@Loveforflight Look for a B&B maybe in the Santry area, there are a few hotels out near EIDW and some accommodation in Ballymun (very close to the university).
I find it strange that they have chosen DCU personally as there aren't any immediate hotels.
At least if it was being hosted within a hotel those who have traveled long distances would have had somewhere to get their head down for the night without having to worry about the uncertainty of the duration of their commute.
So your best bet is Swords/Santry/Ballymun as its the easiest side to access the University, through the Collins Avenue entrance.
For those who are driving please be careful about where you park in DCU. Use the multi-story if necessary as security might clamp you otherwise, the two overground car-parks are only accessible with a valid student card (lucky for me
)
Use the collins avenue entrance if you are driving to gain entry to the multi-story, the rates and more info can be for on the Universities website.