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Global Limerick to reach out to diaspora communities across the world

Pat Daly , Deputy Chief Executive, Economic Development Directorate, Patrick O’Donovan, TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport and Tim O’Connor. Front from left: Clair Hayes, associate solicitor in Matheson and founder Capital Limerick and John King, Global Limerick at the launch of Global Limerick. Photo credit: Sean Curtin True Media.

A vibrant new web platform hoping to tap into the potential of Limerick’s 3.5 million strong diaspora across the world by nurturing mutually beneficial relationships and enhancing regional development has been launched by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan and Global Limerick.

The aim of the Global Limerick project and associated platform Global Limerick is to formalize the Limerick diaspora family and make it real.  

Led by Limerick City and County Council it aims to connect Limerick with its diaspora no matter where they are living around the world. This includes those who want to connect with people who were born in Limerick, descendants of previous emigrants from Limerick or anyone with an affinity to Limerick, through education, work, or other interests.


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The web platform features Limerick-related stories specifically aimed at a Limerick diaspora audience. A critical step is for story readers to engage with Global Limerick and thereby enable communication/ conversation with them and between them.

Welcoming the new digital platform, Minister O’Donovan said; “Global Limerick is a hugely important way for up to 3.5m people of Limerick descent to keep in contact with what is happening in their city and county. The diaspora have played and are playing an important role in shaping the Limerick we see today.  Their input into the economic, tourist and culture life of Limerick cannot be underestimated and I’m delighted to launch such a platform which will further connect those around the world with their homeland.”

John King of Global Limerick said the project is; “seeking to link with or establish actual diaspora groups in key locations, nationally and internationally and already strong links are being developed with Club Limerick Dublin and with the Capital Limerick initiative, also based in Dublin, to achieve these aims.

Over time the spread of connections and groups will be visible across a map of the globe indicating the locations and reach of the Limerick diaspora, with services adapting to user demand,” he said.  Of course, as more connections and information are secured with the Limerick diaspora the nature of the services on the platform will change and develop as required.”

He added: “We are indebted to Limerick City and County Council, the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs for their support in getting Global Limerick set up. We are connecting with Limerick groups across the country and globally to spread the message and help grow our networks. There is amazing goodwill among the Limerick diaspora for their home place and we want to tap into that for benefit of everyone.”

The project has been overseen by a steering committee chaired by Limerick City and County Council. Mary Immaculate College Limerick also part funded the Scoping Study & Survey, with key partners being the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs.

A Global Limerick Scoping Study & Survey has found that: Limerick remains a key part of the Limerick diaspora identity and that the Limerick diaspora want a closer engagement by way of communication about and from Limerick with positive and timely Limerick stories.

Also welcoming the new platform, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon said; “I particularly welcome Global Limerick’s strategy which is helping Limerick reach out to its diaspora in order to build new relationships that will be of mutual benefit.
Global Limerick’s success will in turn contribute to the social capital, economic, political and cultural development of Limerick and its hinterland and help achieve the targets in the Limerick 2030 Economic and Spatial Plan and we’re delighted to keep in touch with our diaspora across the world to keep them up to date and engaged with Limerick.”

Check out Global Limerick here.

Read more about Limerick City and County Council 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.