Written by Cindy Chung, BBA IP Peer Advisor
Have you ever considered studying abroad in a place with endless fields of green castles and more rainbows and sheep than you’ve ever seen?
Well, you’re in luck! Limerick, Ireland, is the place to be!
My name is Cindy and I am a Marketing major with a Business Analytics minor student who studied abroad during the Fall semester of my Junior year at the University of Limerick!
What’s so Special about Limerick?
Limerick is the best of both worlds – a cosmopolitan hub with a touch of rural charm, creating a magical blend that attracts Irish and international students alike. This small city of 200,000+ people, located right next to the Shannon River, offers everything you need from a city, including shopping centers, cafes, boutiques, thrift shops, farmers’ markets, parks, nature trails, and much more. One of my favorite things to do while I was in Limerick was visiting the Milk Market, the city’s largest farmers market, on Saturday mornings to buy freshly baked bread, specialty cheeses, and the most delicious panini I’ve ever had, all while perusing all the booths at the market. If I weren’t hanging out in my friend’s dorms or studying in the library, I would often take advantage of the beautiful nature scenery and hiking trails around campus.
Check out the Limerick City Website for more recommendations of things to do!
What did I enjoy about studying at the University of Limerick?
Irish Traditional Music Class
One of my favorite experiences at the University of Limerick was taking the Irish Traditional Music 1 class, which allowed me to study at the Irish World Academy, a world-renowned performing arts center. In this class, you can delve into the history of Irish traditional music, and students are given private lessons in dances, songs, and Irish instruments.
Students have the option to choose between Irish singing, Irish dancing, the Bodhrán (Irish drum), the Irish whistle/flute, the Irish fiddle (only if you know how to play the violin already), and the Irish guitar (only if you know how to play the guitar already). This one-of-a-kind experience ends with a group performance showcasing all the songs everyone has learned throughout the semester.
Premier Sports Facility
If music and dancing aren’t for you, that’s okay! The University of Limerick is home to one of the best sports facilities in Europe! Here are some of the facilities they offer to students:
- Indoor running track
- Outdoor running track
- Rock climbing and bouldering wall
- Gym equipment
- Swimming Pool
- Diving Pool
- Fitness Studio – group exercise classes offered
- 5+ Grass/Turf Fields
Visit the UL and Limerick City websites to learn more about the sports facilities at UL.
Student Clubs & Societies
Do you still think that there’s nothing to do in Limerick? Let me introduce you to just a few of the 80+ student organizations they offer at UL!
At the University of Limerick, they use the term “clubs” for athletic organizations and “societies” to describe what we refer to as “student orgs.” They offer unique organizations at affordable prices that encourage students to explore their interests or elevate their talents. While at UL, I was a part of the Archery Club and only paid 8€ for the entire semester, where I could attend two weekly on-campus archery lessons. These clubs and societies are beginner-friendly, so what is there to lose? Most people do not get to try something new for such a low price so take advantage of this opportunity while studying at UL!
- Photography
- Music
- Crafts
- Archery
- Go-Kart Racing
- Kayaking
- Rowing
- Scuba diving
- Surfing
- Skydiving
- Rock Climbing
- Fencing
- Taekwondo
- Jiu Jitsu
- Running
- American Football
- Rugby
- Field Hockey
- Rugby
- And many more that you can explore at their “Clubs & Societies Day” event
Visit the UL Wolves website for all the clubs and societies UL offers.
What else is there to do and see in Ireland?
Ireland has plenty to offer in its beautiful national parks, quaint villages, and bustling cities. A perk about studying in a small country is that almost every major city can easily be visited on a day or weekend trip!
The University of Limerick is unique because it arranges affordable day trips to notable cities around the country for international students.
Trips offered to students through the University of Limerick:
- Cliffs of Moher (about 1.5-2 hours by bus)
- Aran Islands (about 2 hours by bus, then 30+ min ferry to the island)
- Ring of Fire (3+ hours by bus from Limerick)
- Blarney Castle – “The Kissing Stone” (1.5 hours by bus)
- Cork (1.5 hours by bus)
- Dublin (2.5 hours by bus)
Trips I took around Ireland:
- Galway (1.5+ hours by bus)
- Cork (1.5 hours by bus)
- Dublin (2.5 hours by bus)
- Adare – one of the most picturesque towns in Ireland (20 minutes by bus)
Making Friends in Limerick!
And let’s remember the people you’ll meet. Studying abroad is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and meeting new friends from around the world. At UL, you’ll find a welcoming community from around the globe that will make you feel right at home. During my time at UL, my friends were mainly Americans because many of their foreign exchange students were from the US, but I also had many opportunities to meet students from other countries. We spent so much time together that we formed unbreakable bonds, and to this day, we still keep in touch with each other and visit each other’s’ states and countries whenever we can.
So, what are you waiting for? Studying abroad in Limerick, Ireland, is an adventure you won’t want to miss!
McCombs BBA Study Abroad Blog 