Limerick City of Culture 2014

pigtown

Some major talk of designating the city as a city of culture for 2014 in todays Leader (not online yet). I don't think it's an official EU designation like Cork in 2005, rather like Derry this year which is a UK city of culture.

Obviously no details yet but I think this could be a great thing for Limerick. We already have a large cultural infrastructure and I see a new theatre in Mary I, the Lime Tree Theatre, is opening soon. I would imagine a lot of touring National productions from Opera Ireland, the Abbey Theatre and possibly collections from the National Gallery and National Museums would be involved (well they would be if I was in charge). A largescale advertising campaign could then really change people's perception of the city.

So what do people think?

aaronjumper

Not to be a buzzkill but I think it would take more than a theatre and an ad campaign to change how people view our fine city.

Non Limerick people seem to think we are all knife wielding psychos.
If this is the start of something bigger though, then it could be looking up for us.

The Snipe

aaronjumper wrote: »

Non Limerick people seem to think we are all knife wielding psychos.

You mean we aren't anymore..? *puts knife back in drawer*

bazz26

Until the disease that is the current city centre is cured I see this as nothing more than lip service. Pointless drawing vistors to the likes of the Hunt Museum when all they have to greet them outside is vacant retail units, boarded up buildings and abandoned developments.

eclectichoney

I have to say, I don't find Limerick great for culture tbh. Sorry

I was really disappointed with how small the new gallery is - it's tiny! And there is no proper arthouse cinema like the IFI or Kino. I think there are a lot of other things that Limerick could accentuate - like the fashion and design courses seem to be getting a great rep for example.

xsiborg

drop another load of lorry containers into arthurs quay park, sure t'will be grand... :rolleyes:

pigtown

No takers for a city of culture then?

marienbad

pigtown wrote: »

No takers for a city of culture then?

We are not a city of culture and to call ourselves such is just ridiculous.

Attendance at anything even marginally off the mainstream is unbelievably low.

And the few assets we do have are either poorly maintained or poorly used .

pilate 1

i can feel the love all. "limerick is a loud proud unbowed ****er of a town" and should be celebrated as such!why not city of culture? city full of stuff going on just make an effort to look and encourage/support.(pigtown/lms/rappers/local bands etc etc etc:cool:

Taco Chips

No offense to anyone but this is not the type of event Limerick should be angling for. There is little to no proper or interesting cultural events going on in the city and the ones that are happening as has been said are practically empty for lack of interest.

The areas that Limerick does well in is sport/food. So they should be organising more promotions based on these. In fact Limerick is probably better off specialising in these areas because they do a lot to build communities.

Limerick City has no business being called a city of culture.

xsiborg

Taco Chips wrote: »

Limerick City has no business being called a city of culture.

well, we do have the, ahem, "festival" at the end of the month celebrating AMERICAN culture... :rolleyes:

though how badly organised that'll be is anyone's guess, after the farce that was the "decades" festival.

i went to an art exhibition last week in support of a charity, and aside from the organisers there, there were hardly any members of the general public that were interested, no media attention because it wasnt one of limerick's socially elite, and not even the mayor could be ársed to turn up to such a worthy cause. no, the office sent along the deputy mayor instead.

not even officially recognised as officially as a city of culture, sounds just more like an excuse of an attempt to try and say something positive about limerick again, but going about it completely árseways and ending up as usual with egg on their faces, making limerick look worse than it actually is and making us look like the country's laughing stock.

mikemac1

Sorry but this seems to be something Galway could do better

However could Limerick attract a sports tournament over? City of sport after all

Rugby 7's maybe?
This was held in Edinburgh a few years ago and lots of fans from all over travelled to it.
Could be a success for the city, lots of attention and lots of money to be spent by visitors from many different countries.

krudler

mikemac1 wrote: »

Sorry but this seems to be something Galway could do better

However could Limerick attract a sports tournament over? City of sport after all

Rugby 7's maybe?
This was held in Edinburgh a few years ago and lots of fans from all over travelled to it.
Could be a success for the city, lots of attention and lots of money to be spent by visitors from many different countries.

Thomond Park needs to be utilised more, no concerts this year so far (was there?) that usually bring a big crowd into the city, christ can they not put a proper band in there or a bunch of smaller bands?

LeViat

I see the Pig 'n' Porter Festival is over two days this year, engaging sport and food (and drink). There are teams from Australia entering this year..

http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/sport/tag-rugby-london/aussies-dominate-tag-rugby-international-cup.htm

This is great positive exposure for Limerick and seems to me to be an event worth supporting!

