of OLLSCOIL LUIMNIGH

MARCH 2006 ALUMNI TIMES A TWICE-YEARLY PUBLICATION FOR GRADUATES & FRIENDS OF ULAA

UniversaL Launch UniversaL ... Online Services for UL Alumni Worldwide was launched in mid-January. These exciting new web-based services provide a range of tools which allow UL graduates - wherever they are - to communicate with each other via ULAA’s new website. It is anticipated that UniversaL will become an extremely valuable tool for those wishing to renew friendships, make business connections, link with graduates in their local area or simply to share the experience and insights gained since graduation. Speaking at the launch, UL’s Prof Cyril No.13 Burkley “welcomed UniversaL as a very significant step forward in creating real links among the growing family of UL graduates around the world. I congratulate ULAA in launching At the launch of UniversaL - Online Services for UL Alumni Worldwide are (L-R) Olivia this valuable service and encourage graduates to optimise its Loughnane BCS ‘77 & ULAA Chairperson, Prof Cyril Burkley, Dean of potential”. Informatics and Electronics at UL and Pat O’Hanlon, Ulster Bank Some of the facilities available through UniversaL include personal profile pages, email forwarding, discussion forums, chapter/group/class homepages, member searching and emailing, member directories and much more. Initial feedback has been very positive from those who have registered already. Welcoming the new services, one graduate sees UniversaL as “a great opportunity to catch up and wander down memory lane. Over the years I have lost touch with so many …. I hope others also recognise this opportunity to make and keep contact, especially with those of us in far away places who miss all of the usual communication, gatherings and gossip!”. UniversaL was conceived and developed by ULAA’s Board and Staff and has been jointly funded by graduates themselves through the UL Foundation's Annual Fund together with generous sponsorship from Ulster Bank. You can access UniversaL today by visiting http://ulaa.ul.ie and registering online. ≥ The service is free and exclusive to UL graduates. Class of 2005... Inaugural UL Following recent graduation ceremonies, the Alumni Community has grown to almost 38,000 Alumni Awards with all graduates enjoying automatic, free Thirty years on from when the first students membership of ULAA. completed their studies in 1976, ULAA is delighted to announce the first ever UL Alumni Awards. The awards will be presented initially to graduates who have made an outstanding contribution in any of the following spheres:

Science & Technology Cultural/Arts Business Academic Societal/Humanitarian Sport A Family Affair... UL’s President, Prof Roger Downer In October 1975, Dr Tiede Herrema, a Dutch industrialist and then takes great pride in conferring honours degrees on UL graduates continue to make enormous Managing Director of Limerick’s Ferenka factory was kidnapped his wife, Jean (left) and his daughter, Tara who both contributions via their chosen life paths and by the IRA some 200 yards from his home. For several days, he graduated with in September their achievements reflect enormously well on was feared dead but more than two weeks later, he was traced their alma mater. ULAA wishes to honour such to a house in Co. Kildare where a siege took place before he was graduates and recipients of these prestigious finally released 17 days later. On the thirtieth anniversary of his awards will be honoured at a special event on ordeal, Dr Herrema donated his private archive of documentation campus on 20 October, 2006. You are now relating to the kidnapping to the UL Library. Dr Herrema is invited to propose candidates for these awards pictured (left) with Sean Donlon, Chancellor, UL. for consideration by the selection committee. A copy of the Nomination Form is available from ULAA (see address on back page). Those Inside this issue... nominated for the awards must be graduates of UL (while nominations themselves can be 2 Class Reunions 2005 made by any member of the campus or alumni Appointment of new VP Finance At the Winter Conferrings in December (L-R) Stephen 3 communities or the public). All nominations Sikwila, Emma O'Brien and Michael Chapwanya were 4 New Honours Degree Courses at UL must be received by 10 April, 2006. each conferred with a PhD Doctor of Philosophy from the and much more... College of Informatics and Electronics, UL.

