FOR twelve months and since May 2022, University of Limerick celebrates fifty significant years of learning and teaching, research with impact, enterprise and engagement.
Founded to meet the educational challenges of modern Ireland, University of Limerick is proud of its five decades of achievement and success in promoting new types of inquiry and learning, in forming pioneering partnerships and knowledge exchange initiatives and in ensuring that our graduates are knowledgeable and engaged citizens who enrich the communities in which they study, live and work. Today, over 118,000 of our alumni lead and shape business, culture and society worldwide.
UL continues to transform higher education and research in Ireland, providing innovative and sustainable solutions to local and global problems; that revitalise and create connections with internal and external partners; and that reflect our values and history as a university.
As part of our celebration, we asked our past students to recollect their memories throughout the years and here is a snapshot of them.
Colman Byrne
NIHE – 1979 to 1983
BEng Electronics
Recollections: I was in the first BEng cohort that started as a BSc so we had to do an extra term in the last summer to get the BEng.
I remember us being the only students on campus with the lecturers and playing pranks on the lecturers who joined in.
One specific one was the Airplane in trouble story in the Canteen which was just an excuse to douse one lecturer in water from all angles!
Playing frisbee on the central lawn before the full square was built and Ed Walsh shouting out the window to go somewhere else as we were making too much noise.
Reena Cole
University of Limerick – 1991 to 2001 as a student and still here!
BEng Mechanical Engineering (1996, PHD 2001)
Recollections: Too many memories - but one that stands out is back in around 1992/1993 walking to a lecture in the SR building, walking past the Canoe store, there was an open area, on this snowy morning there was a fully-fledged snowball fight. Now I work in the Lonsdale Building, built on that snowball battlefield!
Seamus Mc Dermott
NIHE - 1985 to 1989
BTech in Manufacturing Technology Recollections: My first recollection of NIHE was the sheer size of the facility....when you move from a secondary school, it was little intimidating trying to get your bearings during the first few weeks. Once I found the relevant lecture theatres and the canteen, everything else was easy. Our course was the first year of the Degree course in Manufacturing Technology and our course head was the great Dr Michael Hillery...he was a great guy....he was incredibly helpful throughout the four years and his door was always open to us.
Meeting new and now lifelong friends is the main thing that I have taken from my experience in NIHE. Days and nights in the Hurlers and later the Stables... exams in EG010... day trip to an Engineering equipment fair in the RDS in Dublin... celebrating the news that NIHE was to become UL... the day we received our Degrees in Sept 1989... we were the first students to receive University degrees... that was a bit special. It was a bit sad when we all went our separate ways after graduation, but I am glad to say that I have stayed close to five classmates and we love to meet up and look back on our days in UL with great fun and fondness.
Terry Adams
NIHE – 1975 to 1979 and 1979 to 1980 European Studies 1975-79 and Graduate Diploma in Computing 1979-80 Recollections:
1975 Funeral Procession I was part of the fourth year in to the NIHE in September 1975. There was great uncertainty as to what status we would have, who would award our degrees, if we would even get degrees. We bounced from being under NUI Galway to NUI Cork to the National Council for Educational Awards, NCEA. It seemed every week there were demonstrations. We staged a long picket at the Department of Education in Dublin with groups of students rotated.
We bussed to Dublin for marches to the Leinster House. We had a night’s occupation of the East Room, then the administration hub of the college. After some particularly bad news it was decided we would have a funeral procession from the college into, I think, the Council offices in the city. This was to mark the symbolic death of the independent college. A mock coffin was created and we all walked slowly, and solemnly, behind it towards town. It was dark and rain was on the wind. In 1975 the total student body numbered only four or five hundred and some of those would have been out on Co-op. Our coffin and demeanour must have been convincing. Soon we noticed bystanders blessing themselves as we passed. We had to stifle our laughter and proceed as before. The things we did to secure our degrees and the degrees for all who came after us.
1976 The Hand of Ed One afternoon myself and my good friend Donagh O’Brien went up to the third floor to one of the many unused rooms to study. At that time, many rooms in the third and fourth floors were unused. When we got to the room we had used before, we found a nearly finished canvas with a large painting of the Governing Body sitting on an easel.
We decided to stay and study, not expecting any painter to come along at that time of the afternoon. Around 4 o’clock the door opened and a man in a pair of dungarees entered. We thought we were in for a different sort of lecture than the one we had finished earlier, but the man, the painter, made us feel at ease. He asked if he could see our right hands and a somewhat perplexed Donagh showed him his hand, but it did not measure up. I showed him mine and he asked if I could sit and let him paint my hand. He was completing his painting and needed to paint Dr Ed Walsh’s right hand. He asked if I would sit and let my hand rest pointing downward along the side of the chair while holding a folded sheet of paper.
