybe I took some of them for granted that you were automatically on them, whereas now you are fighting for your spot. 'I have been very lucky injury-wise, just had the broken foot, so I've gone to a major championship every year for 13-years. It does take its toll mentally and physically, but I want to end my career enjoying it and going out on my terms, knowing I've done it all. And if I stop right now, I have.' But she has no intention of stopping right now. Her 11.77 and 24.05 clockings on Wednesday were rust-busters after two months away from competitive racing. Her annual homecoming appearance done, full focus herein is on the 400m and holding onto her relay spot for the Tokyo World Championships in September. Adeleke's withdrawal from Friday's Monaco Diamond League is slightly concerning for both the individual herself and Irish relay aspirations. But the fact remains; if the Irish quartet show up in the Japanese capital injury-free and in-form, there's a medal there for them. 'What we have done as a team is mind-blowing and what the team can achieve is crazy. That was the same team that finished sixth at the 2022 Europeans [in 3:26.23]. Then to come fourth in an Olympic Games, the quickest time [3:19.90] to never medal at an Olympics. 'The squad is going to go on and on over the next few years, so Ireland will never again go to a major championship just to make up the numbers. 100% a medal is there for the taking when everything comes right and obviously everybody has to be at the top of their game. We got out there to perform, and if a medal happens, a medal happens.'
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Bodhráns at the ready, Cork is hosting the Fleadh!
From the 16 to 19 July, Munster Technological University throws its doors open to competitors, hosting competitions right across its campus, including the 1,200-seat MTU Arena, the Rory Gallagher Theatre, and the recently refurbished Carmine Building. In addition, city centre events, such as the Fleadh launch concert scheduled to take place in the MTU Cork School of Music Curtis Theatre, will further enrich the cultural offerings available to the public. This is the third time that MTU has had involvement in the competition, which brings lovers of Irish traditional music and dance in one spot to celebrate all things musical from our fine country. 300 volunteers will be taking part across the festival, including 80 adjudicators, as well as tutors and officials. There will also be workshops for those looking to hone their craft, while a Fleadh Céilí will also get the public on their feet. With just one week to go, we are really looking forward to welcoming the Fleadh Cheoil performers, their families, loved ones, friends, and the wider public to our campuses,' said MTU President, Professor Maggie Cusack. 'MTU is proud to play host to this vibrant celebration of Irish arts, music and culture. We look forward to opening our doors to the community and providing a welcoming, inclusive space for an event that highlights the richness of our cultural heritage and the vital role the arts play in community life' If you want to learn more about the event, which opens this Friday at Cork City hall, you can visit
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Cork City set to welcome 15,000 visitors for Munster Fleadh
Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan — the largest provincial Fleadh in Ireland — will see Cork filled with the sound of music and song over the coming week as the city hosts the annual event for only the second time in the history of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann festival. More than 15,000 visitors are expected in Cork for the Munster Fleadh and over 3,000 musicians, dancers, singers, Gaeilgeoirí, lilters, and storytellers will be vying to become provincial champions and qualify for the All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford. While a total of 176 competitions will be held at MTU's Bishopstown campus, a session trail, concerts, gig-rig, street entertainment competition, Fleadh Club and trad disco will bring Irish traditional music to venues right across the city. The weeklong festival features something for everyone, with Community Fleadh events including storytelling, an ogham carving session, walking tour, scéalaíocht, Pop-Up Gaeltacht, and trad/rap collaboration. Sisters Roisin and Aisling Martin Comhaltas na Dúglaise getting ready for the Munster Fleadh. Picture: Clare Keogh Workshops in sean-nós dancing, Irish and English singing, slow airs, and polka and slide-playing allow participants to hone their skills, and all are welcome to attend or join in the variety of pub, coffee house, and youth music sessions taking place across the week, from July 12 to 19. 'We hope that Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2025, through its extensive programme of events, will create opportunities where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect together through the shared love of music, song, dance, and storytelling and feel welcomed into a living expression of Irish identity,' said Fleadh chairman Ger O'Driscoll. 'Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2025 will be a joyful gathering of people that strengthens bonds, fosters a sense of belonging, and keeps our cultural traditions alive and thriving. This is particularly true here in Cork, a city that celebrates culture and people equally.' A full programme of events can be found on Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan highlights Music sessions in more than 30 Cork City pubs July 17-19; Musicians, singers, and dancers perform at Fleadh Gig-Rig at Elizabeth Fort, July 17-19; Fleadh concerts with Téada on July 11, Peter Street July 12, Máirtín Ó Connor Trio July 17, and Tara Breen, Pádraig Rynne, and Jim Murray July 19; Four days of competitions at MTU's Bishopstown Campus begin with dancing on July 16 at 9am and conclude with the senior céilí band contest on July 19 at 7.15pm; Set-dancing céilí with Hammer the Floor at Douglas GAA Club, July 18; Fleadh Club at the Crane Lane with Taobh na Mara Céilí Band July 18 and Shandrum Céilí Band July 19; Oíche Scoraíochta, Spailpín Fánach July 17; Scéalaíocht do pháistí Cork City Library July 17; Singers' Night, Spailpín Fánach, July 18; Street entertainment competition July 12, 2-3.30pm, Oliver Plunkett St; Youth music session, walled garden, Nano Nagle Place, July 12; The Fleadh at Cork Penny Dinners, July 15, 6pm.
