Heritage Week 2020 runs from August 15 to 23, with heritage-focused organisations coming up with creative ways every year to run events related to that year’s theme, and making them free for the public. This year’s national theme is ‘education’, and The People’s Museum of Limerick have come up with a novel way to commemorate our local educational heritage. 

“We thought hard about how we could talk about Limerick’s educational heritage in a way that was safe for the times we live in today,” said museum curator and manager, Dr Rose Anne White. “The museum sits in the centre of one of the most important Georgian and Victorian centres of Limerick, and we are surrounded by historic schools. The stories associated with these buildings are absolutely fascinating, and the fact that this type of event is perfect for safe social distancing outdoors means that we are really excited about this year’s Heritage Week.” 

 

“Schools of Yore” walking tours run all week, and are completely free to take part in. Contact peoplesmuseum@limerickcivictrust.ie to book, or see peoplesmuseum.ie for more details. 

 

 

The museum, run by Limerick Civic Trust, has become a cornerstone of the city’s heritage and tourism offering since its establishment. Filled with items donated by the people of Limerick, with a regularly-changing schedule of visiting exhibitions.

 

The enormous size of the building, which is spread over seven floors and includes a large garden, means that physical distancing will not be a problem, added Dr Rose Anne White, curator at the museum. “We are focused on the safety of everyone who visits or works in the building, and to that end, we are implementing a one-way system, online booking to control numbers and avoid the use of cash, and lots of space around our latest exhibits so that they can be enjoyed by the people of Limerick. Serendipitously, we also happen to house the biggest table in Limerick, should anyone require a venue for a physically-distanced business meeting!”

 

Speaking on the decision to entitle the museum ‘The People’s Museum of Limerick’, manager and curator of the museum, Dr. Rose Anne White said, “It showcases items that have been donated by the people of Limerick that are about the history of Limerick. The tour guides, carpenters, curators are all from Limerick themselves so you will be shown around by someone who lives right across the road in most cases”.

 

For more stories on Peoples Museum of Limerick, click HERE