Increased efforts to keep people safe as UCC students celebrate College Christmas 

The University College Cork Students’ Union (UCCSU) has said it has endeavoured to make College Christmas an official event in order to maintain a higher level of safety throughout the day.

UCCSU has organised and helped with a host of events taking place today such as the Christmas morning sea swim, Santa's Grotto, hot drinks on campus, Christmas dinner in the Main Restaurant, its Raise and Give charity launch and the turning on of the Christmas Lights on campus at 5pm.

Communications & Engagement Officer of UCCSU Hayley O’Connell told The Echo that they have also been working closely with some local publicans to introduce a ticketing policy to avoid early morning queuing, with all money raised going straight to the charities.

So far this morning we have seen significant improvements in the local college areas and we are very thankful to our students who are working with us on this.

"We also have our own evening DJ event on campus in the UCC Student Centre,” she said.

“In an increased effort to keep our students safe, we have our amazing Student Community Support teams in operation 4pm to 2am who are there to provide pastoral care to our students and to keep our community safe.

“We want all students to have a very happy and safe day, this week marks the end of the lecture period and our students have worked incredibly hard thus far before the commencement of exams.” 

She said that some bars are adopting an over 19s policy this year but that the UCC on-campus event at Devere Hall is for 18s, as are some bars.

“Bars we are working with have given us all their requirements and it is listed on our Instagram @uccsu.ie,” she said.

All proceeds raised on Thursday will go to UCC’s Raise and Give charities NASC, Cork Sexual Violence Centre and the RNLI.