Silent protest staged by MTU staff as Taoiseach formally opens university

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who attended the flag-raising ceremony today, described it as a proud day for third-level education in the region.

President of MTU Professor Maggie Cusack, higher education minister Simon Harris, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and president of MTU Student Union Aisling O'Mahony at the inaugural raising of the MTU flag to mark the official opening of Munster Technological University in the MTU Bishopstown Campus today. Picture: Darragh Kane

Flags were hoisted above six campuses in Cork and Tralee today to mark the establishment of the Munster Technological University, as staff staged a silent protest at the Bishopstown campus.

The event, which was due to take place on January 1 last when MTU was formally established, was deferred until the public health situation could allow it to take place in person. MTU is the first new university to be established in the southwest since 1845.