About

Making its debut in January 2012, An Focal Online is the first interactive news site of the Students’ Union. Brainchild of current Communications Officer Kelly O’Brien, this website was designed by UL Student Kieran Caplice and is updated by sectional editors. The aim of the site is to provide a new and completely innovative service to the students of UL. With the addition of the online site, An Focal can now update its readers on a constant basis without having to go through the lengthy process of print and design. For the first time, readers can be assured of relevant, up-to-date articles that will ensure they are kept informed of the news in and around their campus community.

what-do-you-seeYou will still be able to pick up your copy of An Focal, however, as it will include exclusive, print only articles. The print version of An Focal, UL’s fortnightly newspaper, has also been upgraded. The new masthead and layout debuted in AY 2010 – 2011 under Communications Officer Finn McDuffie. Formerly published in Tabloid format, An Focal now publishes in Berliner format for the first time since 2003 – 2004. The redesign brought a classic, enduring simplicity to An Focal, elevating it to the visual quality of a national newspaper.

This paper is written and edited entirely by students of the University of Limerick and published by the Students’ Union. It is run on a non-profit basis, funded by advertising revenue and distributed free of charge around the University campus.

An Focal is by far the most successful student paper in the Munster area and winner not only of The People’s Choice Award in 2010 and 2011 but also the Vincent Browne Student Newspaper of the Year Award in 2011. Its readership includes the vast majority of UL’s 13,000 students, as well as staff and many other individuals outside the university. The paper ranges from 32-36 pages. Hard bound copies of An Focal, dating from 1992 to the present, are available for viewing and photocopying in the Communications Office in the SU.

Previous to An Focal, the ULSU newspaper was named “Mercury” and “The Link”. Unfortunately, we have only a few, irregular copies of these.

Contact sucommunications@ul.ie with any queries relating to writing for or advertising in the paper or to write articles for inclusion on this website.