Limerick to host Festival of Kindness

Limerick will host a fun and free Festival of Kindness later this month in a unique initiative which is expected to create a ripple effect throughout the city and county, it was announced Tuesday 3 March.

The Festival of Kindness, from 13th-17th March is an initiative from Pay it Forward Limerick (PIF Limerick) – a team of local volunteers and businesses who are embracing the concept to carry out intentional acts of kindness. The goal is to spread positivity throughout Limerick’s community by hosting various events that are energised by the power of kindness so that Paying it Forward becomes a way of life and something everyone does on a daily basis.

Festival Highlights include:

Saturday, 14th March – a free family fun day will take place on Bedford Row, Limerick from 11-3pm when parents are encouraged to bring their children into Limerick city centre. Children can get their faces painted, enjoy free arts and crafts, pet new lambs and puppies in the baby animal’s corner and get their picture taken with local well known faces in the celebrity selfie booth. There will also be time to relax with a chill out zone featuring free massages and relaxation techniques from qualified physical therapists.

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Sunday March 15th – a Walking on Water Day will take place in the University of Limerick with free kayaking and a universal access excursion for wheelchair users and the visually impaired.

Monday, 16th March – over 400 local scouts will carry out acts of kindness throughout Limerick including special deliveries to the city’s unsung heroes like members of the emergency services. There will also be a ‘Get to know your Neighbour Day’ and free stress management workshops for local businesses.

Theresa Kiely, Russell Court, Dooradoyle gets a helping hand from Michael O’Mahony, from the Limerick Festival of Kindness which takes place in the city from 13th-17th March 2015

Throughout the festival weekend there will be free live music and kindness zones throughout Limerick city centre, surprise flash mobs from Limerick’s third level students and acts of kindness throughout local schools before the festival finishes on St Patrick’s Day when volunteers join in the celebrations for the Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade!

Limerick Kindness Festival spokesman, Michael O’Mahony, said the festival is being organised by local people who want to spread kindness throughout Limerick and promote its communities and its people in a positive light, by paying it forward. “We believe there is an inbuilt goodness in everyone; people carry out acts of kindness, compassion and support for friends, family and even complete strangers every day throughout Limerick and beyond and we want to build on this,” Michael explained.

“With Pay it Forward you don’t expect anything in return for your effort but hope that the person you have helped and been kind to will pass on the good deed and spread the kindness. A huge amount of effort has been put in by many volunteers to this month’s festival and we’re hoping that as many Limerick people as possible get behind it to make the inaugural event a success.”

Individuals, groups or organisation who wish to get involved in the festival should visit the Pay it Forward website here or just simply sharing the Pay It Forward concept. This can be done by telling friends or family about the idea and by liking and sharing their page on Facebook here.
For more information, contact Pay if Forward by ringing: 0851931929 or 0851931929
Email at [email protected]
Check out their Twitter here.
Read more stories about Festivals in Limerick here.