The Snipe

krudler wrote: »

Thomond Park needs to be utilised more, no concerts this year so far (was there?) that usually bring a big crowd into the city, christ can they not put a proper band in there or a bunch of smaller bands?

They can't host concerts. They have no contracts anymore for them.

krudler

The Snipe wrote: »

They can't host concerts. They have no contracts anymore for them.

serisously, ffs we have one great outdoor venue for big shows outside Dublin and they can't use it.

marienbad

krudler wrote: »

serisously, ffs we have one great outdoor venue for big shows outside Dublin and they can't use it.

And we have King's Johns Castle , which could be another brilliant outdoor venue/theatre , as it would be in any European or British town .

Go down there on a brilliant summers day and all you will find a couple of Polish lads and their girlfriends and the grandparents with the kids.

Sleepy is the only way to describe. Can't even have a snack there .

phog

marienbad wrote: »

And we have King's Johns Castle , which could be another brilliant outdoor venue/theatre , as it would be in any European or British town .

Go down there on a brilliant summers day and all you will find a couple of Polish lads and their girlfriends and the grandparents with the kids.
Sleepy is the only way to describe. Can't even have a snack there .

What's the issue with Polish lads and their families visiting the castle or any other amenity for that matter.?

Kess73

phog wrote: »

What's the issue with Polish lads and their families visiting the castle or any other amenity for that matter.?

I think the poster was passing comment on the lack of numbers at what is often decrcibed as one of the biggest attraction in the city rather than on the nationality of those that were seen by the poster.

If that is the point the poster was making, then it is a valid one. The so called cultural amenities/attractions in Limerick are hardly well attended by locals on a regular basis save for the odd big attraction, and the idea that being called the City of Culture for a particular year would make Limerick into a cultural hotspot rather than actual cultural attraction/amenties/traditions that get actual numbers going to them on a regular basis is somewhere between laughable and cringeworthy.

Not saying that you or anyone else on this thread made that claim for Limerick, but those that run the city have quite the track record for saying that the city is booming/full of one attraction/on the verge of being huge etc etc without ever doing anything save for the lip service that gets them inches in some paper or another.

Limerick is, for me, a city/town that really does not embrace or celebrate in any big way it's many cultural amenties/locations both past and present.

I am curious as to how Limerick would be in the running for the title in the year(s) mentioned in this thread though. I thought the various countries whose cities that will hold the title duringr the next 7 years have already been chosen and listed? If it is only a self given title, then it is pretty worthless to start with.

pigtown

Wow it's no wonder Limerick has problems when even the suggestion of a new initiative is shot down.

aaronjumper wrote: »

Not to be a buzzkill but I think it would take more than a theatre and an ad campaign to change how people view our fine city.

Obviously one initiative isn't going to fix the problem but it could be a very worthy start.

bazz26 wrote: »

Until the disease that is the current city centre is cured I see this as nothing more than lip service. Pointless drawing vistors to the likes of the Hunt Museum when all they have to greet them outside is vacant retail units, boarded up buildings and abandoned developments.

Going by this logic there is no point organising anything in the city until the recession is over and we have money to fix buildings. It doesn't seem to be a problem for rugby supporters so why would it be different for anyone else?

eclectichoney wrote: »

I have to say, I don't find Limerick great for culture tbh. Sorry

I was really disappointed with how small the new gallery is - it's tiny! And there is no proper arthouse cinema like the IFI or Kino. I think there are a lot of other things that Limerick could accentuate - like the fashion and design courses seem to be getting a great rep for example.

Kino has been closed since 2009 I think. The Belltable have screenings every week and there are plans to develop the old cinema on Cecil Street into something similar.
http://www.limerickleader.ie/lifestyle/entertainment/limerick-vec-in-plan-to-develop-cultural-centre-and-cinema-at-theatre-royal-site-1-2549076
There's no reason why the fashion and design courses couldn't be celebrated in a city of culture. I'd imagine LSAD would have a very promanent role in such a scenario.

Taco Chips wrote: »

Limerick City has no business being called a city of culture.

