was recently recognised for its showstopping contribution to this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade.
UL was selected as a recipient of the Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade Awards 2025 by Limerick City and County Council, with its celebration of culture and community spirit recognised for bringing ‘a different kind of energy’ to the event.
It was a sea of UL-green as more than 300 enthusiastic students, staff and alumni joined the parade, to represent the University and join in the festivities with members of the local community.
“Our overarching aim was to transform the ordinary into a fierce display of rhythm and unity,” explained Andrea La Touche, Community Liaison Officer and Project Lead, who has been the driving force behind UL’s participation in the parade for the past three years.
“The UL parade has grown in strength and popularity, particularly among our international students. The after-party of the parade is held in the Milk Market, and renowned uilleann piper Mickey Dunne has been with us from the start, playing traditional Irish music for all.
“It is a joy to provide our students with a unique opportunity to come together and embed themselves in Irish culture and feel so welcomed in the city.”
The University was honoured in a special awards ceremony at City Hall as one of seven recipients recognised by Councillor John Moran, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick.
Linda Fitzgerald, Student Volunteering and President’s Volunteer Award (PVA) Manager, applauded the UL students in particular for their enthusiastic participation in this year’s parade.
“The Student Volunteering Office is incredibly proud to collaborate with the Community Liaison Office and our 300 student volunteers, who proudly showcased the spirit of UL at the St Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Linda.
“Their enthusiasm and dedication not only represented the University with pride but also brought them closer to achieving their PVA Award. We are thrilled to celebrate their hard work, community spirit, and commitment to making a difference.”
The full UL contingent consists of: Professor Colin Fitzpatrick, Vice President Global Community Engagement; Andrea La Touche, Community Liaison Officer and Project Lead; Project Co-ordinators Linda Fitzgerald, Student Volunteering & PVA Manager, and Michelle Daly and Caroline Rafter, School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics; Event Assistants Norita Kelleher (UL Alumni Office), Peter Thompson (Accommodation Office), Maura Casey (UL Language Centre), Stephen Kett (Kemmy Business School), UL Buildings and Estates, Student and Staff Volunteer Stewards.