According to founding president Edward M. Walsh,[10] the mayor of Limerick applied for a college of the planned Queen's University of Ireland to be established in the city.

Mungret offered bachelor's- and master's-level courses in the faculty of arts, with degrees conferred by the Royal University of Ireland, from 1888 to 1908.

Another supporter, Dermot Kinlen, was a High Court judge and the first state inspector general of prisons and places of detention.

Ireland established the National Institute for Higher Education (NIHE) at Limerick, modelled on the technological universities of continental Europe, and perhaps the polytechnic approach being developed in the UK.

[citation needed] Edward Walsh took office as chairman of the planning board and director of the institute on 1 January 1970.

Faculty and staff were recruited internationally, and they — in addition to extensive teaching and research facilities — attracted foreign investment led by Analog Devices (which manufactured Ireland's first silicon chips).

A change of government resulted in NIHE Limerick applying for recognition as a recognised college of the National University of Ireland, which awarded degrees to its graduates in 1977.

After strong opposition by students and others, NIHE Limerick withdrew from the NUI and was established as an independent institution.

Sophisticated private-sector fundraising programmes were later developed, based on US university models and guided by an international leadership board under founding chair Chuck Feeney and Lewis Glucksman.

In addition, UL students may study at partner universities in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, China and Singapore.

Previous chancellors included Miriam Hederman O'Brien, Seán Donlon and Mary Harney.

It has four academic departments, which are Accounting & Finance, Economics, Management & Marketing, and Personnel & Employment Relations.

Named after the former mayor of Limerick, Jim Kemmy, the business school has both undergraduate and postgraduate courses on offer.

The PVA's primary goals are: The university is ranked fourth in attracting students who attain over 500 points on the Leaving Certificate.

[37] UL is Ireland's only university to receive five stars for graduate employability and teaching in the 2011–12 QS reports.

The Bourn Vincent Gallery is UL's principal venue for temporary exhibitions, with an ancillary programme of seminars, lectures and performances.

UL's art collection includes outdoor sculpture by international artists, including Michael Warren, Peter Logan, Alexandra Wejchert, James McKenna, Tom Fitzgerald, Antony Gormley and (most recently) Sean Scully.

In recent years, several large student apartment complexes have been built a 15-20-minute walk from UL with Section 50 tax incentives.

Thomond Village, which opened for the autumn 2004 semester, were the first university buildings on the north bank of the Shannon in County Clare.

Elm Park, College Court, Briarfield and Oaklawns are popular estates with many student residences.

In one of the year's largest Irish sporting events, 1,900 Special Olympians from throughout Ireland participated in the games.

[citation needed] The multi-purpose, floodlit, artificial turf park has two soccer, one rugby and one GAA pitch.

The largest artificial-grass development in Ireland to date, it is designed to World Rugby, GAA and FIFA specifications.

The complex is funded from a number of sources, including operating income and campus-based commercial activities.

In addition to these facilities, conventional playing fields, tennis courts, an artificial-turf pitch, an outdoor athletics track and the University Boathouse are on the Limerick side of the river.

The tank can simulate a variety of water conditions, providing training opportunities for rowers to reach international standards.

The Materials & Surface Science Institute (MSSI) building, Dromroe Student Village, a sports arena and swimming pool were built between 2000 and 2004.

The University Bridge, opened in late 2004, provides road and pedestrian access to the planned North Bank campus.