Students and Cork community to benefit from €13m MTU Arena

THE students of Munster Technological University (MTU) as well as the community in Bishopstown and beyond will be able to use the new €13m multi-use arena to hold conferrings and other events, Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said as he opened the new facility yesterday evening. 

The arena, which includes a 1,340m2 hall, two studios, a cafe and a spacious state of the art gym, took two-years to build during the pandemic.

The new facility, the first of several new buildings to be constructed at the Bishopstown campus, will be open seven days a week, Minister Harris said. 

"This gives people a space to meet and socialise in the large café here, go to the gym or take part in other activities to help them look after their health and wellbeing," he said. 

"This large space allows the university to hold conferring ceremonies here on campus as well as provides space for students to sit exams.

“And it’s not just the university who benefit from this wonderful building, the people of Bishopstown and beyond will also benefit. Here they can hold local community events, concerts, major sporting events – the list is endless.”

The sod was turned on the facility by the then Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, in June 2020 and was open for use by students and the community in February 2022. 

MTU president, Professor Maggie Cusack, said the arena was built in just two-years 'despite many challenges, not least a global pandemic'.

"The delivery of this state-of-the-art building is a testament to the dedication of all those involved in the project and to MTU’s commitment to being a truly great university," said Professor Cusack. 

"The Arena has had its soft opening earlier this year, and the past six-months have already shown what a huge benefit it is to current students and staff, as well as the wider south west Region.”

The chair of the MTU's Governing Body, the former Kerry All Ireland winner and TD, Jimmy Deenihan described the Arena as a 'wonderful addition to the Bishopstown campus' and would 'greatly add to the student experience'. 

Students were 'key to the life of the University', the MTU operations manager Mervyn O'Mahony said, and they would be the 'greatest beneficiaries'  of the new building while

MTU Cork Students Union president Isobel Kavanagh said the campus needed a lot of spaces like the arena. 

"This is a great start in our journey to becoming an extremely attractive university, which promotes the overall health and wellbeing of our students,” she said.