It’s an iconic Cork photo.

Students have been standing for conferring photographs outside the President’s Office door at University College Cork for decades.

While Covid-19 poured cold water on the celebrations this year, one student’s thoughtful sister made sure that he wouldn’t miss out on the tradition during ‘Level 5’ Covid-19 restrictions… by recreating the entire scene at home.

Kinsale’s Eoin Hurley was conferred this week with a Master’s in Pharmacy.

“I graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy last year from UCC and of course, like everyone, took about a million pictures in front of the infamous door at UCC,” Eoin told Yay Cork.

“I was a bit bummed out all week that I wouldn’t be on campus for this one but sure look, it’s the nature of things at the moment.”

Little did Eoin know, his Mum and his younger sister Emma had come up with a plan; having collected some cardboard boxes in secret, Emma was working on a special surprise for her older brother.

“So Mom brought me down yesterday when my conferring was online and told me to close my eyes… there the door was in the front room! I couldn’t believe it, there were tears of joy.”

This image of Eoin proudly holding his scroll in front of a life-size painting of the famous door, complete with ivy, was shared by UCC’s social media team.

And the award for the most creative virtual conferring celebrations goes to…!

Congrats to Eoin Hurley, conferred today with a Master’s in Pharmacy, who made sure he got his photo outside ‘The President’s Office’ door!

Be sure to tag us in your virtual conferring celebrations! pic.twitter.com/21LEEVJ07S

— UCC Ireland (@UCC) November 18, 2020

It might not be the memory Eoin was initially hoping for, but thanks to his Mum and Emma, it’s guaranteed to be remembered forever.