Alumni Times available on the web: http://ulaa.ul.ie ALUMNITIMES

Celebrations at Class Reunions on Campus ULAA AT YOUR SERVICE In late-September/early-October each year, ULAA invites those who graduated ten, twenty and Further information on ULAA’s expanding range of twenty-five years before back to the campus for a special Class Reunion. In Autumn 2005 we services for graduates is available on our website welcomed the Graduation Classes of 1985, 1995 and 1980 with some making great efforts to be at http://ulaa.ul.ie.

here, travelling from USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, England, Scotland, The ≥ EVENTS Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Judging from the feedback received by Class Reunions We host 10, 20, 25 & 30 Year class ULAA, a good time was had by all! reunions which give you a chance to catch up with your classmates and revisit your old haunts on “UL was the centre of our lives for those four years we were there and it was great to meet up campus. with everyone … share old memories - good times and bad, renew friendships and see what Dates for 2006 are: progress everyone has made since we left all those years ago. Thanks again for a very Students of 1976 - Friday, 9 June enjoyable day.“ - Mary O'Shea, BSc Computer Systems ‘85 Class of 1986 - Friday, 22 September Class of 1981 - Friday, 29 September Class of 1996 - Friday, 6 October Earlier in the year, ULAA also hosted a special reunion for graduates of College’s Chapter Network ULAA now has ten Chapters on three continents. The nearest one to you is ... (TCE) General & Rural Science Programme. London/UK Cork Dates have already been set for our 2006 Class New York Dublin Boston/New England Galway Reunions (see page 4) and this year we will Silicon Valley Limerick hold our first ever 30-Year Reunion in June. This East Asia new event will create a special opportunity for Europe all those who were students on campus in the

Summer of 1976 to reunite on campus. ≥ CONNECTIONS TCE: (L-R) Liz McLafferty, Pat Brosnan and Mary Holohan-Doyle all attending the Reunion of UniversaL Our new range of online services for General & Rural Science (1988) graduates. alumni worldwide provides you with the unique New Board for 2006 opportunity to connect with other graduates via the ULAA website. Free and exclusive to UL graduates. Register today at http://ulaa.ul.ie Lost Alumni We don't have current addresses for some graduates ... perhaps you might recognise some names on the web-based list? Update your Record Help us to help you stay connected! Through our website, you can update your record on-line or you can send a note to ULAA (see contact details on back page)

1980: (L-R) John Preisler, BSc (Manufacturing &

Production Engineering) with BBS graduates ≥ NEWS Thomas Daly and Brian Barry. Alumni Times Our full-colour printed publication (also available online) posted to all graduates for whom we have a current mailing address (do we have yours?) @lumni @ul Our monthly web-based newsletter, sent to all graduates for whom we have a current email address (do we have yours?) Gearing up for a busy year at ULAA are Website Updated regularly and bringing you Board Members (L-R) Company information on ULAA's services, events and other Secretary Gwen Ryan BA’99/MA’00 news. See http://ulaa.ul.ie

1985: (L-R) Mary Dooley, BA European Studies with BBS graduates, Imelda Duffy and Patricia Treacy at and Bobby O’Connor BBS ‘00 ≥ the welcome reception in Plassey House. MEMBER DISCOUNTS Comprising ten graduates and two You can avail of discounted membership of: University representatives (representing UL’s Library - Annual Membership for alumni UL and the UL Foundation), ULAA’s new is €121.00 Board of Directors was elected at the Tel: 061-202428/213508 E-mail: [email protected] company’s 18th AGM held in Plassey University Arena - Ireland’s largest indoor sports House in mid-January. The new Board – in facility (incorporating 50m pool). Annual partnership with the ULAA Staff at its membership for alumni is €412.00 office on campus - is prioritising the Tel: 061 213555 implementation of a four-year Strategic E-mail: [email protected] Plan as well as a variety of other projects Healthcare - A UL alumni group scheme with VHI 1995: Graduates who travelled from abroad to be at their Reunion were (L-R back row) Liz Kerans BA already underway. (number 01/9287) offers a 10% discount. European Studies, Therese Collins, BBS, Ger Tel: 1850 444 844 Moroney, BEng Mechanical Engineering and (L-R ULAA thanks all those who attended this front row) Maura O’Riordan, BA European Studies, year's AGM and looks forward to your Lewina Farrell, BA European Studies, Maeve Quinn, support during the year ahead. ≥ BBS and John Cremin, BTech Manufacturing Technology.

