In recent times, Limerick City has gained a reputation for the quality of the education that it provides.
There are some well-respected secondary schools like Crescent College and The Model School located in the city. These and other schools act as a springboard for students to further their education and there is no shortage of choice of where to study.
As a result, there are over 20,000 students attending third-level institutions in the city. Let's take a closer look at some of these places.
Univeristy of Limerick Sports Hall
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick (UL) was founded in 1972.
It was initially known as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick before it gained university status in 1989.UL is located at Plassey, roughly 5 kilometres outside the city centre. The campus is part of a National Technological Park, which is over 600 acres in size.
UL has more than 12,000 full-time students attending various courses at the college. It is particularly strong in the area of business studies and science.
Mary Immaculate College
Mary Immaculate College
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Mary Immaculate College (MIC) was established in 1898 by Edward O'Dwyer, the Catholic Bishop of Limerick. It was founded to provide training for potential primary school teachers but now also offers courses on the arts and childhood care as well.
In 1974, MIC became a recognised college of the National University of Ireland and in 1991, it strengthened its ties with the University of Limerick.
Close to 2,500 students attend MIC, where a strong emphasis is placed on the Irish language and on an awareness of the Catholic tradition.
Limerick Institute of Technology
The seeds of Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) were sewn by the Athenaeum Society in 1852, who opened a School of Arts and Fine Crafts in Limerick. Since then, LIT has been known as the Limerick Technical College (1975), Limerick College of Art, Commerce and Technology (1980), and Limerick Regional College (1993).
The main campus of LIT is found at Moylish Park, which includes the Millennium Theatre, while its School of Art and Design is based at both Clare Street and George's Quay.
Roughly 6,500 students attend LIT to study subjects such as science, engineering, business and information technology