University College Dublin: Class Profile & Alumni

University College Dublin Alumni

International Students

25

% of international students in the university

9500

Total International Students in the university

As Ireland’s largest university, UCD has educated world鈥慶hanging writers, Olympic champions, architects, public servants, and tech pioneers. Here's a rounded snapshot of standout alumni across various fields—from fiction and architecture to sports and science:

Alumni Name	Notable Achievement / Famous For	Degree	Graduating Year
James Joyce	Author of Ulysses, pioneer of stream鈥憃f鈥慶onsciousness technique	BA (English, French & Italian)	1902
Gabriel Byrne	Golden Globe–winning actor (In Treatment)	Attended	N/A
Chris O’Dowd	Actor (The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids); writer/director of Moone Boy	Attended	N/A
Yvonne Farrell	Pritzker Prize–winning architect; co-founder of Grafton Architects	BA Architecture	1974
Shelley McNamara	Pritzker Prize–winning architect; Grafton Architects partner	BA Architecture	1974
Eimear Lambe	Olympic bronze medal rower (Tokyo 2020); Ad Astra Scholar & UCD alumnus awardee	BComm Int	2019
搁别苍补鈥叠耻肠办濒别测	Most decorated GAA sportswoman; physiotherapist & MSc holder	BSc Physiotherapy, MSc Sports Physio	2009, 2018
Lochlann Quinn	Business leader & philanthropist; UCD Quinn School benefactor	BComm	1962
Orla Feely	First female President of UCD; pioneering engineer & IEEE fellow	BE (Electronic Engineering)	1986
Fintan O’Toole	Renowned journalist & public intellectual (Irish Times)	BA English & Philosophy	1978
Ryan Tubridy	Leading Irish media personality (The Late Late Show, RTÉ Radio 1)	BA History & Classics	1994
Niall鈥疊reslin (Bressie)	Musician, mental鈥慼ealth advocate, author, UCD Alumni Award winner	BA, MSc	2003, 2019
厂补苍诲谤补鈥疌辞濒濒颈苍蝉	Director of National Library of Ireland; digital鈥慶ulture pioneer	BSc, PhD	1991, 1996
Jack McCaffrey	GAA All鈥慡tar footballer & paediatric doctor	MB BCh BAO	2018
Dave Rudden	Writer (Doctor Who anthologies), fantasy author with ITV adaptation	MA Creative Writing	2013
础颈濒产丑别鈥疍补谤肠测	Award鈥憌inning poet (Roland Mathias, Pigott Prizes)	BA French & English, MSc	2004, 2007
颁辞濒尘鈥疶&辞补肠耻迟别;颈产&颈补肠耻迟别;苍	Novelist & professor; author of Brooklyn and Chancellor of University of Liverpool	BA (English & History)	1975
闯辞苍补迟丑补苍鈥疭别虫迟辞苍	World Rugby Player of the Year 2018; Ireland rugby captain	BComm	2012
Josh van der Flier	Irish Rugby 15s Player of the Year 2023	BSc Sports & Exercise Management	2017
Consolata Boyle	Oscar鈥憂ominated costume designer (Queen, Victoria & Abdul)	BA Archaeology, History & English	1972
Dr鈥疉oibhinn Ní鈥疭húilleabháin	Academic/broadcaster; Maths Week Ireland awardee	BSc Physics	2005