Limerick has plenty of cultural infrastructure.
It's got the first purpose built concert hall in Ireland (UCH, 1000 capacity), the redeveloped Belltable arts centre which includes an art gallery, the same digital cinema equipment used in IFI in Dublin, and a capacity of 220. There's also the Millenium Theatre (350), Lime Tree Theatre (510), Tower Theatre (80) and Sionna Theatre (200).
Then there's the Bourne Vincent Gallery in UL, the LCGA, Limerick Printmakers, The Gallery on Bedford Row, Ormston House, and others run by artists themselves that I can't remember the name of.
Other venues and attractions include Istabraq Hall, The Gallery in LSAD, Limerick City Museum, Munster Rugby Museum, Frank McCourt Museum, Hunt Museum, King Johns Castle, The Gerard Hartman Exhibition, The Georgian house and Gardens, The Bishops Palace, St. Marys Cathedral and Dagdha Space.
Not all of these venues have pemanent exhibits but with a bit of investment the city could house many lively and interesting displays.
Some of the events that could be worked on and developed include EVA, Limerick Choral Festival, Kate O'Brien Weekend, Sionna Music Festival, Cuisle Poetry Festival, CatDig, Fresh Film Fest amongst others. Yes none of these are major festivals but with a big push from the arts council etc they could be big draws.

mikemac1 wrote: »

Sorry but this seems to be something Galway could do better

However could Limerick attract a sports tournament over? City of sport after all

Rugby 7's maybe?
This was held in Edinburgh a few years ago and lots of fans from all over travelled to it.
Could be a success for the city, lots of attention and lots of money to be spent by visitors from many different countries.

Maybe Galway could do it better. Does that mean we shouldn't try? Lots of suggestions that we would be better off with a sport festival. I'm sure such a thing would be quite successful but why can't we do both? This is a bit of a generalisation but I'd imagine the two would have seperate audiences and wouldn't be in competition with each other.

pigtown

Kess73 wrote: »

I think the poster was passing comment on the lack of numbers at what is often decrcibed as one of the biggest attraction in the city rather than on the nationality of those that were seen by the poster.

If that is the point the poster was making, then it is a valid one. The so called cultural amenities/attractions in Limerick are hardly well attended by locals on a regular basis save for the odd big attraction, and the idea that being called the City of Culture for a particular year would make Limerick into a cultural hotspot rather than actual cultural attraction/amenties/traditions that get actual numbers going to them on a regular basis is somewhere between laughable and cringeworthy.

Not saying that you or anyone else on this thread made that claim for Limerick, but those that run the city have quite the track record for saying that the city is booming/full of one attraction/on the verge of being huge etc etc without ever doing anything save for the lip service that gets them inches in some paper or another.

Limerick is, for me, a city/town that really does not embrace or celebrate in any big way it's many cultural amenties/locations both past and present.

I am curious as to how Limerick would be in the running for the title in the year(s) mentioned in this thread though. I thought the various countries whose cities that will hold the title duringr the next 7 years have already been chosen and listed? If it is only a self given title, then it is pretty worthless to start with.

I'm only going from what I read in the Leader but it appears that it's not an official EU city of culture, more an Irish initiative simlar to Derry's status as UK city of culture next year. It was suggested that the existing arts budget would be manipulated in order to fund the new events in Limerick. Sure it's a self given (as in government) title but if they follow up with funding and expertise through the department and various arts bodies then what's the problem?

aaronjumper

I have nothing against it and I said as much in my post.
My point was if this is the start of something bigger then that's good, whereas if people are hoping to solve the problem with one new addition to the city and an ad campaign they will be sorely disappointed.

Reputations can be ruined in seconds but can take years to build up.

Kess73

pigtown wrote: »

I'm only going from what I read in the Leader but it appears that it's not an official EU city of culture, more an Irish initiative simlar to Derry's status as UK city of culture next year. It was suggested that the existing arts budget would be manipulated in order to fund the new events in Limerick. Sure it's a self given (as in government) title but if they follow up with funding and expertise through the department and various arts bodies then what's the problem?

If it was followed up with genuine funding and genuine expertise then it would have a chance, but it is was just the type lip service, that happens more often than not in Limerick, claiming to be something great but without any substance then it would be nowt but a joke.

But there would still remain the problem of Limerick not really being the kind of city that has a population that traditionally attends things, in any great numbers, on a regular basis that would fall under a cultural banner.

I know that there was a foreign film festival not too long ago that was holding screenings in Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Galway and a number of other locations and I was very excited as I love Asian cinema. but Limerick ended up not getting the same screenings due to lower anticipated turn outs (which in reality ended up being even lower again) but when I drove to one of the other cities (not Dublin) to try and catch a screening or two there was a much better turn out and far more local interest and advertising.

