Jesuits' University Hall to close after 91 years

Dublin's famous University Hall student residence in Hatch Street is to close next year after 91 years in operation. Known as Hatch Hall, the Jesuit-run facility has offered accommodation to third-level male students since 1913.

It will close next June. The decision to close the facility comes after a review by the order of its commitments in Ireland and its reducing numbers and increased age profile in recent years.

The order also said financial pressures had contributed to the decision to close. It said that, while significant sums had been invested at the facility in recent years "a great deal more modernisation" would be required to bring it up to the standards of other modern student accommodation.

"The cost of such modernisation is prohibitive when considered in the context of our inability to find a Jesuit to carry the apostolate forward. Funding such modernisation would also be likely to push fees to a level that we would find unacceptable," it said in a statement.

The Jesuits plan to sell the building and use all the proceeds to continue the provision of education for third-level students in Dublin, a stipulation of the terms of the charitable trust by which the hall is held.