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Christmas Period Operational Arrangements

Access to the University, Buildings, Food Outlets, Other Services and Events in UCD

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The University’s Buildings will close at 17:30, Monday, December 23rd 2024, and re-open at 09:00 on Thursday, January 2nd 2025. Out-of-hours access arrangements apply during this period for staff and graduate students only.

Graduate students are reminded to ensure that they have made arrangements with their Schools in advance of the building closure if they intend to access the building before the University re-opens in January. 

For any queries related to out-of-hours access please contact us by email at (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie or via phone at 01-716-7000.

Building Access

Building Opening Hours

The University’s Buildings will close at 17:30, Monday, December 23rd 2024, and re-open at 09:00 on Thursday, January 2nd 2025. Out-of-hours access arrangements apply during this period for staff and graduate students only.

Graduate students are reminded to ensure that they have made arrangements with their Schools in advance of the building closure if they intend to access the building before the University re-opens in January. 

There is strictly no access to any buildings between 20:00 on December 24th (Christmas Eve) and 08:00 on 27th December, and again between 20:00 on Dec 31st (New Year’s Eve) and 08:00 on January 2nd.

Buildings with Electronic Swipe Access

Out-of-hours access for card holders in these buildings will operate as normal during this period. Local access arrangements will need to have been made with the access control administrator.

All Other Buildings

Estate Services will admit only staff and graduate students to buildings. Graduate students must carry a copy of written permission with them from their Head of School to access buildings together with their student card. Notification of their intention to visit the building during the period of closure should be emailed by the School to (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie before 12:00 on December 21st.

Users are reminded that as the buildings are officially closed no heating will be scheduled to come on. To save energy and for your own safety you are asked to confine your visit to as short a period as possible between 09:00 and 16:00 each day.

Access will be given only through a designated perimeter door – under no circumstances will internal doors be unlocked by Estate Services – you must make prior arrangements for internal access.

Reduced Opening Hours during January 2024

As in previous years, with the exception of Newman and the O’Brien Science Centre, the opening hours of academic buildings will be reduced to out of term times, typically 08:00-20:00 Monday to Friday as detailed on our website, between January 02nd 2025 and the start of Spring Trimester.

For any queries related to out of term opening times in January 2025 please contact us by email at (opens in a new window)estates@ucd.ie or via phone at 01-716-7000.

Gates Access

The opening times of the gates on the Belfield Campus are described below:

Belfield Campus
  R138 Greenfield Fosters Ave Owenstown Park Rosemount Gate Wynnsward Drive Newstead Richview Wicket Gate Roebuck Pedestrian Merville House Pedestrian & Cycle Entrance Greenfield Gate Pitches Entrance
Sun Dec 22nd Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Mon Dec 23rd Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Tues Dec 24th Closed from 23:59 Open from 00:00 Closed Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Wed Dec 25th Closed Open 24hrs Closed Closed Closed Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Closed Open as normal
Thur 26th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Fri 27th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Sat 28th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Sun 29th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Mon 30th Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Closed from 23:59
Tue 31st Dec Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Closed from 23:59 Open as normal Closed
Wed 1st Jan Open as normal Closed Open as normal Closed as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Closed Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal
Thur 2nd Jan Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
Fri 3rd Jan Open as normal Closed Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal Open as normal
  1. Traffic barriers to remain open during entire period
  2. Greenfield Gate is open when R138 is closed
  3. Link road between Belfield House & Nova is open when Fosters Ave is and Merville Hse Ped & Cycle gates are closed

The opening times of the gates on the Blackrock Campus are described below.

Blackrock Campus
  Gates Closed Gates Open
Sun Dec 22nd - Tue Dec 24th Gates open as normal
Wed Dec 25th Main Carysfort Avenue Gate closed
Avoca Pedestrian Gate closed		 Avoca Avenue Gate open for Vehicles
Carysfort Avenue Pedestrian Gate Open
Thur 26th Dec

 Main Carysfort Pedestrian Gates Closed
Avoca Avenue Gate Close for Vehicles		 Avoca Avenue Pedestrian Gate Open
Main Carysfort Avenue Gate Open for Vehicles
Fri 27th Dec - Fri 3rd Jan Gates open as normal

Food Outlets and Catering Facilities

Most of the University’s restaurants will be closed or will close around 15:00 on Friday, December 20th 2024 and reopen at 08:00 on Thursday, 2nd January 2025.

Download the detailed times below.

UCD Mail Room

Final delivery of daily incoming regular and registered mail will take place on the morning of the 23rd December 2024. The final outgoing post will be collected by Án Post at 16.00 on the 23rd December 2024. Please ensure that if you require a late outgoing post it is delivered directly to the Mail Room by midday for processing.

The Mail Room closes at 16.00 on the 23rd December 2024 for the Christmas period and reopens on the 2rd January 2025. There will be no deliveries or collections of posts during this period.

For a full list of national & international posting dates or to track a package sent via Án Post you are expecting to arrive on campus please use the links below:

Contact Estate Services

UCD Village, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7000 | E: estates@ucd.ie | Location Map(opens in a new window)