A special collection of stories and essays written by presidents, rock stars, music composers, writers and sports heroes has just been published to mark 50 years of creative and academic life at the University of Limerick.
'Dreams' was edited by best-selling author Joseph O’Connor, who is also Professor of Creative Writing at UL.
It features 50 contributions of academic essays, poems, personal memories, and tweets from a huge cross section of people who have been students at or have had associations with the university over its past 50 years.
It documents half a century of creativity, culture and community at the university since it was launched, and it is not just students and academics and alumni, but also the everyday people who keep the place going.
This includes the women known as the pink ladies who run the library café, or the people who look after the upkeep of the beautiful grounds, to those who guard and educate about UL’s art collection.
It includes contributions from world renowned Riverdance composer Bill Whelan, Noel Hogan of The Cranberries, Irish rugby legend and now Irish rugby coach Paul O'Connell, the late composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, rap artist Denise Chaila, award-winning author Donal Ryan, human rights activist Donnah Vuma, and also from President Michael D. Higgins, who has written about his own personal memories of his friend the late Mayor of the city and respected socialist Jim Kemmy.
It also includes contributions from teachers, researchers, and former students, some of whom have overcome immense obstacles to gain an education.
Professor O'Connor said the title of the book 'Dreams’ was more than just a nod to the late Dolores O’Riordan and the Cranberries.
"I was casting my mind around for a title and I heard the song Dreams on the radio as I walked across the campus and the words struck me. ‘Oh, my life, changing every day in every possible way’. I said that’s exactly what university life should be like, so the title was apt," he said.
Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan attended UL and the book contains a contribution from him.
While lead singer Dolores O’Riordan did not attend as a student, she was honoured with an honorary doctorate posthumously, and she and the group were regular attendees on campus doing gigs and promoting their music.
Professor O’Connor said one of his personal favourites in the book is from Munster and Ireland rugby star Paul O’Connell, which came about following a conversation between the two men.
Mr O’Connell spoke about how much UL was a daily and routine part of his life and sports training, and he is very much looking forward to the university’s presence in Limerick city centre.
"I always felt UL was open and it was the place you did your sports. It was brilliant," Mr O’Connell wrote.
"I joined the gym here aged about 17 and started doing my weights here. And literally, until I retired as a professional rugby player at the age of 35, I would have been going in and out to UL all the time. So, it’s a second home in one way."
President Michael D. Higgins writes a very affectionate and respectful piece about his friend and the political legacy of the late Jim Kemmy, a former Mayor of Limerick and well-known author.
"We must be one of the few business schools in the world named after a very passionate socialist" Professor O’Connor said.
The book also honours the example of Donna Sibandah Vuma, whose studies began while she was a mother living in Direct Provision. Ms Sibandah writes about the positive experience she had with the Mature Access programme at UL, adding that pursuing education later in life should not be "frightening" but something that can be coped with.