The resulting painting hung for many years in pride of place down in Plassey House, I think on the right of the stairs leading down to the East Room. Some years ago, it was moved and now rests particularly under the stairs of another building whose name, or function, I do not know. I’m proud to have left my mark in the old N.I.H.E. and to think I was paid a full pound for my troubles. Putting myself through college, without grants, I can assure you one full pound was a very welcome addition.
1976 Mural in the old canteen In late July 1976, on my way back from a family holiday in Kerry, I persuaded my older brother to stop into the NIHE to check if my results were out. I took himself and his wife around a little tour of the building (only one building in use back then) and we ended up in the canteen. A mural had appeared on one of the walls since I had last been there two months previous. While we stood admiring the artwork and wondering what it stood for a voice startled us. An older man, in overalls, was leaning back into a wall and we had not noticed him. He asked if we wanted the mural explained, as he was the painter. He then proceeded to explain it from top to bottom and side to side.
It was fascinating to listen to him. He told us the main theme was the Irish connections to the continent, the old monks, the wild geese, the four province flags, three carried by men an one, the red hand of Ulster, waving in the background. He ended with young scholars, complete with books, looking towards their future. All this with majestic King John’s castle in the background. The three of us were captivated. I believe the artist’s name was Fr Buckley and, unfortunately, he died some years later. Every time thereafter I ventured into the canteen I admired the mural and thought of our personal introduction to it by its originator. I am glad to report that it was still there the last time I had the chance to visit the campus.
Francis Reilly
NIHE - 1986 to 1990
BSc Industrial Chemistry
Recollections: I frequented college during the “transition” years; enrolling as a student of the NIHE and graduating from University of Limerick. The beginning of my third level experience was, to put it mildly, interesting. As I quietly joined the queue on enrolment day I got into conversation with a young man beside me who has also selected Industrial chemistry as his course of choice.
As we exchanged pleasantries and discussed, as is common amongst younger students, our recent performance at the Leaving Cert, he quietly, and in a most modest fashion, told me that he had won the gold medal in physics (highest result in the leaving cert for all of Ireland). He also told me that his girlfriend, also enrolling at NIHE, held the gold medal for mathematics!
That start was intimidating. There were numerous brilliant individuals at Limerick, which was obviously able to attract talented students. There is no doubt about it that my studies at University were a hard slog. This was interrupted by a nine-month work experience in Cork that remains a fundamental pillar in my career.
Personally, I feel I was overly focused on my studies, which meant that I did not actively participate in clubs or societies. However, a fantastic group of colleagues compensated this; it was very competitive, we were known to work hard but we also knew how to have a party. I feel that I was part of a great class of individuals and that the University pushed us hard, but we had our fun and rewards.
University of Limerick, as I know it, is a place to be recommended. Work hard, take a hands-on approach and take initiative and life will reward you but... remember to enjoy yourself on the way!
Patrick Stack O Neill
NIHE – 1973 to 1977
Business
Recollections:
Seeing Red!In my final year, 1976 the first ever Student Art Exhibition was organised on the basement of Plassey House. The basement housed the Library, reading areas and the Cafeteria. The exhibition received some funding from the Students Union that paid for a wine and cheese reception. I decided to submit a large pen and ink drawing of Baals Bridge, Limerick, it was one of my first drawings. On the opening night, there was a great buzz about the place and after a while, I was walking around viewing the other pieces of art, I noticed a sticker on my painting. I asked the organiser what that meant he said it has been sold. I forgot what price I put on it. He reminded me it was 150 Irish pounds. That was a lot of money in 1976 having struggled through college on a tight budget. Later I thought I’d ask who bought it, he replied “Ed”.
“Dr Walsh”, yes he said. He bought it for the NIHE Art Collection that he was developing. I could not wait to tell my parents. It remains one of my proudest achievements. Today it still hangs in the UL. I return to the campus in 1996 to set up the Irish Centre for Business Excellence, ICBE. To mark the occasion of my new role the artwork was moved to my office in the Foundation Building.
Sonja Kennedy
NIHE - 1987 to 1991
European studies
Recollections: I remember the day it was announced that NIHE had achieved university status. There was much jubilation around the (considerably smaller then) campus. At one point, President Ed Walsh came into a packed canteen to receive a standing ovation, from atop a table, from the collective student body. Everyone was so proud. He gave UL the fantastic start that it had with his vision and it has continued to grow. I am so proud that my daughter started her first year in UL recently. I have so many brilliant memories from my time there and made some of my best lifelong friends.
