2025 UL Alumni Awards

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The 18th annual UL Alumni Awards Gala Dinner took place on 26 September at Limerick’s Castletroy Park Hotel, celebrating the achievements of the 2025 Award Recipients: trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore, three-time Olympian Thomas Barr, humanitarian Joseph Kinahan and activist Tomás Heneghan.

This year’s awardees join a distinguished group of just 56 alumni who have been honoured since the awards were established in 2006 to recognise graduates who have made outstanding contributions in their fields.

Speaking at the event, Acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins hailed the “extraordinary achievements” of each recipient, noting that they had “each made a profound contribution to society”. He told the audience that the awardees remind the University “of what is possible when talent, purpose and perseverance come together”, describing them as “the embodiment of the values we hold dear ��ɫ��Ƶ: leadership, dedication, compassion and service”.

He added that their achievements highlighted “the transformative power of staying the course, the value of your engagements with education and the extraordinary potential of our alumni to shape a better world”. Addressing the recipients directly, he concluded: “You are the bridge between past and future. You are the living legacy of this university. And you are the architects of its next chapter.”

Over 200 guests attended the event, which was supported by event partners Analog Devices, Stryker, Unijobs and the UL Foundation. The evening was hosted by UL alumna and broadcaster Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh.

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