The figures, released by UCC following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by
, come at a time the university is grappling with a deficit of €11.2m and departments have been told to make cuts under a plan called “Project Alpha”.One of the events, a gathering in September to unveil a portrait of former UCC president Patrick O’Shea, which came with a €20,000 price-tag, came to a total of €17,792.22.
The conclusion of a president’s term in UCC has traditionally been marked by the unveiling of a portrait in the Aula Maxima, FoI documents state.
Catering the party cost €9,263.89, while travel and accommodation costs came to €4,610.75. Sundry costs for the event, for items such as audiovisual presentations, photography, music, and flowers, came to €3,917.58.
The second event, a party in December to mark the departure of the previous board of governors of the college, cost a total of €10,616.36.