TCD Trinity College Dublin preview from SU president David Quinn: Some 3,500 freshers are expected for the week starting Monday, October 2nd.
Trinity College's freshers' week is the largest of all the universities, according Quinn. Over the course of the week, the Front Square is converted into a medieval market town lined with clubs and society stands. The Guns'n'Roses tribute band, the Blizzards and the Presets, comedians and hypnotist Adrian Knight will provide entertainment.
The Philosophical Society has the illustrious title of the oldest society in the world. Comedian Tommy Tiernan is one of their high-profile guests in attendance during freshers' week. It will be some debate.
The freshers' packs contain various essentials, as well as free lunch vouchers for the SU cafe and the chaplaincy.
The Students' Union will be promoting safe-sex practices, distributing about 4,000 condoms across campus in conjunction with its widespread poster campaign. The union will also be promoting "sensible" drinking habits.
WIT
Waterford Institute of Technology preview from SU president Shane Kelly
Some 2,300 freshers were "indoctrinated" during the institute's freshers' week.
The college bar is the primary location for all things "weird" and "crazy", according to Kelly. The freshers' ball, which has a Hawaiian theme this year, is one of the biggest nights on the social calendar. Grass skirts and coconut bras are being provided for free.
With students enrolling from counties Cork, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford, GAA _ and in particular hurling - gains significant profile, funding and interest. Other innovative societies such as the Soft Grass Jumping Society (which involves climbing the sand dunes on Tramore beach and jumping back down when you reach the soft grass, before returning to the pub) are competing for a share of the attention.
Freshers' week adapts a "small town mentality", according to Kelly, who contends that integration across the courses and year levels is achievable in the communal surroundings of the institute.
GMIT
Galway Mayo Institute of Technology preview from SU president Debbie Molloy
The institute plays host to more than 800 new recruits during freshers' week, which comprises five days of entertainment and activity include a pizza-eating competition, a Meet Your Match night out, the Grab a Grande competition and a football blitz.
The GAA clubs are most popular, closely followed by the rugby team, described by the institute's president as the "diehards". Students from Pakistan have boosted the membership and success rate of the cricket team.
Innovative societies include the DJ society, the poker society, the comedy club and the newly established traditional Irish music society.
The students' union provides all freshers with a welfare bag, which contains personal alarms, a neon-armband for walking home at night, condoms and information on sexual health. Following freshers' week, the union commences its "Don't walk home alone" campaign.
MARY IMMACULATE
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick preview from SU president Dave Cuddihy
In the college where a ratio of six females to every one male operates, some 761 new teacher trainees will descend on the Limerick city campus for freshers' week.
Last night, the start of freshers' week was marked with the staging of Oxegen Revisited. Following free barbeques and beach-themed parties, tomorrow is "chill out day", allowing students who "maybe can't take the pressure a chance to find their second wind by relaxing with some free beer and games," according to Cuddihy. Appropriate to a teacher-training college, Thursday's offering is a Back to School night out, where uniforms are the dress code and there are cocktails named after school subjects.
On the clubs and societies enrolment day, students will be ushered into a marquee which contains live bands and varying activities in an effort to revive clubs and societies in the college. The drama society Midas is one of the biggest societies in the college and produces an annual musical attended by local schools over three days.
The Limerick Association of Students Unions, which includes the University of Limerick, the Limerick College of Art and Design, the Institute of Technology Limerick and Mary Immaculate, provides for little rivalry and competitiveness around Limerick city.
On the first week in college, freshers' safety is the priority of the students' union. "We like to bring students out and about and show them around the area - leading them by hand you could say. If there's a gig in town that we're going to, we'll all meet at 8pm on the college grounds and walk into town together. . . we also give out maps and tell students where to go and where not to go," says Cuddihy.
UCC
University College Cork preview from SU president Richie Morrisroe
Some 3,500 freshers will get together for the week of frolics and fun which commences this week.
Events include a bungee run, a pirate-themed night out, a pre-school uniform party and a "no hangover night" during which students go bowling and take in a comedy show. The week concludes with a freshers' ball at which The Marshalls, who opened the Oxygen festival, will play.
During the clubs and societies recruitment days, Morrisroe will oversee a volunteering fair in an effort to link the university with the local community.
Rivalry with IT Cork is kept to a minimum. "If we lived anywhere near UCD, however, we'd probably kill each other," jokes Morrisroe.