Alumni Times available on the web: http://ulaa.ul.ie MARCH 2006 ALUMNI TIMES

≥ SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES Boston Grads Major Research Alumni Start In association with Shannon Have A Ball Funding Comes Development, entrepreneurship support is provided to graduates interested in setting up their own technology-based business in this region. to UL

Affinity Visa Card From Bank of Ireland, offering Almost €12m of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) preferential rates to graduates. Over 5,000 card- funding has been awarded to the Irish Software holders & rising... do you have yours? Engineering Research Centre (ISERC) at UL. The announcement was made by Micheál Martin TD,

≥ ACADEMIC & CAREER ASSISTANCE Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to advance the work of ISERC in delivering a See our website for details of: In late-September, the first annual sustained competitive advantage for the entire Transcript Requests If you need a copy of your UL British and Irish Ball was Irish software sector. academic transcript, we can assist held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Undergraduate Courses Information on all It was a huge success and provided the The Centre at UL will provide the focal point for a academic programmes on offer at UL 200 guests with an evening of great community of software engineering researchers Postgraduate Courses For those of you interested entertainment as well as many new based in Ireland looking at better ways to build, in pursuing a further qualification at UL networking opportunities. maintain and evaluate software. Office of Graduate Studies Putting you in touch with UL’s dedicated centre for the further ULAA was delighted to sponsor this Announcing the funding, Minister Martin said, development of graduate activity at University event which was also supported by the "This SFI award to ISERC will further our Continuing Education Courses Providing Consulate General of Ireland and HM credentials as a major software engineering a variety of lifelong learning opportunities Consul General Boston. Among the UL player, providing the world class infrastructure English Language Courses Professionally designed Alumni who attended were (L-R) BA needed to excel in this area, enabling Ireland to programmes from the UL Language Centre (European Studies) graduates Maggie punch above its weight in this significant field." Mature Students Office It’s never too late to go Cotter ‘93 and Lynda Tonery ‘94. back to the books... support is at hand. Careers A dedicated website intended as a 'virtual Update from Governing Authority careers service' provides Irish-based resources for graduates. “Against a backdrop of government funding cuts to 3rd level education, UL faces real difficulties see www.careers4graduates.org in sustaining its programmes and maintaining its high quality of education. Despite this, the campus development plans are progressed. Governing Authority (GA) is committed to the development of the 2nd phase of the Library; we are planning the construction of a new pedestrian bridge to link the north and south banks of the campus and have also approved design concepts for the new Kemmy Business School building. In addition, the Students Union are partnering with UL to raise funding for a UL Boathouse. Meanwhile, UL is developing a new Strategic Plan for approval by GA this year. I serve as Chairperson of the Access and Equality Committee, now renamed the Access Committee and redirected to focus exclusively on access issues, in part due to the growing national focus on access for non-traditional entrants and the strategic importance of addressing issues relating to improving the provision of access for all students in a pro-active manner. There has been relatively little progress recently regarding Seanad voting rights for graduates of UL and all 3rd level institutions. However, with an election looming in 2007, there will be increased pressure to enact the necessary legislation and your active support to build parliamentary backing and deliver equity for graduates of UL in electing future Seanad representation would be Flying The Flag For UL ... At sunrise, on the summit of Quitaraju (6,040m) are graduates (L-R) John Harrison, appreciated.” BDes '05, Frank Cox, BSc '01/PhD '05 and Liam Gahan, BBS '05 during the recent UL Outdoor Pursuits Club's Best regards and a Happy New Year to one and all! expedition to Peru, South America Jim Collins, Alumni Governor, BSc 1981, email: [email protected] Appointment of new Vice President - Finance In mid-2005, the UL community welcomed Limerick-woman, Ailish Quinlivan as Vice President - Finance at the University. Ailish qualified with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland while working for Coopers & Lybrand. A move to Australia saw her working as an Accountant for the Further Education Department of New South Wales and with the Finance Business Requirements and Testing Lead with a software house developing a University Specific IT system.

Joining Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1996 as a Consultant and then Senior Manager of a team of 30 persons, Ailish also had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects all over Europe, the United States, the Caribbean and Gabon in Africa. It was with PwC that Ailish worked on two global Further Education Institutes and gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges of continuous learning and keeping university courses current and attractive to students. Speaking on the challenges ahead at UL, Ailish (pictured right) said “I am delighted to have joined the University of Limerick and look forward to being part of the continuing development of the University”.

