LIMERICK Spring, a political festival which is the first of its kind in this region, is underway and the six-day event has drawn some of the country’s best-known political commentators to Limerick for debate and creative discussion.
Confirmed speakers include broadcaster Vincent Browne, economist David McWilliams, ‘Ear to the Ground’ Presenter Ella McSweeney and comedians Eleanor Tiernan and Paddy Cullivan. Limerick Spring also welcomes filmmakers Lelia Doolan and Donnacha O Briain to present their work this week at two film screenings.
Festival coordinator Jennifer Moroney-Ward said: “Limerick has a long tradition of political activism and has played a leading role in the development of the Irish state. However, many citizens feel disconnected from politics. This five day festival will invite citizens and guest speakers to delve deeper into the political structures and systems that influence our lives in 2014.”
The festival kicked off on Tuesday April 8 with a film screening of ‘Bernadette – Notes on a Political Journey’ that also featured a Q&A with director Lelia Doolan. Tonight (Wednesday 9) there will be a night of music that inspired political change around the world with The Revolution Will Not Be Spotified upstairs in Dolans. This will feature a number of local musicians performing their own original protest songs, alongside renditions of some classics too.
On Thursday 10 there are two events, the first of which begins at 2:30pm in the Exhibition Hall of City Hall and will engage a group of citizens of all ages and backgrounds in a workshop on representation and democracy.
Later that night, the public is invited to Salon Du Chat, hosted by Roisin Buckley in Fitto Cafe, a conversational cafe where the menu is filled with sumptuous morsels of conversation.
Friday 11 sees the return of David McWilliams and Leviathan Political Cabaret back to Limerick for what will be a lively debate entitled ‘Constitution or Revolution: Towards 2016’. Mr McWilliams will host a panel including Dr Peadar Kirby, Marie Louise O’Donnell, Liadh Ni Riada, Deirdre O’Shaughnessy of the Cork Independent and Diarmuid O’Flynn of Ballyhea Says No. There will also be some comedy from Abie Philbin Bowman and satirical music from White Cholera.
Saturday 12 promises to be an eventful day with an early start at the Limerick Milk Market where Ella McSweeney will lead an expert panel to look at the Politics of Food. This event is organised in collaboration with the Limerick Community Grocery.
That afternoon sees the premiere of Donncha O’Briain’s new film ‘Peripheral Vision’ with a Q&A with the director and panel of experts following the screening. This film follows a number of protest movements in Ireland over the last two years including Ballyhea Says No, Anglo Not Our Debt Campaign and the Occupy movement.
On Saturday evening from 6pm to 8:30pm, Limerick’s own Vincent Browne will act as Speaker of the House at the first ever Limerick Spring Assembly at the Crescent Hall, situated beside the statue of Daniel O’Connell. This event invites 11 citizens of Limerick to put a motion to the House and the audience will decide whether it gets passed and therefore included in the Limerick Spring Assembly manifesto.
All events encourage very lively audience participation, in particular the final event on Sunday April 13 where comedians Eleanor Tiernan and Paddy Cullivan launch the first ever Speakers’ Corner in Limerick. This gives all members of the public the opportunity to stand up and tell the world what’s on their mind. It will take place on the corner of Thomas Street and Anne Street in Limerick city centre and will be followed by a comedy gig at 8pm in The Blind Pig on Thomas Street.
The Limerick Spring festival is the culmination of the efforts of more than 15 volunteers who have dedicated in excess of 1,000 hours across four months.
