UCC staff and students protest for Palestine amid tight security for Ursula von der Leyen's visit

UCC Staff Together for Palestine were protesting over what they described as the lack of EU action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

XX: NEWS: Ursula von der Leyen: EU Presidency Visit to Cork: Protest at UCC: 02/07/2026: A protester who took part in an anti EU militarisation - Pro Palestinian protest at the gates of UCC. Picture by Noel Sweeney

People living around University College Cork tried to go about their daily lives amid protests and an extensive garda security presence for the visit of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.

Residents had been warned to expect "temporary rolling closures" of local roads, with many facing another day of disruption on Friday. Patients at the nearby Bons Secours Cork Hospital were also sent messages to allow extra time for journeys to and from the private hospital.

At noon, UCC staff and student groups gathered for a public demonstration outside the main gates to the university. They were protesting over what they described as the lack of EU action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As the protesters started to gather, a spokesperson for UCC Staff Together for Palestine, Ciarán Dawson, told the Irish Examiner:“We are gathering peacefully to call on the EU to uphold the principles it says it stands for and to take meaningful action to protect Palestinian lives.

"As staff and students, we cannot remain silent while an entire education system and population are being destroyed. Universities should be places that uphold human rights, academic freedom, and international law."

Atlas Peters, a UCC student living on the campus student accommodation, said security has been very tight.

“The college has been completely shut down for the past 48 hours. But for the most part, it is pretty much business as usual. You just go about your other business from day to day.”

Atlas feels that it is students who are most inconvenienced in terms of being denied access to the UCC campus.

“The college is in complete lockdown, which has blocked out all educational attempts. PhD and Masters students, they continue into a summer term, but they have no access."

(Left to right) Bridget Sheehan, Eban Girling, and Tomás Sheehan from Connolly Youth Movement taking part in an anti-EU militarisation and pro-Palestinian protest at the gates of UCC today. Picture: Noel Sweeney

As UCC prepared to host the EU commissioners, Catherine Clancy, chairperson of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents' Association, said people in the local area have been regularly kept informed about any disruptions.

“The university and our community guards have kept us updated on any changes in the traffic system in the area.

“As far as the residents are concerned, it is something that we've been kept in touch with and well informed about, any minor traffic changes that might be in the area at the moment.”