Same thing happens at times regardings plays, I often end up heading to Galway or Cork when Limerick gets bypassed.

I would love to be able to see in Limerick some of what I travel to see, but the numbers just don't seem to be there on a regular basis here in Limerick.Would be much handier to be able to wander into the city centre than to have to go to Galway or Cork and staying overnight if I wanted to have a drink.

pigtown

I understand your point Kess but the way I see it is two government ministers (Michael Noonan and Jimmy Deenihan) appear to want to hold a government sponsored festival in Limerick. Now say what you will about the government but I can't see this being a bad thing. Also maybe this could be a launchpad for the arts in Limerick and an opportunity to get the locals more interested in the area.

eclectichoney

I think the point is that Culture just is not Limerick's strong point but you can't be good at everything! Like the way sport is not Galway's strong poinht for example. Instead Limerick should concentrate on something it can be the best at in ireland - food and dining as someone suggested is a great idea. Accentuating and building on the existing strengths is a better idea than trying trying to create something out of well, not very much.

marienbad

phog wrote: »

What's the issue with Polish lads and their families visiting the castle or any other amenity for that matter.?

Apologies, I did'nt make my self clear. No problem whatsoever with the Polish lads and families, they are at huge benefit to the city and country (imho) . I was just making the point the Limerick people just do not support their own amenities.

No matter how many facilities we have - UL concert hall/LIT/ Belltable etc it seems to make no difference.

Just look at the listings for those venues and you will find they are unused 60 % of the time and not for want of trying . And if it is not mainstream - not a chance.

What was it they said in Field Of Dreams ? ''If you build it they will come''- well sadly not in Limerick it seems . It could turn out to be an embarrassment , we won't even turn up in great numbers for Magners league games even though in many cases we have already paid for the tickets !

seachto7

mikemac1 wrote: »

Rugby 7's maybe?
This was held in Edinburgh a few years ago and lots of fans from all over travelled to it.

add in the fact that Edinburgh is a beautiful city and you can see why the 7s was a success. We would have to consider the fact that Limerick is just not a pretty city. Would people travel here for the 7s?

LeViat

If not 7s then maybe 10s

xsiborg

marienbad wrote:

What was it they said in Field Of Dreams ? ''If you build it they will come''- well sadly not in Limerick it seems . It could turn out to be an embarrassment , we won't even turn up in great numbers for Magners league games even though in many cases we have already paid for the tickets !

what they forgot to say is if you build it, you have to market it, promote it, make it accessible to the masses, make it affordable... take the upcoming 4th of july festival for example, i've heard nothing about that around town, except for a few mentions here on boards. the people behind it have done little or nothing to promote the event, so how are people supposed to know its even taking place?

the recent africa day celebrations down in the park, i only happened upon them by chance! you cant run an event, expect to keep it all to yourself, and then bemoan the people that didnt turn up!

i see very little promotion of the belltable, the hunt museum is just 'there', and i dont recognise half the places in pigtowns post, simply because i've never heard of them before now!

leakyboots

Taco Chips wrote: »

No offense to anyone but this is not the type of event Limerick should be angling for. There is little to no proper or interesting cultural events going on in the city and the ones that are happening as has been said are practically empty for lack of interest.

The areas that Limerick does well in is sport/food. So they should be organising more promotions based on these. In fact Limerick is probably better off specialising in these areas because they do a lot to build communities.

Limerick City has no business being called a city of culture.

Complete bollocks. Limerick does culture very well.

It has a quite varied (new, expanding electronic festivals like Bump!, house music in Bentleys, the metal festival in Dolans, Micronite, plenty of trad, plenty of original music nights in pubs, rumours of a Limerick Jazz Festival starting soon too) music scene.

I'd go as far to say that Limerick's music scene is the envy of most of Ireland - fellas are moving from Cork and Galway to be a part of it, there are some serious musicians in this town. Different types of music on 7 nights a week in all sorts of venues. The Milk Market is now a major venue to add along with Dolans (same ownership but still), it can and will pull in big and interesting names (Trinity Orchestra doing Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon?)

As for 'building communities', go look up the work of the Limerick Learning Hub. http://www.learninghub.ie/

I'm sure others can speak in more detail about other aspects of culture but you're off to a bad start with "little to no proper or interesting cultural events" when all of this is happening underneath your nose.

