MTU to research St Fin Barre’s as both enter agreement

A new memorandum of understanding (MoU) is set to offer students and staff a chance to research activities concerning the St Fin Barre’s Cathedral like conservation, digital heritage and digital art.

The agreement will also allow MTU to use the cathedral as a performative and exhibition space, named ‘Page Turner’. The signing of the MoU is marked by an exhibition of artists’ books at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, co-curated by Orla O’Byrne (St Fin Barre’s Cathedral) and Dr Laura Little (MTU).

Welcoming the partnership, President of Munster Technological University, Prof. Maggie Cusack, said: “This partnership reflects MTU’s commitment to collaboration, creativity, and community. By bringing together our expertise in the arts with the rich heritage of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, we are creating exciting new opportunities for our students, staff, researchers, and the public to engage with culture in meaningful and innovative ways.”

Commenting on the partnership, Prof. Alistair Payne, Dean of The Faculty of Creative and Performing Arts and Media said: “MTU is focused on working in partnership throughout the region to strengthen and promote engagement with the arts in all its forms.”

The Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, Dean of Cork, commented: “This exhibition has set the wheels in motion for further collaborative events between the cathedral and MTU, and I wholeheartedly support the initiative to work together more closely.”

Orla O’Byrne, Curator at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral continued: “This autumn exhibition invites visitors to linger and spend time exploring selected artists’ books. Artists’ books are a unique art form in which the artist uses the form of the book to express their ideas.

“It’s been fantastic to see the responses to this exhibition and how it engages with creative practitioners, artists, visiting tourists, students, and parishioners of this cathedral,” she added.

The exhibition is open until the end of October 2025.