Festivities start early on streets of Cork as UCC students celebrate 'Christmas Day'
Students enjoy the festivities during the students Christmas Day celebrations on the Bandon Road in Cork City. Picture: Dan Linehan
The streets of Cork were filled with students enjoying the festivities on Thursday as they celebrated their traditional Christmas Day.
The yearly event has previously seen early morning queues in pubs as students mark the end of the year.
This year's festivities have been backed by University College Cork's (UCC) Students' Union.
The UCC Students' Union (UCCSU) told the it had made Thursday an official event "in order to maintain a higher level of safety throughout the day."
UCCSU also organised a host of fundraising events on Thursday—including a morning swim, Christmas Dinner in the main restaurant on campus, and the turning on of the campus Christmas lights—with all proceeds going to the NASC, Cork Sexual Violence Centre and the RNLI.
"We have worked with some of the local publicans to introduce a ticketing policy to avoid early morning queuing with all money raised going straight to the charities," a spokesperson for the UCCSU said.
UCCSU also said it had student community support teams in operation from 4pm to 2am "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," the spokesperson added.
From the early morning on Thursday, Annie Mac’s on the Bandon Road saw punters queueing up to secure a place for the day.
Co-owner Michael Coffey told the that the students have been well-behaved inside the pub.
“They [the students] have been very good so far and it’s always a good day.
Punters started queuing outside the pub at 9.45am with security and staff organised to deal with the crowd.
Barry and Cillian from Limerick were accompanied by their peers dressed in Dunnes Stores Christmas pyjamas for the occasion, saying the day "is great craic".
Students entering their final year were determined to make up for the time they lost during the covid-19 pandemic.
“We have to make up for the lost time for sure,” they added.
Friends Sarah and Amy embarked on their first “proper” college Christmas Day.
Kerry native Amy said the early start is “insanity" but despite that the duo started the festivities at 8am.
“The early start is a bit much, it’s insanity to be honest.
“My mam said why are you up so late?” she laughed.