Your last line beggars belief.

Insect Overlord

Honourable mentions also to the Limerick Writers' Centre, the White House's Poetry Revival, and Riddler's for hosting the monthly "On The Nail" literary gatherings.

leakyboots

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Honourable mentions also to the Limerick Writers' Centre, the White House's Poetry Revival and Riddlers for hosting the monthly On The Nail literary gatherings.

Spot on IO.

Cobblestone Joe's just started a film night. Think they were showing original short films last week. That has great potential.

Out of little acorns do great oaks grow.

People criticising things for being 'not interesting' or 'not supported' and using it as a reason not to attend - do you think Electric Picnic just sprung up out of the ground with thousands of people attending? Or Body & Soul? Or the Rory Gallagher Festival?

It can take years for any festival of any kind to get established and get a good rep, good crowds, sponsorship.

There are plenty of people doing plenty of good things around the city and it's not as if you've to do massive amounts of digging to find out about it

leakyboots

http://www.limerick.ie/living/whatson/

xsiborg

leakyboots wrote: »

http://www.limerick.ie/living/whatson/

thanks for that link leaky, lots of stuff on there, plenty in the kids section to keep the young lad amused for the summer!

marienbad

xsiborg wrote: »

what they forgot to say is if you build it, you have to market it, promote it, make it accessible to the masses, make it affordable... take the upcoming 4th of july festival for example, i've heard nothing about that around town, except for a few mentions here on boards. the people behind it have done little or nothing to promote the event, so how are people supposed to know its even taking place?

the recent africa day celebrations down in the park, i only happened upon them by chance! you cant run an event, expect to keep it all to yourself, and then bemoan the people that didnt turn up!

i see very little promotion of the belltable, the hunt museum is just 'there', and i dont recognise half the places in pigtowns post, simply because i've never heard of them before now!

I will only speak about those events of which I have direct experience. And I can give plenty examples of shockingly poor support.

John O'Connor performed the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas over a 3 month period at the LIT about 4/5 years ago. The price was about 20 euro per night. The first night there were 100 to 150 at it , by the time of the final concert that atendance had dwindled to about 50.

To put this into perspective ,I know people who have being going to classical music events all over the world and have never had the opportunity to hear the whole cycle in a order of composition performed by a world renowned pianist , at 20e a pop. The greatest music going experience of my life and as ''I have seen thing you would'nt believe'' that is saying something.

I can give other examples - Biber sonatas cancelled lack of interest/Honegger- King David -attendance 12 ( there were more people on the stage than in the audience. I could go on but it is too depressing.


As for not promoting these events , ah c'mon we live in the information age and every single one of these venues have a listings/newsletter thingy which is available via e-mail on a continuous basis, how much spoon feeding do we need ?

And come Christmas we will have about five performance of Handel's Messiah for the 20th year running and all the great and the good will turn up and why ? Because it has a tenuous connection to Ireland and it is a christmas tradition !

City of culture me arse

zulutango

marienbad wrote: »

I will only speak about those events of which I have direct experience. And I can give plenty examples of shockingly poor support.

John O'Connor performed the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas over a 3 month period at the LIT about 4/5 years ago. The price was about 20 euro per night. The first night there were 100 to 150 at it , by the time of the final concert that atendance had dwindled to about 50.

To put this into perspective ,I know people who have being going to classical music events all over the world and have never had the opportunity to hear the whole cycle in a order of composition performed by a world renowned pianist , at 20e a pop. The greatest music going experience of my life and as ''I have seen thing you would'nt believe'' that is saying something.

I can give other examples - Biber sonatas cancelled lack of interest/Honegger- King David -attendance 12 ( there were more people on the stage than in the audience. I could go on but it is too depressing.


As for not promoting these events , ah c'mon we live in the information age and every single one of these venues have a listings/newsletter thingy which is available via e-mail on a continuous basis, how much spoon feeding do we need ?

And come Christmas we will have about five performance of Handel's Messiah for the 20th year running and all the great and the good will turn up and why ? Because it has a tenuous connection to Ireland and it is a christmas tradition !

City of culture me arse

Seriously, Marienbad, you've written off Limerick as a city of culture because crowds didn't flock to see attend a Beethoven recital. And actually the numbers you've mentioned above aren't bad at all for classical music in a town the size of Limerick. I went to a recital of Verdi's 'Four Seasons' in Prague and few years ago, and there were about 20 people there. It was great. Did it diminish my impression of Prague as a city steeped in culture. Of course not.

