Aula Maxima

Attached Tudor Gothic Revival style six-bay double-height hall, built 1845, with double-height box-bay to western end of north elevation and linked via two-storey single-bay to north wing of quadrangle. Pitched slate roof with cut limestone chimneystack, crenellated parapet having cut limestone stringcourse, carved statue to eastern gable and cast-iron rainwater goods. Squared limestone walls with stepped buttresses having capped caps and stepped plinth course. Pointed arch window openings under cut limestone hood mouldings to north elevation having ogee-headed triple light windows with cut limestone mullions and transoms and continuous cut limestone sill course. Pointed arch five-light window opening to east elevation, having cut limestone hood moulding, carved stops, cut limestone mullion and transoms creating Tudor-arch lights to bottom with ogee-headed lights above, intersecting tracery to window head and stained glass. Square-headed window to box-bay with ogee-heads and mullioned and transomed lights. Pointed-arch door opening under cut limestone hood moulding with timber battened door accessed via cut limestone steps. Retaining interior fittings and features. Set within university campus.

Translating as the Great Hall, the Aula Maxima was designed in conjunction with the main quadrangle by renowned architects Deane and Woodword. Built in the Tudor Gothic Revival style, this building and the adjoining quadrangle form the core of the original university campus. The finely carved windows flood the interior with natural light, while the stained glass window to the east wall was added in 1866 and commemorates the mathematician George Boole who was appointed first professor of mathematics. Sir Thomas Deane presented a statue of Queen Victoria which was unveiled during her visit to Cork in 1849. It was replaced in the 1940s with a statue of St Finbarr by sculptor Seamus Murphy.