What a year! As a very busy 2019 draws to a close, it is worth taking one last look at what was achieved. Limerick Civic Trust opened The People’s Museum of Limerick at No. 2 Pery Square in May, and we are still fundraising for this project. More details on how you can support this below. We also launched the Renaissance Fund – a new idea that would accommodate the repurposing of historic buildings before they become dilapidated. It is hoped that 2020 will see strong fundraising on this project, as it is needed more than ever before in the current climate.
In regards to the Community Employment Scheme that the Limerick Civic Trust sponsors, we renewed our contract with the Department of Employment and Social Protection for the year, and increased the number of participants from 68 to 74. In 2019, they completed over 65,000 hours of labour to the maintenance and restoration of the historic environment of Limerick City and County, with the support of the department, the supervisors, and the board of the Trust.
Other key events which happened during the year were the Halloween Tours from the Bishop’s Palace in October, for which we thank Fiona Kiely, the launch of the People’s Museum also in October, the beginning of the Leonard Lectures series in November, the opening of two important art exhibitions by artists Thomas Ryan and Tom Greaney (the former of which garnering national press attention with the Trust appearing on the RTE News twice), and the close of the year with the Annual Christmas Business Lunch which this year featured speaker Paddy Cosgrave of Web Summit fame.
There is a such a huge number of people to thank for all their contributions but I would like to highlight the generosity of Mark Carey of Careline, Frank Keohane of Litho-Circuits, the Countess of Dunraven, the Earl of Limerick, Ellen McCourt, and very importantly our Chairman, Thomas Wallace-O’Donnell, who has ably steered us through a very difficult period.
Finally, thank you to Dr Rose Anne White who came on board halfway through 2019, and has had an enormous positive impact on Limerick Civic Trust and its future growth.
Thank you so much for all of your support in 2019, and we look forward to continuing our work in 2020. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at the Trust.
David O’Brien, CEO.
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- Launch of Tom Greaney exhibition in November.
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- Launch of Thomas Ryan exhibition in November.
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- Launch of Renaissance Funds project in June.
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- Launch of the People’s Museum in October.
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- Halloween Tours at the Bishops Palace.
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- Annual Business Christmas Lunch with Paddy Cosgrave as speaker in December.