Nicole Seidler
University of Limerick – 2008 to 2012
BA New media and English
Recollections: Great four years spent in UL. Fond memories of my first year living in Dromroe campus. Was part of the group of students who set up ULFM! Was proud to be a part of something so special.
Aidan Collins
NIHE - 1980 to 1983
Mechanical Engineering
Recollections: We were the first graduating class of Mech Eng. 28 of us. An amazing group. So many fond memories - and some of them related to academics! Ted Little’s impossible lab assignments, the cafeteria at 10am, the Hurlers of course, hard work followed by hard play.
Long live the Foundation!A rigorous academic education that prepared me for the many challenges ahead and made grad school in the US seem easy! I owe a major debt to NIHE/UL.
Liam Ryan
University of Limerick 2002 to 2006
Bachelor of Arts in History, Politics and Social Studies
Recollections: UL has always been a huge part of my life. My father worked there since 1973, long before I was born. I remember visiting the Stables back in the early 90’s and getting lost in the main building as a child. Clubs and Societies were a part of my life, even back then. I vividly remember the UL Windsurfing Club hosting the Intervarsity’s in Dromineer in 1990. It seemed like such a fun, inclusive environment to be a part of. Dad was heavily involved with the Sailing and Windsurfing clubs and was very passionate about getting students involved and empowered. When I joined UL myself in 2002, one of the first things I did was attend the Clubs and Societies recruitment event. I had an interest in American Football so signed up with the UL Vikings. To be honest it was a bit of a motley crew in the early years with the first few years producing winless seasons.
However, because it wasn’t a hugely established club, it allowed it’s (few) members autonomy and space to learn and grow how to play, manage, coach, fundraise, promote and everything else that goes with running a club. In 2006 (my final year as a student) we finally developed the club to the point where we got to the All Ireland Final of American Football, The Shamrock Bowl. We were slaughtered, but watching the highlights back on Sky Sports in the Stables the following week, we were delighted as a group and felt like we had made it. The next year, we took on the big task of hosting the Shamrock Bowl in UL and finally won the thing!
Three National championships in a row and a European Championship followed. Even more positive was the group of lifelong friends that we all made, we picked up valuable life skills (probably more from the Vikings than my degree, truth be told) and I even met my now wife. I am hugely indebted to UL as an institution for creating the culture where that is possible. Students are given support, funds and freedom to create and realise their ambitions, no matter what they might be. Being part of the UL Vikings taught me that with hard work, perseverance and a good team you can achieve anything you set your mind to, and that it is possible to enjoy yourself while you do it.
Clare O Neill
University of Limerick - 2000 to 2003
Environmental Science
Recollections: I grew up in the parish where the University is and as a child my parents would take myself and my siblings walking on the banks of the Shannon. On one occasion we had our dog with us, a small white and black terrier called Juno. Juno liked to run off, and on this occasion he went too far and we couldn’t find him, despite searching for hours. My parents eventually decided to call off the search when it got dark and it became evident that we weren’t going to find our dog. We were devastated as Juno was one of the family. We made posters and made our Dad stick them up around the campus. Dad went out and searched every evening after work to try and find our dog. After two weeks he gave up and we resigned ourselves to never seeing Juno again. About three weeks after Juno went missing we got a call from NIHE/Thomond College, telling us that our dog had been found. Prior to the science labs being built in the materials science building, there had been several prefabs which were being used as labs/classes for teaching. Our dog had chased a rabbit under the prefabs and then couldn’t get back out. The students had been listening to scrapping and whining for three weeks until they figured out where it was coming from. They lifted the floorboards and found Juno trapped underneath. One of the students remembered our hand made fliers and called my Dad. Who then picked up our very excited pup. I don’t think any dog was ever so pampered after that. Juno lived for many years after that. Despite being a student at UL for several years myself and having many wonderful memories of my time there, that will always be my most enduring memory of the University.
Niamh Coleman (nee Burke)
NIHE
European studies (languages) Recollections: I remember the protest at the front gates of the university around the fact that we wanted status. It happened during rag week in 1988!
And I recall it being cold and having too many beers beforehand. I got to attend NIHE and UL as we got status that year!
