2022 is a milestone year for the University of Limerick. In September 1972, the National Institute of Higher Education (NIHE), as it was then called, opened its doors for the first time. The opening of the college came after a decade-long campaign by the people of Limerick most notably by the Limerick University Project Committee (LUPC) and the Limerick Student University Project Committee (LSPUC) for a university for the city.
While the outcome of that campaign was not quite what they had sought it was, nevertheless, it was a start at righting the educational wrongs in Limerick. Prior to the opening of the NIHE leaving certificate students in the Limerick region had to travel to Cork, Dublin, or Galway if they wanted to continue onto third level. And that was contingent on their parents being able to afford the expense associated with living away from home - not everybody was able to get a grant. This meant that many of the brightest minds in the region could not compete for the new jobs coming on stream as the Irish economy expanded in the 1960s because they did not have the necessary qualifications. As a result of the shakeup in the Irish education sector in the 1960s a new teacher training college was also established in Limerick at this time.
The National College of Physical Education-later Thomond College – opened its doors to students in September 1972. While the two colleges shared the same campus space, they largely worked independently of each other and had separate ideologies and educational commitments. In 1989 NIHE gained university status and in 1991 Thomond College was subsumed into the new university. Over the past 50 years staff and students at University of Limerick have become a community with shared goals and aspirations that have made the college what it is today.
While the contribution of retired staff and those who studied in the college have not been forgotten; very often their memories and experiences were lost only to be rekindled at alumni or staff reunions. It was for this reason that a decision was made in 2008 to capture and permanently archive the oral testimonies of those that have contributed to the development of the university since its inception in 1972.
Thus, the Oral History Project was established ahead of the fortieth anniversary of the university in 2012. Spearheaded by the then Vice President Academic and Registrar Professor Paul McCutheon and Professor Bernadette Whelan Department of History, the first Project Officer was Dr Catherine O’Connor while the project is currently led by Dr David Fleming, Head of the Department of History, and the Project Officer and lead interviewer is Dr Martin Walsh.
“Initially the project sought to record the oral testimonies of those that campaigned for a university for Limerick or who had worked or studied at NIHE in its early years. Since then, the project has been extended to include those who worked or studied at the National College of Physical Education, Thomond College, and the University of Limerick”, Dr Walsh explained. At the time of writing there are almost 40 interviews completed that can be viewed on the dedicated webpage of the Digital Library, Glucksman Library. https://digitallibrary.ul.ie/index.php/university-limerick-oral-history…
Last year the decision was made to include a dedicated student page where past alumni could provide a snapshot of their experience as a student at NIHE, the National College of Physical Education, Thomond College, and the University of Limerick. Together with the oral history project, they provide a rich and vibrant account of those that have worked and studied at the university. For those that have participated in the project it has afforded them the opportunity to reflect on their time at the university and it has also allowed them to leave a legacy not only for those that come after them at the University of Limerick but also for their families.
The continued gathering and preservation of these oral testimonies is also an acknowledgment by the University of Limerick of the contribution of so many to the development of the college over the last 50 years.
As part of UL50 Dr Martin Walsh is currently writing a book based on the oral testimonies that have been gathered over the past 14 years that will provide a social history of the University of Limerick since its foundation in 1972.
The book will be launched in early 2023. The oral history project continues to encourage retired staff and alumni to get involved in this worthwhile project that is continuing to build a lasting legacy for the University of Limerick.