Tag Archives: UL

NEW University of Limerick research has revealed that young carers tend to have higher levels of depressive symptoms than those young people who do not provide care to others. The study of young carers aged 14-18 years from across Europe and Ireland reported higher levels of depressive symptoms among this group when compared to youths who did not report a caring role. However, the research also shows that when these young carers reported higher levels of social participation, they were more satisfied with their lives and as such were less depressed. Young carer is the term given to young people, typically under the age of 18, who provide substantial unpaid care to a family member due to illness, disability, mental health, substance misuse or problems related to old age. The International Journal of Adolescence and Youth has published the major study using evidence from 21 EU countries – including Ireland. It was carried out by researchers at the Study of …

AN application has been made to government by University of Limerick and Clare County Council to have lands adjoining the north campus of the University designated an Economic Strategic Development Zone. It is envisaged that the site will have a range of education, research, living, working, and recreational spaces integrated within the University campus environment and could generate up to 3,500 jobs in the construction phase. Economic forecasts have suggested that the site could generate a gross added value of €1.795 billion annually to the Irish economy. President of UL Professor Kerstin Mey and Chief Executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling have formally written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, TD to seek the designation. The application submitted to government to expand and designate lands on the north campus of the University as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) has been made through the UL and Clare Economic Development Agency Designated Activity Company (DAC). The …

LONG after it was first mooted, Clare County Council and the University of Limerick are putting the finishing touches to an application for the creation of a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) in the south east of the county. At Tuesday’s meeting of Shannon Municipal District councillors, Director of Service Liam Conneally said that the Council hopes to be in a position to make the application by the end of this week. Councillor Michael Begley said it is at least two and a half years since it was first considered and he hopes it moves relatively quickly after the application is made. “Hopefully the Minister won’t spend the rest of his tenure deciding.” Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council PJ Ryan complimented the work that was done by the Council executive. “Every time it was mentioned you said work was going on and now we see the fruits of that.” He suggested that Clare’s Oireachtas members be contacted and asked “to put …

ENNIS students Aodha Marrinan and Sarah O’Rourke were among sixteen University of Limerick students to recently receive scholarships at a virtual awards ceremony as part of the Johnson & Johnson Ireland Women in STEM2D (WiSTEM2D) Award Programme. Both Aodha and Sarah study Biomedical Engineering at UL. Now in its sixth year at UL, the WiSTEM2D programme is run in collaboration with Lero – the Science Foundation Research Centre for Software, and will provide the scholarship recipients with extensive industry mentoring and leadership training. WiSTEM2D refers to Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing and Design. The WiSTEM2D programme underlines J&J’s commitment to developing and implementing high-impact strategies to support female students undertaking STEM2D degree courses at UL and in universities around the world.  Currently, there are approximately 117,800 people across Ireland who are working in jobs that require STEM skills. However, the CSO reports that just 25% of these roles are performed by women, with just 5% in leadership roles.Whilst there has been a general …

UNIVERSITY students led by an Ennis woman have put their best foot forward to raise much needed funds for various organisations including a local community hospital and nursing home. Community Liaison Officer at the University of Limerick, and Ennis native, Gabriella Hanrahan spearheaded the fundraising efforts which encouraged students to get some exercise while also doing some good for worthy causes. She believes that higher education students are an “untapped resource” and is encouraging communities to get in touch to explore ways student volunteers can support local initiatives. Speaking to The Clare Champion about the fundraiser, Gabriella said, “Covid has created enormous challenges for organisations that traditionally fundraise to provide additional supports and services to communities. Covid also had the effect of reducing volunteering opportunities.” She explained that the students committed to doing 40km of exercise with some walking, cycling or running, and they donated the money raised to animal shelters and activities for residents in nursing homes. They raised …

THREE Clare students have put themselves in the picture for award success on the double. Ennis Coláiste Muire students Sybil Perkins and Catherine Gorman, alongside Ella Bliss from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla were among the students from the mid-west region to recently be presented with certificates of achievement from the Kemmy Business School (KBS) University of Limerick. The students were given the prestigious award after obtaining distinctions (90-100%) in Junior Cycle Business in 2019.  The event, held in association with the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI), celebrates and recognises excellence in Junior Cycle Business Studies. However, this wasn’t the only win for the talented Clare students. Following the awards ceremony, the Kemmy Business School ran a social media photograph competition asking awardees to submit photographs of themselves with their awards. So enthused by the effort and participation of applicants were the committee that it was decided to expand their prize pool to the 10 best photographs, with Sybil, Catherine …

GREATER reassurance around privacy of the HSE’s Tracker App is critical, a Ballyvaughan GP has said. Dr Liam Glynn, who is a professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick (UL) made his remarks after a research project, in which he was involved, revealed that 40% of app users are unconvinced of its benefits in the fight against Covid-19.D Dr Glynn, who is a member of the COVIGILANT research partnership between UL and NUI Galway, said the reopening of the economy next year would lead to an increase in risk of contracting the disease and said every tool was necessary in keeping levels of transmission to a minimum. Almost four in ten users of the HSE’s Covid Tracker App reported they are unsure of its benefit in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, researchers found. The COVIGILANT team has now called for the results of the survey to be considered when planning communications around the value of …

MORE THAN 3,000 courses are to be made available through colleges serving the Midwest, following an investment in an initiative to upskill people in response to the economic impact of the pandemic. 271 additional post-graduate places and 2,769 additional modular places will be available at the University of Limerick (UL), Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) after an investment of €30 million. Senator Martin Conway said the new free and subsidised higher education places would “help get people back to work, upskill workers and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of Covid-19”. “People are really suffering as a result of this pandemic and the government is working to provide opportunities for those who have been most affected and ensure that they have the skills that are needed by employers today,” the Fine Gael member said. “Many courses focus on future proofing the skills of …