TU Dublin Celebrates the Opening of a Landmark New Building on Blanchardstown Campus
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On Thursday, 01 May 2025, TU Dublin celebrated the official opening of Áras Geal, a new state-of-the-art teaching facility at its Blanchardstown campus. The new building was officially opened by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD and attended by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Jack Chambers TD. Designed to advance practice-led and employer-engaged education and research in one of Ireland’s fastest-growing regions, Áras Geal marks a major milestone for the University and the wider community.
TU Dublin students Naomi Connolly (Applied Social Studies in Social Care) and Matas Noreika (Computer Engineering) celebrate the launch of Áras Geal, a new teaching and learning building on the University’s Blanchardstown Campus with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and President of TU Dublin, Dr Deirdre Lillis.
The launch event brought together students, staff, graduates, key stakeholders, government officials, public representatives and members of the local community to mark the occasion. The project was developed with the support and guidance of the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and will serve as a cornerstone for TU Dublin’s future in Blanchardstown.
Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Naomi Connolly; Governing Body Chair, Dr Charles Larkin; TU Dublin President, Dr Deirdre Lillis; TU Dublin SU VP for Blanchardstown, Esmeraldi Doda; Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD; Councillor JK Onwumereh, Deputy Mayor of Fingal County Council and Computer Engineering student Matas Noreika
TU Dublin graduates are the most employable of any university in Dublin, with employer engagement a defining hallmark of the University’s distinctive learning experience. Áras Geal represents a major investment in practice-led and employer-engaged education and research in the North-West Dublin region. The 4,067m² facility is a multipurpose, future-focused space designed to support students across all disciplines, featuring lecture theatres, flexible learning environments and multimedia laboratories. It will significantly expand the University’s capacity, enabling TU Dublin to accommodate an additional 600 students at the Blanchardstown campus, bringing the total student population there to almost 3,600. The project is part of Project Ireland 2040, which recognises that investment in education is key to building a strong, balanced and future-proofed economy across all regions.
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said:
“Áras Geal is a powerful example of what can be achieved through vision, partnership and collaboration. This impressive new building is the first of 11 projects being developed under Public Private Partnership which is part of a broader vision to strengthen infrastructure in Ireland’s Technological University sector.”
President of TU Dublin, Dr Deirdre Lillis, welcomed guests and shared her vision for the future of the Blanchardstown campus:
“TU Dublin's core mission is to deliver accessible pathways to high-quality employment for students of all ages and backgrounds. We are committed to providing world-class, practice-led and employer-engaged education and research in the heart of one of Ireland’s fastest-growing regions. Áras Geal literally translates as ‘Bright House’ or ‘House of Light’, symbolising the energy, ambition and openness that will define our University’s future. This reflects the very best of what TU Dublin stands for – excellence, accessibility, employability and engagement. From the graduates who helped design it to the students who will thrive within it, this teaching facility will serve as a beacon on our Blanchardstown campus and a milestone in our ongoing journey as Ireland’s university for enterprise, talent and innovation.”
Notably, several TU Dublin graduates played a pivotal role in the creation of Áras Geal, from the design phase to final construction, highlighting the University’s reputation for producing highly skilled professionals who make meaningful contributions to national development projects.
Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, TU Dublin President Dr Deirdre Lillis, Deputy Mayor of Fingal County Council, Councillor JK Onwumereh, and TU Dublin Governing Body Chair, Dr Charles Larkin
The building was delivered as part of a wider Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the management of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), as part of the National Treasury Management Agency, alongside five other higher education projects nationwide. Construction was led by JJ Rhatigan & Company, with facilities management by Sodexo Ireland Ltd., and equity provided by Macquarie Capital Group Ltd. A sister building is also under construction at TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus and is due for completion later in 2025.
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Staff, students, partners and members of the local community celebrate the launch of Áras Geal.
The launch of Áras Geal marks a transformative moment for the Blanchardstown campus, which serves a diverse student population from Dublin and surrounding counties, including Meath, Kildare, Louth and Cavan. With growing demand for higher education in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, this new facility will ensure that TU Dublin continues to lead in delivering accessible, practice-led and employer-engaged learning.