(Photo caption: Shane Kilcommins, formerly of Creagh, on the morning of his announcement as the 6th President of University of Limerick.)
Shane Kilcommins, a native of Creagh, was formally appointed to be the sixth President of the University of Limerick in April.
Professor Kilcommins has previously held the role of provost and deputy president at UL and has served as acting president at the university since 2024, following the fallout of a controversial property deal.
The university said that, as acting president, he provided leadership during a “period of institutional challenge, representing the university in national fora and working to restore effective relationships with key stakeholders, while maintaining a clear focus on the University’s academic mission”.
The appointment was warmly welcomed by UL Chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan, who said that “the Governing Authority has great confidence in Professor Kilcommins’ judgment, integrity and understanding of the responsibilities of leading a public university at a time of significant change in higher education nationally and internationally”.
The route of a football mad Creagh pupil- to becoming a President of one of Ireland’s newest Universities needs a bit of explaining –
“I just hoped to get to go to third level education. This was breaking new ground in my house as neither of my parents had that privilege. I finished my degree in Law and European Studies in 1994 at a time when there was not a lot of opportunity – I would have liked to practice as a solicitor, but it was at that time very difficult to break in to such a career. A PHD scholarship was offered in the UK, and I took it. It led me on a journey towards lecturing” Shane explains.
“I had great teachers in Creagh NS. and received a fantastic foundational education that really stood to me. Teachers like Mr Broderick, Ms Hynes, Ms Power, Ms Broderick and Mr Johnston were really committed. Mr Broderick and Mr Johnson also put a huge amount of time in to coaching football teams. They were good coaches (I only appreciated that when I stopped playing!), and we were always competitive. Creagh school was a country school when I went there in the 1970s and early 1980s – but the standard of teaching I received was first rate, and I have wonderful memories of my time there. Like with many other schools, the teachers in Creagh School performed a huge service – they kept a candle of education and hope alight at a time of economic underdevelopment, high unemployment and high emigration. I also remember that my class was a mix of my year and the year above me. The students in those classes were naturally very, very talented with great abilities That talent pipeline – which was always there – has continued right up to the present. “states Shane.
There is rarely a day that passes that he does not hear a foreign direct investment company speaking about the talent of graduates at UL. “This is as it should be, but it is not surprising. I was conscious of this rich seam of talent from my days in Creagh school. It was a great school, and I was very grateful for the education that I received there. Though opportunities were not as they are today, having such an excellent education at national school ensured that we all had the best chance of reaching our potential. That was such a gift, and we owe those great teachers a debt of gratitude.” He asserts.
Growing up in Creagh was also very special. It was smaller than the town, “you could learn and play in a very innocent and safe environment (before transitioning to the brighter lights of the town). Though I probably look back on that time with nostalgia and rose-tinted glasses, it did feel like a really strong community”, he recalls.
He lectured in the UK after completing his Ph.D. , then came home and started lecturing in WIT (now SETU) for three years, before moving to UCC (14 years), moving to U.L. Uni in 2014, lecturing in Evidence Law, Criminal Law and Jurisprudence. “I have taught thousands of students at this stage – I have always loved the lecture hall: the energy and talent of young people is infectious, and it is such a buzz as a teacher to see them going on to develop their careers and fulfill their abilities. I fell into leadership when I came to U.L. – but there is also a buzz in developing the potential of staff and creating an environment in which they can excel”, he notes.
Shane went on to explain -“U.L. is my alma mater, and I also met my wife here. So it has a special affinity for me, and I was delighted to come back here to work. U.L is an essential public good – it has created life enhancing opportunities for 140,000 or so graduates and it is an economic engine in the mid-West of Ireland. We are tasked with ensuring that this public good is fostered and maintained into the future”.
He does still come home to catch up with his mum and family – “Ballinasloe is a noble, old town – it has a great history and a rich tradition. When my father was in hospital, I would walk around the town every night – I forgot how old it is. It was lovely to have had this time, and to appreciate its oldness. I have spent most of my adult life in Cork, but I am very proud that I come from Ballinasloe. It has been very good to my parents and permitted them to make a life for their children”, he states.
“The last year has been hard for my mother, after my father became ill and passed away. My sister’s (Emma) illness has also been difficult for her. Her great joy was her shop, Jorena’s. She was passionate about this and really enjoyed the staff and the excitement of running a business. The people of the town and the broader hinterland have always been really good to her, permitting her to have that joy for over 30 years” explains Shane.