David Fogarty
University of Limerick - 1995 to 2005
Bachelor in Aeronautical Engineering, PhD in Aeronuatical Engineering
Recollections: Without my time at UL I would never be where I am today. UL brought me to The NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Moving on from there, I currently work at one of the top NASCAR teams in the US as an aerodynamics engineer. I remember the long hours and days spent in the library studying and learning pages of theorems, and going to the Paddocks or Stables for lunch. I remember cycling my bike home in the rain to the many houses we stayed at. Working at the UL Arena, going to the gym there, and making so many friends. I remember doing exams in EGO10, I remember attending lectures in The Foundation Building in 1995 and how memorized I was at the whole place! I remember my first walk to UL on my very first morning and how nervous I was. As I write this, the memories come flooding back in an overwhelming stream of happiness and emotion. I remember my parents (both RIP bringing me food on Sundays and going to lunch with them. My fondest and most treasured memory of all is meeting my wife in The Stables. I remember that night like it was yesterday (well almost)!! Without UL, I would never have met her and who knows where we would all have ended up. UL you shaped me into the person I am today, thank you for everything.
Nora O Mahony
NIHE – 1986 to 1990
European Studies/Law
Recollections: Excellent lecturers to include Professor Paul McCutcheon among others. Took part in a moot court & placed in Nancy, France for my co-op in 2nd year (1986.
Stand out memory - party night in 1989 celebrating university status with lecturers, Ber Angley, fireworks etc on campus. A defining moment/night I felt for the institution that was transitioning from NIHE to UL.
Michael O’Donoghue
NIHE – 1977 to 1982
Bachelor of Business Studies/Human Resource Management
Recollections: The long walk from Castletroy up to NIHE. The huge lecture halls. Having Pat Cox, Willie O’Dea, Devi Jankowicz as lecturers in Economics, Law and Psychology, respectively.
Being on the European Elections Count with Limerick City Council during my first CoOp Placement and seeing Pat Cox keeping a close eye on the count.
The flexibility to transfer from a successful National Diploma to pursue an Honours Degree after stumbling academically through my Leaving Cert in a stifled Secondary School system. Friendships and colleagues over the years resulting in chance networking later in New York City.
Academic success giving me the confidence to be selective about life’s onward journey from initial employment in my chosen field to moving overseas to 2 other continents, eventual self-employment and early retirement at 47.
Negative experiences put in perspective with a young college in the 70s having a mix of headline lecturers and “green” overseas recruits dealing with their own adjustment to the foreign land by the Shannon. Co Op placement was a newish concept and mundane work did not match inspired theory in those early years.
I graduated in 1982 and had a broad range of employment experiences in Ireland, Australia and USA, finally settling in Australia second time round. Have a successful 50 in 22.
Mary Rose Kelleher
Thomond College
Recollections: Back in 1987, a student science teacher from Thomond College spent a week in my primary school a few miles away from Plassey teaching us science. I was hooked and I have had a long academic and industrial scientific career since then and I think it all started that week back in 1987 when I was given a broad bean seed to ‘grow’ overnight in the fridge. I knew it would not grow! ‘I’m going to make things work’ I thought to myself and I’ve been interested in making things work ever since.
My primary school local to Plassey also availed of swimming lessons in the mid-eighties in the old Thomond College swimming pool, the one before the Arena, the one with the big glass wall you could see into to the pool from outside. Another time my class (fifth? got to go into the sports halls and we were asked to participate as extras for the filming of ‘Anything Goes’ with Aenghus MacAnally.
For having had ‘nothing’ back in the Eighties, Limerick provided more than ‘something’ to us with Thomond College.
Ann
University of Limerick – 2009 to 2013
Ph.D.
Recollections: When I made the very difficult decision to transition from male to female, I expected there would be many losses but did not expect to lose my old career. When I lost my career (and home, family, and friends), I became rudderless. My identity was gone and with it, my sense of who I was in the world. However, despite the many losses I had experienced, and many times where I felt the weight of my decision to transition suffocating, the decision to return to full-time education and pursue a Ph.D. at UL was the decision that ultimately saved my life. In UL, I found an environment that not only fed my intellectual curiosity but also protected and nurtured me during my rebirth of sorts. I know that without the safety, support and encouragement of UL, I simply would not have made it. I will always remember with fondness and deep humility the impact academic staff at UL had on me.
They made me the academic I am today. Thank you John (accounting), Helena (economics), Mike (management), Amanda (sociology), & Christine (OB, I owe you a debt of gratitude I could never repay. Mostly, thank you UL for giving me a home when I needed it more than I realised.
Becca Yount
University of Limerick - Autumn 2013
Study abroad term
Recollections: I loved my time in UL, even though it was short. I took courses in Irish Language, Irish Folklore, Celtic Civilizations and Irish Traditional Music, none of which would have been possible at my university in the United States. I feel a connection to Ireland that I never would have had without my time at UL.