WATCH University of Limerick International Students showcase St Patrick’s Day spirit in Limerick

UL International Students showcase St Patrick’s Day spirit in Limerick. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

University of Limerick (UL) International Students shine as almost 300 students create a sea of green for the 2025 Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade and showcase the university ‘at its finest’

Limerick’s St Patrick’s Day parade was a spectacular display of culture, community and celebration, with the celebration’s message embodied by over 300 University of Limerick international/local  students who marched in the parade bringing the energy and a buzz to the thousands who lined the city’s streets.

Representing the university community hailing from all corners of the world, students proudly showcased their diverse backgrounds while immersing themselves in Irish traditions through the St Patrick’s Day Parade and experiencing some trad music at Limerick’s Milk Market.

The amazing volunteers were giving back to the community and celebrating Irish culture. Linda Fitzgerald, Student Volunteering Manager, highlighted the participants’ dedication, saying, “ We have over 300 of our students here who are volunteering, giving back their time here to the community. They’ve been volunteering all semester, all this academic year, and they’re here now to showcase the University of Limerick in its finest, and we’re here to have some fun giving back to the community!”

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Maura Casey, an English teacher at the UL Language Centre, explained it gave students a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to take part in a traditional St Patrick’s Day Parade while they are studying at the university, she said, “We have students here from all over the world in the University of Limerick Language Center.

“They come to Ireland and it’s just a fantastic opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures, to learn about Irish culture, we learn about their cultures and they’re here in the St Patrick’s Day Parade, and it’s just a once in a lifetime opportunity to be immersed in Irish culture.”

Students taking part in the parade expressed their excitement to be involved in such an important celebration in Irish tradition and culture, Celina Papendorf, a UL student from Germany said her experience as an international student at UL has been “absolutely amazing” saying she received support before arriving to prepare for her study in Ireland. She said, “ It’s a very inclusive, diverse community and it’s such a great experience UL is offering, trying to get you involved with Limerick in general and with the students and your peers.”

Gan Xiao, a student from China, was thrilled to witness the sea of green and the joyful atmosphere, he said, “ I felt really excited, especially as an Asian when I first came here and found ‘wow, the sea of green and orange!’ Everybody there, their faces are full of smiles, and I feel I am integrated in this friendly and harmonious community.”

Lucy Edith Kiiza from Uganda emphasised how UL encourages cultural exchange saying, “ UL makes it easy for us to share our culture with our community. I’m from Uganda, I love showcasing my culture in different ways. We have so many events that are inclusive – a lot of diversity –  You get to share your culture with the university and also get to learn different cultures.

“Being part of this experience makes it more inclusive for us and more fun for us to get to know the story behind St Patrick’s Day and also understand how best we can collaborate, work together with the community to have a full experience as students.”

Adham Yaghi from Lebanon, participating as part of the Erasmus Exchange program, saw the event as an unmissable opportunity, he said, “ It’s my first time in Ireland and I’m here as part of the Erasmus Exchange programme. It’s very important to be part of this parade because being in Ireland and not participating in this parade, would be a huge loss. That’s why I wanted to experience Irish culture and be part of this parade.”

Speaking about the success of the UL parade, Andrea La Touche, Community Liaison Officer said now with the project in its third year, “it just seems to be gathering momentum year-in year-out”, as they welcomed their largest group of students, staff and Alumni yet.

“This is the largest group that we’ve had to date. We put the call out to the students and the response was absolutely incredible. UL is about the student experience and students having the best experience. We mainly get international students that want this experience because they may not have it in their own country. It’s not just about being in the parade. It’s about experiencing the culture!”

As the group made its way up O’Connell Avenue and Henry Street echoing chants of “We Love UL” and “Happy St Patrick’s Day” while giving audience members high-fives and fist bumps, they were met with cheers and applause.

Following the parade, at the Milk Market, the volunteers were treated to local food, ice cream, and a musical performance by internationally acclaimed musician and recent University of Limerick’s President’s Medal awardee, Mickey Dunne playing the traditional uilleann pipes.

Pictures: Cian Reinhardt/ilovelimerick

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick