This year’s team showcased their work, highlighting the stories, investigations and community voices that define Limerick today
The Limerick Voice officially launched its 19th printed edition this week, marking another milestone for the award-winning student newspaper produced by final-year journalism students at the University of Limerick.
The 2026 edition features 56 stories across news, sport and features, alongside hundreds of reports published online throughout the academic year.
This year’s newspaper includes a number of exclusive investigations, with a front-page report revealing that Limerick city centre has lost nearly one in five shoppers over the past four years. The investigation, led by reporters Marina Sánchez Díaz and Olivia O’Dwyer, analysed footfall data and included interviews with local businesses to examine examine what the decline means for the future of the city centre.
Another major exclusive focused on youth drug use, with reporters Shauna O’Mahony, Jennifer Keating and Siobhan Rogan speaking to the Community Substance Misuse Team (CSMT). The service revealed that children as young as 13 are accessing and sourcing cocaine through social media platforms, highlighting the scale of Ireland’s escalating drug crisis.
The Limerick Voice team took centre stage at the launch event, promoting their work and showcasing reporting produced across print, digital and social platforms as part of the multimedia project.
Beyond the headlines, the features section spotlights women across a range of industries, including entrepreneur Nell Stritch of Pressed Flowers by Nell and UL graduate Leah Shanahan, creator of the world’s first fully accessible pregnancy test. The edition also includes the powerful stories of two Gaza survivors who have rebuilt their lives in Limerick.
Sport also featured prominently, with coverage of University of Limerick’s Sigerson Cup success, the retirement of Limerick hurling star Declan Hannon, and preparations at Ballyneety Golf Club ahead of the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup.
The launch was attended by students, staff and guests, including Dr Sandra Joyce, Dean of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, and Limerick Leader Editor Aine Fitzgerald.
The 19th edition of Limerick Voice is available free with this weekend’s Limerick Leader.
The event was live-streamed on the Limerick Voice Instagram account, and is now available to watch on YouTube.
