Ninth Level Ireland

“Many tributes were paid this week to Jack Daly former Chancellor at the University of Limerick and chairman of the Shannon Development Company, who has passed away. ‘He played a major role in the development of the Mid-West region through his role with Shannon Development and at the university where he was both Chancellor and the first chairman when it received university status’, said Deputy Willie O’Dea …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 30 June]

“Six dedicated emergency call point pillars have been installed in the University of Limerick campus in order to further enhance the security of students and reduce the risk of sexual assault. The news comes as the president of the university, Dr Des Fitzgerald, addressed the issue of sexual assaults on the campuses of higher education institutions in Ireland saying there ‘can be no mistaking the fact that they are grossly underreported’ …” (more)

[Aine Fitzgerald, Limerick Leader, 24 June]

“Despite its serious financial difficulties, the University of Limerick is not charging the HSE for use of the University’s Sports Arena as a temporary hospital, the Limerick Post has learned. The arena has been transformed into a €1 million field hospital to treat non-Covid patients and free up bed capacity at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) …” (more)

[David Raleigh, Limerick Post, 18 June]

“Over 2,500 people have signed an online petition calling on the University of Limerick to defer the Autumn 2020 graduation ceremonies until a safer date, rather than digitize the event. UL have cancelled the conferring ceremonies due to take place between Monday 24th of August and Friday 28th of August 2020 …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 18 June]

“The University of Limerick has defended its decision to cancel conferring ceremonies as originally planned for August ‘in light of the public health directives issued by the government’ in relation to Covid-19 …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 11 June]

“A unique collaboration between University of Limerick and UL Hospitals Group has led to the opening of an Intermediate Care Facility at the UL Sports Arena. The field hospital, which has been constructed with the assistance of the Defence Forces over the last month, was officially opened this Monday by UL President, Dr Des Fitzgerald, and Colette Cowan, CEO of UL Hospitals Group …” (more)

[David Hurley, Limerick Leader, 8 June]

“The President of the University of Limerick, Dr Des Fitzgerald has come under fire from some quarters for citing the impact of Covid-19 on his ability to serve the university, as the reason for stepping down from his post, just three years into his 10-year term …” (more)

[Aine Fitzgerald, Limerick Leader, 6 June]

“A third man has appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with involvement in the attempted murder of Christy Keane by the Limerick-based McCarthy-Dundon crime gang …” (more)

[Eoin Reynolds, Limerick Leader, 4 June]

“Gardaí have arrested two men in relation to a shooting incident on 29 June 2015. At around 6.35am on 29 June 2015, a man aged in his 50s was shot by two masked men as he parked his car in the grounds of the University of Limerick …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 3 June]

“Sinn Féin TD for Limerick City Maurice Quinlivan has said that today’s news that students at UL will be granted refunds for vacating student accommodation early due to COVID 19 is very welcome. UL have finally done the right thing. Speaking today in Limerick, Teachta Quinlivan said …” (more)

[Sinn Féin, 29 May]

“Students who vacated on-campus accommodation at the University of Limerick when the Covid-19 pandemic hit are to receive more than €3.4 million in rent refunds. In a statement on Friday the university said Plassey Campus Centre (PCC) Ltd, the company which manages its on-campus accommodation, ‘has approved the return of rental income to the students who left their accommodation on foot of the government’s decision to close the university campus in March’ …” (more)

[Kitty Holland, Irish Times, 29 May]

“Students at Dublin City University have been offered flexible accommodation for the upcoming academic year as it is ‘highly unlikely’ they will be on campus for full weeks. With the university planning a mix of face-to-face lab classes, practical sessions and online lectures in the coming academic year, not all students will be on campus at the same time …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 29 May]

“Students of the University of Limerick who left their accommodation on foot of the government’s decision to close the university campus in March due to Covid-19 are to be refunded their rent, it has been confirmed …” (more)

[Aine Fitzgerald, Limerick Leader, 29 May]

“University of Limerick’s governing body has recommended that its students living in campus accommodation should be refunded because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of students had to leave their accommodation in March and have not been able to return to the university since. There are almost 3,000 beds in on-campus facilities …” (more)

[Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times, 27 May]

“University of Limerick President Dr Des Fitzgerald has announced his shock resignation, linking it to his ability to lead the university in the context of Covid-19. Dr Fitzgerald said the virus ‘would directly impact my ability to serve the university and limit my ability to fully engage once we get our community back onto the campus’ …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 26 May]

“Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD has asked for the Minister for Education to intervene in regard to UL issuing refunds for third level accommodation for the latter part of this college year …” (more)

[Clare FM, 24 May]

“Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has been in discussions with the University of Limerick in relation to its approach to refund students for the cost of their accommodation during the Covid-19 crisis; the assistance or support that will be made available to students and their families in situations in which no refunds are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 May]

“Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has urged the University of Limerick (UL) to ‘get their finger’ out over the refunding of rents to students. It comes after it emerged that Education Minister Joe McHugh took it upon himself to contact the college’s chancellor, Mary Harney to discuss the matter …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 21 May]

“The University of Limerick have today announced the establishment of a dedicated institute for the study of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The Midwest Institute for Infectious Diseases at UL has already secured seed funding of €3.5m in a philanthropic contribution from the JP McManus Pro-Am 2021 and is being developed to harness core expertise, including medicine, health sciences, mathematics & statistics and life sciences, that exists at University of Limerick …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 20 May]

“Multi-million euro proposals to transform a long-derelict site opposite Punch’s Cross are back on the table. Despite ambitions proposals for a huge student halls and build-to-rent residential development being rejected by An Bord Pleanala last year, Cloncarragh Developments are back with a similar project at the old Dan Ryan garage site on one of the key routes into the city …” (more)

[Nick Rabbitts, Limerick Leader, 19 May]