20 Things You Only Understand If You Go To The University Of Limerick
Evey university has its own culture and fun quirks that come with it and make it special. From Stables to Black Dog, the University of Limerick has plenty of quirks that are easily recongnisable if you go here. Keep reading for 20 things you only understand if you go to the University of Limerick!
1. Be 5 minutes early to a class if it’s on in the main building.
The main building is a maze. There are fourth years and Masters students who don’t know how to navigate the main building. If you have a class in the main building, try get there early because you will end up wondering where the hell B1023 is for the first three months (or years).
2. Realise that the 304 is never on time.
The 304 is the bus service from UL into Limerick and vice-versa which runs as regularly as I do, which isn’t very often. Please do not depend on the bus if you need to be anywhere on time.
Even though it is only roughly 15 minutes into town, it can take up to an hour sometimes. Try get the bus a lot earlier than the time that you need to be in by.
3. Stables on a Wednesday night is harder to get into than the Oscars.
It’s inherently true that Stables is where University of Limerick students go on a Wednesday night, it’s like saying the grass is green. However with more and more people going to the Stables earlier than ever before, it’s now become impossible to get into past half 11 or 12.
4. The library during exam times is like Stables on a Wednesday night.
The student to library desk ratio in UL is 12/1, which as you can imagine, gets pretty crazy during study week coming up to exams. People you have never seen inside a lecture theatre before will suddenly be clamouring for a desk space to stare at their lecture slides.
5. Everyone and their mothers wear skinny tracksuit bottoms.
Skinny tracksuit bottoms have nearly become the unofficial uniform of UL. You can spot at least twenty pairs of them at any one time around the campus and these numbers rapidly increase coming up to exam times.
6. You’ve seen Basshunter more than most of your relatives over the past few years.
Basshunter always seems to be the one act to play during Fresher’s week/Rag week/a night in town. In the past three years Basshunter has probably played about 14 times, singing the same song two songs in different languages- Every. Single. Time.
7. Getting emails from the science learning centre.
Most UL students have had more emails from the science learning centre than hot dinners. These emails seem to be the virus that never stops. I don’t even do science. They just never stop.
8. Respect Black Dog!
It’s an unwritten rule, but it’s probably one of the most crucial ones. Black Dog has roamed UL campus for God knows how long and must be respected. He’s just a friendly black dog that likes biscuits and sitting outside of the library waiting for a pet down.
9. Race day is one of the biggest events of the year.
Limerick Student Raceday is one of the biggest events in the academic year. This year will see thousands of Thomas Selby lookalikes thread the grounds and most girls trying to stay in the marquee to avoid the rain ruining their tans.
10. Hello Munster.
This won’t apply to every student, but if you like handsome rugby players, you know that Munster rugby train on the Kilmurry pitches every Monday around midday. Do with this information what you will.
11. The women in the library café are some of the nicest people in the world.
The women in the library café instantly make you feel better with their constant loveliness and warmth. Feeling under pressure? Go to the library café. Feeling lonely? Go to the library café. Missing your mammy? Go to the library café.
12. The temptation to buy something at the market on Tuesday mornings.
The market selling everything from homemade scones to Indian food on Tuesday mornings and the urge to resist buying unnecessary but amazing food while walking through it is almost too much at times.
13. Heading into Spar for chicken fillet rolls and Luzcoade after a heavy night out.
It’s almost like a rite of passage. Pale-faced and nauseous looking students can be seen heading to the Spar on campus, buying their hot snacks and retiring back to houses for the rest of the day.
14. There is an unwritten rivalry between Plassey and Kilmurry as to which is the best craic.
These two campus accommodation sites are both mainly first years and are both sets of residents are equally ready to show that their accommodation is the best craic. This can be done by posting 100 second long stories of house parties on Snapchat, putting up numerous Instagram posts or raving about how much damage was caused at the last house party.
15. Do not use your house for the first house party.
Especially not during Freshers’ week. Seriously. Your house will get wrecked and covered in drink, puke and other weird stuff and looking back on it, it’s definitely not worth it.
16. Physio students.
The physio students in UL tend to take the place of what medicine students are in other colleges, they are sometimes perceived as being obnoxious. Of course, 99% of physio students are great but sadly it only takes a small few to ruin the name for the whole bunch. One of these can be spotted wearing UL physio gear on a night in the stables looking like they’re going to run onto the dancefloor to stretch.
17. The best craic is on UL YikYak.
YikYak is an app where people in your area can put up funny posts and it’s fair to say UL YikYak is up there with the best of them.
Posts are checked by YikYak before they are posted so no bullying is tolerated. Click to make UL your herd and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
18. College Court is usually where the sesh is.
College Court is a housing estate near the university and for some it is the only estate to be in. House parties in college can last for two days, and definitely for seven during rag week.
19. We have one of the most beautiful campuses in Ireland.
The University of Limerick campus is amazing. From the white house green to the views over the Living bridge to the pontoon, there are amazing scenes on the campus grounds-making it one of the most beautiful college campuses in Ireland.
20. There are people to help you settle into UL.
It sounds corny, but the University of Limerick is a great place to go to college. It’s relaxed and friendly and a lot less scary than most big universities.
If you’re struggling, feeling a bit lost or a bit homesick, there are a lot of people you can talk to including the First Seven Weeks team, the counselling service, the chaplaincy service, your academic advisor or any lecturer you feel comfortable talking to.
College is a great opportunity and experience, but that doesn’t mean that people don’t ever feel down or worried about something both inside and outside of college life.
The main thing is that it’s okay not to be okay and that there are support services that can help with whatever you may be feeling.
