Welcome, Class of 2003

More than 3,800 students from secondary schools all over the country attended the Welcome Days held on 10, 11 and 12 September. UCD Arts graduate and rock journalist and broadcaster Dave Fanning was again Master of Ceremonies. 

Addresses were given by the President, Dr Cosgrove, and Paul Dillon, president of UCD Students’ Union. Guest speakers included UCD alumni Dr Ray Power, Director of Locumotion Ltd, a former Flying Doctor who runs a locums provision business; Caroline Casey, founder of the Aisling Foundation; and Brendan Dillon of Dillon Solicitors. Dr Power was captain of the UCD Rugby team and also played for the Irish Universities Rugby Team. Caroline Casey, who has a sight disability, realised her dream of travelling through India by elephant, and made it a huge fundraising venture. The Aisling Foundation’s mission is to make a difference ‘to inspire through adventure, to create awareness of ability, not disability, and to encourage employment’. 

Brendan Dillon became Secretary of the UCD Soccer Club in 1984 and General Manager in 2001. In March this year he became Chairman of the Eircom League.