Limerick, being a medieval city and a city with a strong literary and musical tradition, is oozing culture. You just have to seek it out. I'd go as far to say that the 'culture' that we have in Limerick is far more genuine than what you'll ever experience in Galway, which is synonymous with the word. That's not to say that Galway isn't a great town in it's own right. It is. And so is Limerick.

Johnny_BravoIII

No offense to anyone but this is not the type of event Limerick should be angling for. There is little to no proper or interesting cultural events going on in the city and the ones that are happening as has been said are practically empty for lack of interest.

First off, as a blow-in to living in Limerick City centre, I'm always struck as to how kickin the city seems to be a local sport for some people. Limerick as a city seems to suffer from the fact that it's a little low-key.

There's plenty going on the city if you are interested. If a person can't find cultural variety here to entertain themselves, then maybe it's the individuals cultural tastes which need to be questioned?

I think the point is that Culture just is not Limerick's strong point but you can't be good at everything! Like the way sport is not Galway's strong poinht for example.

Muck.
Cities are a sum of the people who live within them. Do Galway people not play sports? Do limerick people not enjoy music?
Are we actually living in some form communist state where large populations of people are designated activites to specialise in?

marienbad

zulutango wrote: »

Seriously, Marienbad, you've written off Limerick as a city of culture because crowds didn't flock to see attend a Beethoven recital. And actually the numbers you've mentioned above aren't bad at all for classical music in a town the size of Limerick. I went to a recital of Verdi's 'Four Seasons' in Prague and few years ago, and there were about 20 people there. It was great. Did it diminish my impression of Prague as a city steeped in culture. Of course not.

Limerick, being a medieval city and a city with a strong literary and musical tradition, is oozing culture. You just have to seek it out. I'd go as far to say that the 'culture' that we have in Limerick is far more genuine than what you'll ever experience in Galway, which is synonymous with the word. That's not to say that Galway isn't a great town in it's own right. It is. And so is Limerick.

No zulutango I have'nt written off Limerick because of a Beethoven recital, it was a unique cycle of 10 recitals and a free lecture each time thrown in , plus a Hoenegger concert and a Biber recital and I could give 1o more examples . As far as I am aware Ul have stopped scheduling anything even slightly off the mainstream due to lack of support . And a great pity it is as for a while there they were really doing some adventurous programming

As for comparing it to Prague - you can't be serious ! Not being pedantic now but I am sure it was Vivaldi's four season's and not Verdi . The only reason I mention that is because The Four Seasons along with Ravel's Bolero and Handels Messiah are probably the most overplayed pieces in the classical repetoire and the opportunities to hear it in Prague are innumerable - that is why there were only 20 people at it . As a matter of fact you can hear it in any one of a dozen churches in Prague on a Sunday morning and usually for free.

As for your point on the size of Limerick - I can't agree with you , we have a population of 120k minimum within 30 min of the city - more than enough to support a classical music- dance- theatre -art culture. But alas we just don't turn up and believe me it is not for want of ''seeking it out '' as you put it. I have been to just one too many events in this city where the performers/artists/orchestra outnumbered the audience.

It seems if we can't have a drink with our music we don't turn up- or would that be have some music with our drink perhaps ?

Out of interest I would be interested in what posters regard as culture ?

To me it is not just classical music/theatre/ art , or even mainly those things - it is what we are and how we see ourselves - our food,our music our sport, pride in our city as well as those other things usually regarded as culture . And to be honest I just don't see it .

But it is not just Limerick , you could say the same for most cities in Ireland in comparision to any similar sized town or city in Europe .
Kilkenny may be the one exception and Cork a bit further behind.

Johnny_BravoIII

Hi marienbad,
Your post is self-contradictory.
You begin by using classical recitals as a barometer of cultural activity in the city centre but then recognise its probably not the best measure.

we have a population of 120k minimum within 30 min of the city - more than enough to support a classical music- dance- theatre -art culture.

Whilst it may be your passion, nobody gives a fiddlers about classical these days, especially in a working class city, such as limerick.
Handel himself would struggle to fill a 3month run in LIT @ 20quid a pop.


But Micronite is packed out the door once a month to the sounds of world class DJ's taking the roof off dolans. There also regularly a hugh metal night called the Siege of Limerick which packs em in.

