by Alan Jacques
THE doors of Ardnacrusha Power Station, St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick Circuit Courthouse and the recently developed Markets Field will be open to the public as part of Open House Limerick 2015.
From Friday October 9 to Sunday October 11, more than 20 of Limerick’s most intriguing and historic buildings will be free to visit during the fourth annual initiative. If you ever fancied a peep around Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick Sailor’s Home, Glin Castle or McKerns Printing Works on Glentworth Street, well, here is your chance.
Established in London in 1992, Open House celebrates the value of architecture in the hope of stirring an interest for urban built heritage. Limerick is a member organisation of the Open House Worldwide Family, which also includes London, New York, Helsinki, Melbourne and Rome, as well as the Irish cities of Belfast, Dublin and Cork.
As well as featuring tours of more than 20 buildings of all types and periods, Open House Limerick will also include a bus tour, walking tours and children’s workshops. The Value of Architecture is the theme of this year’s event.
“Through our participation in this exciting architectural festival, we are looking to give the people of Limerick the opportunity to explore and engage with the architecture of their city and county,” explained Deirdre Kelly, architect and chairperson of the Limerick Open House Committee.
“Many of the buildings are not normally open to the public, such as private residences and workplaces, and this is a rare opportunity for wider access. All buildings will be staffed by volunteers and tours will be guided by professional architects and historians,” she added.
All OpenHouseLimerick 2015 tours are free of charge and operate on a first come basis. Times may be subject to change and members of the public are advised to check www.OpenHouseLimerick.ie.
