“The latest results from a survey of Maynooth University students in response to Covid 19 show ‘62% of students indicate that they felt ‘optimistic’ a little, or a lot, less often than usual in the 30 days preceding the survey’ …” (more)
[Leinster Leader, 24 June]
“Not a lot of people know that the 1983 film Educating Rita, starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine, though mostly set in Northern England, was entirely shot in Ireland …” (more)
[In the Dark, 25 May]
“Although we’re still in the middle of this year’s examination period at Maynooth University many of us are having to give considerable thought to how we might manage the forthcoming return to work that is being phased in. The next stage is due to begin on June 8th …” (more)
[In the Dark, 22 May]
“Phase 1 of the Roadmap for relaxation of its Covid-19 restrictions would commence as planned on Monday 18th May. This won’t make a huge difference to those people working in third level institutions because it means that anyone who can work from home should continue to do so …” (more)
[In the Dark, 16 May]
“Friday 15th May is the first day of the summer examination period at Maynooth University. I’ve written posts at the start of every examination period I’ve been involved with over the 11 years or so I’ve been blogging but this is definitely the strangest …” (more)
[In the Dark, 14 May]
“The president of Maynooth University, Professor Philip Nolan has said that the decision to cancel the Leaving Certificate examination this year was the ‘right decision at the right time’ and that Maynooth university expects to admit a ‘near to normal cohort’ of first year students this autumn …” (more)
[Vivienne Clarke, Irish Examiner, 11 May]
“Dublin City University (DCU) has said it is reversing a plan to increase the cost of on-campus accommodation from September. This follows a similar decision by Maynooth University which announced in late April it would reverse a proposed 3% rent increase and introduce a freeze …” (more)
[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 3 May]
“I’ve been studying the ‘Roadmap‘ outlining the gradual relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions that, all being well. will begin on May 18th. There are five phases of this process, each lasting three weeks. At any point the process can be stopped or reversed if the data suggest things are going wrong …” (more)
[In the Dark, 3 May]
“I’ve been quite worried about Maynooth University Library Cat as I haven’t laid eyes on him since before Easter, despite regular visits to his spot on campus on my daily exercise round. Initially I thought I was just turning up at the wrong time, but then when colleagues started to ask if I’d seen him I started to fret …” (more)
[In the Dark, 2 May]
“Tomorrow is going to be interesting! Saturday 25th April was scheduled to be an Open Day at Maynooth University for undergraduate admissions which would normally have led to thousands of students visiting the Campus …” (more)
[In the Dark, 24 April]
“Maynooth University has reversed a proposed 3% rent increase in on-campus accommodation and have introduced a rent freeze. In a statement online today, Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU) announced the decision, saying it was a result of ‘student pressure’ following a number of protests on campus …” (more)
[Conor Capplis, College Tribune, 23 April]
“Maynooth University (MU) is opening its student apartments to allow returning frontline health care workers to self-isolate for 14 days when they come back from abroad to help tackle the Covid-19 crisis. MU is partnering with the Answer Ireland’s Call initiative to provide 20 rooms free of charge, with security, cleaning and other costs funded by private donations and Maynooth alumni …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 23 April]
“Maynooth University has adapted its annual Spring Open Day for prospective students to a truly virtual experience of student life and third-level courses. Traditionally the Open Day attracts more than 5,000 visitors to the historic campus and gives potential students the opportunity to meet academics, university students and support staff …” (more)
[Donegal Live, 21 April]
“Regular readers of this blog – both of them – will know that I’ve developed a habit during the current lockdown of talking walks around the South Campus of Maynooth University in order to get a bit of exercise …” (more)
[In the Dark, 15 April]
“By way of a distraction from everything that’s going on in the wider world I thought I’d share a few pictures I took walking around Maynooth University’s South Campus for some exercise the other day. The Spring weather was lovely and the blossom was emerging on various trees and shrubs …” (more)
[In the Dark, 11 April]
“Since the cancellation of in-person lectures and tutorials at Maynooth University a few weeks ago, we’ve all been trying – without much a priori knowledge – how to teach students using exclusively online methods. In the Department of Theoretical Physics we’re all trying different things and trying our best to learn from student feedback how to improve …” (more)
[In the Dark, 8 April]
“One of the far from unpleasant side-effects of the lockdown here in Maynooth is that you notice the birds much more. For one thing the marked decrease in traffic means that birdsong a lot more audible, which is very pleasant; for another, some otherwise rather shy species are to be seen out and about …” (more)
[In the Dark, 5 April]
“In the light of the Covid-19 restrictions currently in place, Maynooth University has issued updated guidance to students about the rest of the Semester. Of particular concern to students is what will happen to their examinations, usually held in the second half of May …” (more)
[In the Dark, 5 April]
“Quite a few people have been asking me how the Maynooth University Library Cat is coping with the lockdown. I always visit him when I take the daily exercise (usually after lunch) allowed by the Covid-19 restrictions. I know that others are looking after him too so he’s doing well …” (more)
[In the Dark, 3 April]
“Maynooth University Library has loaned two high-tech ‘nap pods’ to frontline workers at Tallaght University Hospital. The pods, which are usually used by students to take 20-minute naps to help keep their energy levels up during a busy day at college, were transported and installed at the hospital yesterday evening …” (more, video)
[RTÉ News, 2 April]
