Limerick 2020 bid gains momentum.

Calling on the people of Limerick to get behind Limerick 2020, BlindBoy BoatClub of the Rubberbandits. Picture by: Alan Place/FusionShooters.

Limerick’s efforts to gain the prestigious designation of European Capital of Culture are gaining momentum with a series of events, conversations and activities taking place across the city and county over the coming weeks.

Hosted in partnership with community groups and cultural practitioners, the Limerick 2020 team has developed the free, public events, which range from Kitchen Table Conversations to community festivals and from workshops to Citizen Brainstorming Sessions.

The Limerick 2020 team says the aim of the European Capital of Culture participation programme is to inform the set of values and priorities that will underpin Limerick’s bid.

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The first in a series of events took place in Hospital recently where local residents came together to share their memories of their area and think about what the future might hold for Limerick in 2020. Facilitated by local artist Jacki Hehir, the group highlighted the importance of local stories and oral history for rural communities.

Elsewhere, a group of children and their families gathered in Culture House, Pery Square, to celebrate their achievement in the Limerick 2020 ‘What the Future Holds for Me’ writing and colouring competition held in partnership with the Limerick Library Service and the Limerick 2020 Bid project. The stories and re-imagined Limerick 2020 logo communicated a variety of themes important to the children, from disability access to Irish language and sport.

At the weekend, a series of Pop-Up Culture Shops were hosted at Limerick’s iconic Milk Market to help spread the word about Limerick’s European Capital of Culture Bid.

Some highlights over the next several weeks include Kitchen Table Conversations featuring informal discussions to help feed into Limerick’s bid across the region. Upcoming Kitchen Table Conversations will take place in Askeaton (11am, 7 July), Rathkeale Arts Centre (8pm, 7 July), Adare Library (11am, 14 July), Millstream Common Room, University of Limerick (3pm, 14 July), Our Lady of Lourdes Community Cafe, Limerick (11am, 15 July) and Glór Theatre and Arts Centre, Ennis (2.30pm, 15 July).

Other scheduled events include the St Mary’s Community Festival and Regatta on Sunday 12 July from 1-6pm. The festival takes place in one of Limerick’s oldest parishes and brings together people of all ages for a great day’s entertainment.

Elsewhere, the next Citizen Brainstorming Session will take place on July 21^st from 5-7pm at a venue yet to be confirmed.

Anyone wishing to host a Kitchen Table Conversation in their community should send an email to [email protected] after which they will be issued conversation tips, feedback forms for capturing the ideas, a checklist and poster template.

Visit the Limerick 2020 website here for the latest activities and events.

Read more about Limerick 2020 here. 

Have a look at their Facebook page here.