Building work commences on a new home for The GAFF

Building work commences on a new home for The GAFF. Pictured above is the new space for the theatre resource centre, and recent projects ‘It’ll be alright on the night’, TravFest, and Tiny Little Histories

The GAFF takes the steps on a new journey this week as building work begins on a new home for the theatre resource centre

This week, building work begins on a new home for The GAFF having signed a 35-year lease with Limerick City and County Council for the former Tait Clothing Factory on Edward St.

The board of directors of The GAFF has announced the beginning of a new phase in its operation as it expands its capacity to engage Limerick communities through programmes in theatre, film, visual art, audio and multi-disciplinary festival work. 

The historic building on Edward St. was used in recent decades for cultural and recreational purposes but is in need of significant upgrade and the Board of Directors of The GAFF have announced that the first phase of the new build is scheduled for completion later this year.

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Holmes Architecture is leading a design team and Martins Construction is contracted to convert the former factory space into a multi-purpose facility for community, amateur, and emerging artists in Limerick.

Since 2014, The GAFF has facilitated programmes between artists, community and the wider public, connecting communities from St. Mary’s, Moyross, Southill, Weston, Garryowen as well as from Traveller and migrant settings with some of the best artists in the Midwest. 

In 2022 and 2023, it has reached into County Limerick and Clare through its Tiny Little Histories programme. The company recently received Charitable Status having operated for over ten years as a resource for community and voluntary arts. 

Since inception, the board of directors has worked closely with Limerick City Council and County Council  to find a permanent home. Vital supports from the Council’s Social Intervention Fund alongside a significant pledge from College Players, Limerick’s oldest theatre company, allowed initial design and feasibility to take place on the Edward St. property . 

An award from the JP Mc Manus Benevolent Fund copper-fastened plans to move from design to building stage with physical work now about to begin.

The new capital development and funding augments The GAFF’s growing support from The Arts Council, Creative Ireland and Limerick Arts Office all of whom have, collectively, supported the growth of the company’s community based arts programmes.  Festival events such as TravFest, in Belltable (2022), South & Proud in Southill (2021), and its ongoing Tiny Little Histories project continue to engage artists and communities. 

In 2024, the company will stage a reading of a new play by Mike Finn, expand its Paint Punch Project to include young people from County Limerick and Clare  and create a film, Children of the Castle based on stories from residents who grew up in Castle Barracks, inside the walls of King John’s Castle.  

The GAFF gratefully acknowledges its funding partners alongside administrative support from The Umbrella Project and looks forward to expanding its community programmes and artists’ supports from its new base on Edward Street over the coming years.

Seeking a permanent home for almost a decade The GAFF’s new company base on  augment capacity for creative, community activity in the Limerick region while dedicated workspaces will provide  much-needed resources for theatre makers to rehearse, build sets, workshop, read and develop their work.

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