The Arts

The University fosters a broad arts programme and is currently home to the: 

  • Irish World Academy of Music and Dance - an internationally acclaimed centre for innovation and research in music and dance performance and scholarship, 
  • Irish Chamber Orchestra - Ireland's leading international chamber orchestra, funded by An Chomhairle Ealaíon, The Irish Arts Council.

These bodies also engage in the commissioning and performance of new Irish music and dance.

The University is the permanent home of several art collections, including:

  • The National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland
  • The Watercolour Society of Ireland Collection
  • The O'Malley Sculpture Collection
  • The Irish American Cultural Institute's O'Malley Collection
  • The Armitage Collection
  • The Medical Art Collection

The Bourn Vincent Gallery is the University's principal venue for exhibitions with an ancillary programme of seminars, lectures and performances. The Gallery continues to promote an awareness of visual art and contemporary practices with its exhibition schedule throughout the year, including works by Donald Teskey, Michael Canning, John Kingerlee, Alice Maher and Maeve McCarthy. Since its establishment, the Bourn Vincent Gallery has exhibited collections by August Sander, Barry and Philip Castle, a selection of pieces from Gordon Lambert's collection as well as hosting the annual exhibition of new additions to the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland and elements of ev+a each year.

The University's own Arts Collection includes outdoor sculptures by international artists including Michael Warren, Peter Logan, Alexandra Wejchert, James McKenna, Tom Fitzgerald, Antony Gormley and Sean Scully. These sculptures have added significantly to the artistic and cultural ambience of the University and the region.

University Concert Hall

The University Concert Hall (UCH), is a 1,000 seat, multi-purpose venue and the first purpose-built concert hall in the country. Since its establishment in 1993, UCH has served as a multi-cultural facility for the Mid-West Region and beyond with over 1.4 million audience members attending concert performances spanning all genres of music together with performances of dance, ballet, musicals, drama, comedy and opera. Frequent television and radio broadcasts by the National broadcaster RTĒ have taken place and the venue plays host to numerous local community music and performance groups.

During the summer months UCH operates as a young people's centre for advanced learning in various musical disciplines including vocal, choral, operatic and orchestral training.

Visit the University Concert Hall for details of upcoming events and concerts.