Limerick Voice newspaper celebrates its 18th edition

Pictured at the launch event for the 2025 Limerick Voice newspaper were, Darragh Moloney, Sports Reporter, Ailish Armstrong, Chief Features Writer and Liam White, Sports Reporter. Photo by Alan Place.

The 2025 edition of the Limerick Voice newspaper landed on newsagents shelves this Wednesday, February 19, celebrating the 18th edition of the journalism student-produced paper

Boastign more than 50 stories covering news, sport, and feature articles, the latest edition of the award-winning Limerick Voice newspaper was released on Wednesday, February 19, giving Journalism at UL students real-life skills and experience.

Bringing a number of exclusive reports from the University of Limerick journalism talent, this year’s front page story looks at the exploitation by criminal gangs of children as young as eight to deliver drugs. Limerick Voice reporter, Anne Marie Roberts reveals how gangs are exploiting a legal loophole to lure young children into drug related activities.

In the wake of public scrutiny over sentencing in Ireland, Limerick Voice reporters Emma McCarthy and Ailish Armstrong speak to former Limerick state solicitor Michael Murray. Mr Murray defended the principle of concurrent sentencing – where multiple sentences run simultaneously rather than consecutively. However, he warned that Irish judges can be too lenient on repeat offenders and also called for more clarity on consecutive sentencing.

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This year’s publication highlights the importance of campaign journalism. Limerick Voice stood in solidarity with the family of the late Joe Drennan at a vigil organised in UL in
support of the #JusticeforJoe campaign. Limerick Voice website was first to reveal that the DPP has lodged an appeal against the sentence given to the man responsible for the young journalism student’s death.

Speaking about this year’s edition, which is available free with this weekend’s Limerick Leader, Limerick Voice Managing Editor Jack McKay said the 2025 edition “accentuates the power of campaign journalism”.

He said, “This year’s edition of Limerick Voice newspaper accentuates the power of campaign journalism with hard-hitting stories that matter to the Limerick community. We did this through our mission statement, ‘Your Voice, Our Mission’.

“Our reporters have highlighted important social issues through investigative journalism, crime, and features focusing on voices that deserve to be heard. The dedication of our journalism students working across all of our digital platforms is beyond professional, with many breaking stories in sports and news on Limerick Voice website, including Leah Hogarty’s report confirming the DPP’s appeal in the sentencing case of the man responsible for Joe Drennan’s death.”

The sports section of the newspaper celebrates the passion, resilience, and diversity of sports in Limerick city including Limerick hurler, Cathal O’ Neill’s promotion of the Irish
language, the challenges of securing state funding for smaller sports, and the work of Treaty United in raising the profile of women’s football in Limerick.

Many unheard voices in sports are also featured in this year’s edition, including those from an LGBTQ+ rugby club, two top-tier basketball clubs, a growing social run group, and a GAA Club in Asia.

Speaking about the sports section Sports Editor, John O’ Donnell said, “We had the privilege of sitting down with local sporting heroes, who shared their triumphs and the struggles they’ve faced. I hope people enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.”

The multi award winning multi-media Limerick Voice news project involved 22 final year journalism students from UL who have been working on the project since September 2024. Over 200 hundred stories were published on Limerick Voice’s Instagram page which reached over 135,000 accounts and over 470K views since September.