Launch of DREAMS, the UL Fifty commemorative book, devised and lead-edited by Prof Joseph O'Connor, co-editors Prof Eoin Devereux and Prof Sarah Moore

DREAMS, a commemorative book documenting 50 years of creativity, culture and community at University of Limerick was launched on Wednesday. UL Professor of Creative Writing and international bestselling author Joseph O’Connor devised and lead-edited the special collection of essays in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the University’s foundation, with co-editors Prof Eoin Devereux and Prof Sarah Moore. The sumptuously illustrated book, published by Irish Academic Press, features fifty contributions from or about people associated with the University, including, among others - Dr Sindy Joyce, Loretta Glucksman, internationally acclaimed composer Bill Whelan, poet Mary O'Malley, entrepreneur Paddy Meskell, Noel Hogan of The Cranberries, Irish rugby legend Paul O’Connell, award winning author Donal Ryan, human rights activist Donnah Vuma and President of Ireland Michael D Higgins remembering Jim Kemmy. A wide variety of writing is featured, with poetry, personal memoirs, scholarly essays, and students’ tweets among the rich contributions celebrating a wide spectrum of members of the UL community, from catering and ground staff to teachers, researchers, inspirational current students, and alumni. Speaking at the launch of DREAMS at UL’s Plassey House this Wednesday, UL President Professor Kerstin Mey said: “It is very difficult to capture the essence of a place at a moment in time but this is precisely what Professor Joseph O’Connor and co editors Eoin Devereux and Sarah Moore have achieved with DREAMS. This magnificent text will hold its place as an anthology of creative and scholarly writings to celebrate our milestone fiftieth anniversary. Professor Joseph O’Connor said: “To have been asked by University of Limerick to devise and project-manage the fiftieth anniversary book was an honour and a challenge, for which I am profoundly grateful. When researchers and readers in the future want to know what UL was like in 2023, they will have this book, made by so many of us who value and believe in this place, as map of where we were, and of where we wanted to go.”