Alumni Times available on the web: http://ulaa.ul.ie MARCH 2006 ALUMNI TIMES Annual Fund 2006 Honorary Conferrings Since 1990, UL has bestowed Honorary Doctorates on sixty-nine worthy Following the very successful launch of its first Annual Fund in the Spring of recipients in recognition of their outstanding contribution to areas such as 2003, the UL Foundation will launch its fourth Annual Fund in March, 2006. community, business, politics, sport and the arts. The most recent recipients (pictured below in April, 2005) are (L-R) Gordon Holmes, Appealing exclusively to graduates' generosity, last year’s (2005) Fund raised Managing Partner and Chairman of Holmes O'Malley Sexton and former €22,482 directly from graduates. This money benefited deserving projects State Solicitor; John Ryan from Tipperary town, Chairman and former Chief including Student Financial Aid, the UL President's Fund and 'Alumni Circle' Executive Officer of Scholarships which directly Macrovision; Trish Hunt, wife resulted in the financing of two of the late John Hunt, one of the founders of the Hunt Scholarships for this Academic Museum, who accepted an Year (one each at Undergraduate Honorary Doctorate of Letters and Post-Graduate level). A on behalf of her late husband; fourth beneficiary of the 2005 and , former President Annual Fund was the ULSU Clubs of the European Parliament. & Societies and the monies ULAA is honoured to welcome received will now go a long way such distinguished conferees towards financing some of the as members of the UL Alumni activities of UL’s “Clubs & Socs”. Association.

The 2006 Fund will again support these deserving projects. To find New Honours Degree Courses out more or to make your At the launch of the Annual Fund 2006 by In September, the first students to UL’s newly-established degree contribution, please contact the the UL Foundation are (L-R) Eleanor UL Foundation, Tel: 061 234241, McCormack, ULF’s Funding Development programmes were admitted. The courses are in Architecture and in email [email protected] Manager - Alumni & Friends with Liza Multimedia & Computer Games Development. or visit www.ULF.ie O’Connor, Chief Executive, UL Foundation. The UL School of Architecture – offering a total of 25 places - is the first to be located outside the Dublin area and aims to attract, enrol and graduate academically talented students 5,000th Customer of Affinity Card of diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Merrit Bucholz Due to the increasing popularity of the UL Affinity Card, it has now (right), founding partner of the surpassed its 5,000 card-holder architectural firm Bucholz McEvoy has been appointed Professor at the target. So, thank you to all card- School and explains that it “seeks to become a leader in thought on holders! environmental issues by situating these issues within a strong philosophical, technological, cultural, and historical context. Fundamentally Did you know that whenever you the school will explore architecture as an element of a broader context, use this special Visa Card from Bank producing architects with a clear understanding of how the built of Ireland, you are helping your environment can evolve in the future". Alumni Association? This is because as well as offering you preferential Students of the new course in Multimedia & Computer Games rates and other benefits, every Development will learn the art and science of computer games time you use the card the bank programming and aesthetics. The ultimate objective is to produce makes a contribution to ULAA ... at no cost to you! So why not add the UL Affinity graduate programmers with computer games creation and design Card to your wallet? To apply today, Tel: 1850 365 100. specialisms. In order to achieve this, students will learn underlying The 5,000th customer Darragh Dolan, BBS ‘05 (pictured above right) was presented scientific concepts from Computer Science, such as: Graphics, Artificial with an iPod (sponsored by Bank of Ireland) and congratulated by Dr. Matt Cannon, Intelligence, Game Theory, Gaming Mechanics and Modelling. PhD ‘01 and ULAA Vice-Chairperson. Dates for your diary Over to You...

If you have news/information/views/comments to ≥ June 2006 share with us or would like more details on topics Friday 9 30 year Reunion of Students of 1976 covered here, please contact the ULAA Team:

≥ Majella O'Connell BA ‘91/Manager (centre), September 2006 Norita Kelleher BBS ’96/Administrator (right) Friday 22 20 Year Reunion for the Class of 1986 and Elaine Collins, Secretary (left). Friday 29 25 Year Reunion for the Class of 1981 We hope you enjoyed this issue of 'Alumni Times'. ≥ October 2006 UL Alumni Association (ULAA) Friday 6 10 Year Reunion for the Class of 1996 SU-101 Student Centre, University of Limerick Friday 20 Alumni Awards Ceremony Tel: +353-61-202475 Fax: +353-61-202228 Majella O'Connell, BA 1991 Email: [email protected] Editor, Alumni Times Web: http://ulaa.ul.ie Designed & @ Produced Copper Reed Limerick Studio,

Alumni Times available on the web: http://ulaa.ul.ie