Update from College Secretary and Director of College Health Service to staff and students

1 April 2021

Dear colleagues & students,

Last Tuesday evening, the Government announced a phased easing of public health restrictions. To read the full guide to the new changes, please see here and a summary is below. 

Level 5 adjustments until 4 May 

If you have received the second dose of the vaccine more than two weeks ago, you can meet with other fully vaccinated people from one other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 2 metres apart. 

From 12 April - you can meet one other household outside for social and recreational purposes, but not in your garden or theirs; you can travel within your county or within 20km of your home if crossing county boundaries; all residential construction can restart as well as early-learning and childcare projects; and in-school teaching will fully return for secondary schools. 

From 19 April - elite sports i.e. certain high performing athletes, as approved by Sport Ireland, can resume; senior intercounty GAA training will recommence. 

From 26 April (subject to prevailing public health situation) – outdoor sports facilities can reopen (e.g. pitches, golf courses, tennis etc); outdoor visitor attractions can reopen e.g. zoos, open pet farms, heritage sites, but not amusement parks; underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 or fewer can restart; and the maximum attendance at funerals will increase to 25. 

Easter arrangements for Library and student spaces

Many thanks to the students and staff who have worked tirelessly to keep the Library, online class/study spaces and student breakout spaces operating safely during the past year and will continue to do so over the Easter weekend. 

This weekend, study spaces, including additional study spaces in St James’s Hospital Main Building, will be open except on Easter Sunday. Breakout spaces will be open on Good Friday, 2 April and Easter Monday, 5 April except for the Dining Hall which will be closed on Good Friday, 2 April through to and including Easter Monday, 5 April.

Below are the opening hours over College’s Easter 2021 closure period: 

From Tuesday 6 April, one of the New Square Marquees will replace the Dining Hall as a breakout space from 9am – 6pm while a 'Cúinne Gaeilge' (Irish corner) is now in Regent House – this small area is reserved for those who speak Irish. 

Library update 

The John Stearne Medical Library and the Hamilton Library will reopen from Tuesday, 6 April. For more information, please read the Librarian’s update here.

With best wishes to you and your family for a lovely break over Easter. Please remember to adhere to all public health guidelines. Stay safe. Stay well. Bígí slán agus sábháilte.

Kind regards,

John Coman, Secretary to the College
Seán Ó Comáin, Rúnaí an Choláiste

Dr David McGrath, Director, College Health Service
An Dr Daithi Mac Craith, Stiúrthóir, Seirbhís Sláinte an Choláiste