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Cohousing Cafe Limerick takes place at Fab Lab Limerick in association with Collaborative Housing Limerick

Cohousing Cafe Limerick is set to take place on Saturday, May 11, at Fab Lab Limerick, on Rutland Street, in association with Collaborative Housing Limerick.

Cohousing Cafe Limerick takes place at Fab Lab Limerick in association with Collaborative Housing Limerick

Cohousing Cafe Limerick will take place from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, May 11, at Fab Lab Limerick, based on Rutland Street. It is in collaboration with Collaborative Housing Limerick, a self-organised group which was set up only last year, in 2018, in response to the national housing crisis. The aim of the group is to develop new ideas of alternative housing to create sustainable living in Limerick.

This follows a very successful event held in Dublin in February, which motivated the SOA (Self-Organised Architecture Research) to organise a similar event in Limerick, in collaboration with the local group, Collaborative Housing Limerick.


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The “Cohousing Café” is an event title borrowed from other European cities that hold regular events for citizens to help the development of self-organised housing projects.  This is an open networking and information event where participants can learn and share information about cohousing, hear from experts and existing groups, and get involved in specific projects. 

cohousing cafe limerick

The schedule for the Cohousing Cafe Limerick.

Tom O’Donnell, from SOA Research, said: “There will be talks from pioneering Irish cohousing groups, an exhibition of selected cohousing projects abroad, and representations from relevant organisations.”

Due to the current housing crisis in Ireland that has led to homelessness figures, the number of people awaiting allocation of social housing, and the average national rent price all peaking, the group called Collaborative Housing Limerick has begun actively exploring the possibilities for a collaborative/co-housing project in Limerick city.  

Gabriela Avram, representing the Collaborative Housing Limerick group, said, “Besides those with a personal interest in cohousing, we would like to encourage professionals with a background in finance, construction, architecture or law to attend and find out more about cohousing.”

The term Collaborative Housing refers to a wide variety of self-organised and collectively managed housing models that have become increasingly popular in Europe since the 1970s. Characteristically, collaborative housing models generally, feature a strong social dimension and intentionality.

These collaborative housing models are community initiatives in which a community intentionally comes together to create their own housing solutions. Across Europe, the US, and farther afield, collaborative housing models are known and accepted as an alternative model of housing provision to the private sector.

The issue of housing has been problematic in Ireland for years now. The lack of affordable housing available to rent, insecure tenure, and difficulties with getting mortgage approval make it difficult for individuals and families to find secure long-term homes. 

Collaborative Housing Limerick is a community group, passionate about building community and encouraging the creation of sustainable housing solutions. The group meets monthly to discuss a variety of housing issues and solutions, in Limerick City and county. New members are always welcome.

Registration for the event is free and all are welcome. To register, go here.

For more information on Collaborative Housing Limerick, go here.

For more stories on Collaborative Housing Limerick, go here. 

For more information on SOA Research, go here.

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.