BreakingNews.ie
06-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Expanding access to third-level education key in Ireland's performance, says MTU president
Munster Technological University (MTU) president, Professor Maggie Cusack, has said extending access to third-level education is key to Ireland's positive performance in a new report. A recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report confirmed that Ireland is now the most educated country in the world – ahead of Switzerland, Singapore, and Belgium. Advertisement In an interview with , Professor Maggie Cusack said: "I think it's a really important report. I think that's a fantastic finding, to say Ireland's the most educated country in the world. I think it's fundamentally important as technological universities and the advent of technological universities are a really exciting and important piece in the evolution of higher education in Ireland. "And we're really mindful of our regional provision and how we provide those skills and that education. We do it in a way where we link really closely with employers, with industries, to make sure that our graduates have the skills required for that evolution. "In the OECD report, it spoke about 54 per cent of the population with a bachelor's degree. You come to the younger part of the population, under 35, you go to 63/64 per cent. That's absolutely incredible. We think back in the history of that; I'm talking about an evolutionary process, you think about the introduction of free second-level education back in the 60s. I see everything that the technological universities are providing. And this real surge in third-level attainment is just a continuum of exactly that." She said regional provision and expanding access to education are two of the key goals of MTU. Advertisement Third-level access "That equality of opportunity is fundamentally important to us and as well as having mechanisms in place to enable members of the population to pursue third-level education, making sure that they're supported is something we're proud of. "We continue to challenge ourselves to say we have to do more and we have to make sure that we are supporting groups of the population who otherwise, traditionally, wouldn't have access to third-level education. "The mission of technological universities aligns with that national trajectory and that increase in third-level access, because we're passionate about the fact that education generally does transform lives. "It widens opportunities and it gives people opportunities for roles which are more highly paid and all of the positive impact that has on society and on the economy." Advertisement MTU is a public technological university consisting of six campuses located in Cork and Kerry. The university was established in January 2021, the result of a merger between two institutes of technology, Cork Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology, Tralee. Prof Cusack has been president of MTU since it was founded, and she said her goal has been to keep it "student-centric" as the university and its campuses grow. 'Student-centric' "I have to say it's been really fast and there's lots of change still underway as we bring two organisations together, and with six campuses for MTU, that's 18,000 students, 2,000 staff with a really large, complex organisation. "Through all of the changes, it's all about being student-centric and making sure that we're making the best decisions for our learners while we're undergoing transition and transformation, all of the learning, the teaching, the assessment, the research, the links with industry and employers, the opportunities for students for innovation and entrepreneurship. Advertisement "All of those continue, and indeed grow as we become more established as a university, we're doing structural changes and bringing about five faculties across our six campuses and something we're really proud of is the the breadth of the offering, and by that I mean the subject based offering with an outright technological university. "This also includes different routes of access that are available. Sometimes when people think about universities, they may think it's solely related to the traditional school leaver who comes to university and does a four-year honours. Obviously, we have lots of our learners taking exactly that route. Ireland 'We need to become more AI literate', says Irish e... Read More "It's really important to us that we also have the apprenticeship route, which suits other learners and perhaps other subjects. We have Springboard for upskilling and reskilling, so it's about that breadth of subject base that we deliver." Prof Cusack emphasised the work her colleagues do in trying to connect students with employers and businesses while they pursue their education. Advertisement "I'll give you one example. We have what we call an innovation challenge. So different companies may have products or services that they want to modify and they bring the challenge to MTU. So multidisciplinary groups of students, these are mostly undergraduates, come together. "The engineers are working with the graphic designers or the social scientists, and they're coming together and they're pitching back to the companies to say 'here's the answer to your question', but the added value that our students bring out is just outstanding when the students are saying 'you could also do this to make it more sustainabl, and here's something else you could think about'. So those are undergraduates having that opportunity for innovation with live products that are out there on the market, and companies benefiting from that."
