With over 80 clubs and societies available to the students in the University of Limerick, the space for extra curricular passion is broad.
The society that sparked huge interest for media students was ULFM, the radio station where students had the opportunity to gain experience in the recording studio.
Unfortunately, due to the old Student Life building closing, the station hasn’t been running since summer of 2024.
However, the opening of the new and improved Student Life building brings hope.
Kye Earle, a second-year Journalism student, campaigned for the revival of the society. “I went up to UL Student Life and said, ‘Look, if you guys are delaying bringing back your radio station, I’ll do it myself. This is something students really want.”
Kye met with the Marketing and Communications team in Student Life and completed all paperwork, getting approved in just 36 hours. At the moment, Kye is canvasing for other students to join, and promoting the revamped society on Instagram. ULFM was officially brought back in October 2025, with broadcasting to recommence in the upcoming spring semester.
She wants the social media to be a place for students to promote their creativity, “We want to also give it to you. If you want to make a post, send it to us, we’ll post it.
“If you are a journalism student or not, there is a space for you.
“It’s just a good way to try out radio, risk free. If you’ve had that mad idea for a podcast but you’ve never had the opportunity to try it out, it’s a really quick and easy way to actually just do it.”
If you are intimidated by using the equipment, or think you won’t be able to speak into a microphone, Kye reassures; “No one can see you, there are no cameras.
“If we’re going to work with people and show them how to do it, we’ll be there every step of the way.”
The legacy of ULFM
Kye is hopeful that the committee will stay on, and she will find students on the team this year that will continue the work; “I want those people who are passionate to just come in and keep it running. If you have to have the same people on the committee over and over again, it says something about the society. Whereas if you have people who are fighting for positions, and want to improve it, that’s the sign of good society.”
Also, Kye has established a media society, which she is currently president of, “The Media Society is what’s going to be running the radio station.”
Her long-time plan for the society is to have a space for regular meetings where people can chat and plan project work together.
There is excitement from current students, “It’s great to see the return of ULFM, I think it is great to listen to young voices about current issues and for UL students to have the opportunity to get their opinions out there and give students the opportunity to work together on a real student run radio station” said member Sarah Long
You can sign up for the ULFM society here