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������ is taking an important step towards skin cancer prevention by piloting a SunSmart Campus initiative. 

The SunSmart Campus initiative was launched in partnership with HSE Mid West, the  and  and aims to support the well-being of students and staff by promoting sun safety education and practices.

Information boards with sunscreen dispensers will be placed at various locations across the UL campus as part of the initiative. 

UL’s Sarah Kennedy, Healthy UL Manager, explained: “UL is the first Irish university to roll out the SunSmart programme. The pilot will take a multi‑component, whole‑campus approach embedding skin cancer prevention throughout the university over the next three years. 

“The first initiative being rolled out is sunscreen dispensers displayed across various locations on UL campus.  We are encouraging students, staff and visitors to the campus to take the necessary steps to protect their skin when outside to reduce their risk of sun damage and skin cancer.”

As part of the Healthy UL framework the university community is being encouraged to adopt the SunSmart principles, raising awareness about the dangers of UV exposure and promoting lifelong habits that reduce the risk of skin cancer. 

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, but it is also highly preventable. 

As a SunSmart Campus, the initiative encourages the community to follow the SunSmart five Ss:

• Slip on clothing to cover exposed skin.
• Slop on broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin with SPF 30+ for adults and 50+ for children which is water resistant. Reapply regularly
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat to protect the face, ears, and neck.
• Seek shade when UV rays are at their strongest, especially between 11am and 3pm.
• Slide on UV-protective sunglasses to guard eyes.

There are over 11,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in Ireland annually, and although skin cancer rates are more common overall in older people, a disproportionately higher proportion of people are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer under the age of 50 compared to all invasive cancers. 

Maria McEnery, Cancer Prevention Officer, HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme said: “Protecting the skin from UV rays from the sun and sunbeds is very important to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. 

“Exposure to UV damage is irreversible, permanent, and cumulative with each exposure. Those aged under 35 tend to be less likely to protect themselves against UV rays than those older than this. If we can encourage daily sun protection habits with adolescents and young people, it will greatly reduce the impact of skin cancer in the future.

“We can reduce our risk of skin cancer by protecting our skin from the sun and other sources of ultraviolet radiation, such as sunbeds. Being SunSmart and never using a sunbed can help reduce your risk of all types of skin cancer, including melanoma.”

Bernadette Mullins, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer, Cancer Prevention, HSE Mid West expressed her support for the initiative.

“We are delighted to support UL to pilot being the first SunSmart Campus in Ireland to help raise awareness of the importance of sun protection.

“The pilot will aim to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection while also highlighting the dangers of using sunbeds to help protect the whole campus community from UV and reduce their risk of skin cancer. We can all protect our skin and enjoy the outdoors by following the simple Healthy Ireland SunSmart five Ss.”

SunSmart Campus pilot aligns with the Healthy UL Framework, which aims to integrate health promotion into the everyday culture of campus life.

For more information, email prevention@cancercontrol.ie or visit