The best of Irish alternative acts play Bourkes bar for free every Thursday night & it's standing room only.
I've seen some great acts playing to full crowds downstairs in the Blind Pig.

The Wicked Chicken/Bakers has being running regular nights in which they have 4-5 Dj's playing from early until late mixing the best of Limerick/Irish/International acts.

There's a glut of properly talented original Irish bands playing all over the city regularly.

There's always some kind of art project/installation going on throughout the city. Movie nights here & there.
There's a regular comedy night Friday nights in Fiddlers for a fiver, I've been to open mic nights, signer-songwriter performances & trad sessiúns which have been excellent, . .etc ...
..........etc etc

Refer to Pigtown & Leakboots posts above.

It seems if we can't have a drink with our music we don't turn up- or would that be have some music with our drink perhaps ?

What's this got to do with the price of chips?
In fact, is it that you find little comparability between your own personal experience of limerick/Irish culture and sometime spend hobnobbing around the Italian/German/French upper class classical/arts circuit.

And to be honest I just don't see it .

But it is not just Limerick , you could say the same for most cities in Ireland in comparison to any similar sized town or city in Europe .

IMO you have your eyes closed to Irish culture in favour of European

Again, Limerick is low key, but there is a vibrant arts/music/cultural scene here.

marienbad

Johnny_BravoIII wrote: »

Hi marienbad,
Your post is self-contradictory.
You being by using classical recitals as a barometer of cultural activity in the city centre but then recognise its probably not the best measure.


Whilst it may be your passion, nobody gives a fiddlers about classical these days, especially in a working class city, such as limerick.
Handel himself would struggle to fill a 3month run in LIT @ 20quid a pop.


But Micronite is packed out the door once a month to the sounds of world class DJ's taking the roof off dolans. There also regularly a hugh metal night called the Siege of Limerick which packs em in.



The best of Irish alternative acts play Bourkes bar for free every Thursday night & it's standing room only. In fact, if you are late, forget about it. On that note, I've seen some great acts playing to full crowds downstairs in the Blind Pig.

The Wicked Chicken/Bakers has being running regular nights in which they have 4-5 Dj's playing from early until late mixing the best of Limerick/Irish/International acts.

There's a glut of properly talented original Irish bands playing all over the city regularly.


There's always some kind of art project/installation going on throughout the city. Movie nights here & there.
There's a regular comedy night Friday nights in Fiddlers for a fiver, I've been to open mic nights, signer-songwriter performances & trad sessiúns which have been excellent, . .etc ...
..........etc etc

Refer to Pigtown & Leakboots posts above.


What's this got to do with the price of chips?
In fact, is it that you find little comparability between your own personal experience of limerick/Irish culture and sometime spend hobnobbing around the Italian/German/French upper class classical/arts circuit.



IMO you have your eyes closed to Irish culture in favour of European

Again, Limerick is low key, but there is a vibrant arts/music/cultural scene here.

Sorry johnnybravo ,my post is not contradictoraty in the slightest- I just choose classical music to give examples - I could just as easily give dance art or theatre -film as I am equally interested in all those as well

If anything it is yours that is a bit mixed up as 90% of you examples are drawn from modern/pop music and of interest to the mainly under 30's.

Culture is from everywhere and embraces everyone , when is that last time you saw your mother or you granny at any of those events ?

The following quote from your post is even more confusing

'' Whilst it may be your passion, nobody gives a fiddlers about classical these days, especially in a working class city, such as limerick.
Handel himself would struggle to fill a 3month run in LIT @ 20quid a pop''

I come from a decidedly working class background. Can working class people not be interested in culture ? What a sterotype ? As for Handel -he would struggle to fill a venue for 3 months in London or Paris so I dont get your point there. Funnily enough Handel is better supported in Ireland than elsewhere as I pointed out earlier.

Just a couple of more quotes from you ( sorry I hav'nt masterd the quote fuction)

''In fact, is it that you find little comparability between your own personal experience of limerick/Irish culture and sometime spend hobnobbing around the Italian/German/French upper class classical/arts circuit.''

This just shows a complete chip on the shoulder reverse snobbery which just holds us back and stops us realizing our true potential- but lets walk brfore we can run.

''IMO you have your eyes closed to Irish culture in favour of European''

I can't even begin to comprehend such a statement and why you you would present such a false dichotomy.Irish culture is European ! And it is also Czech French German Polish -how can anyone even think otherwise !

And to recognise and embrace all that is a basic requirement of a City Of Culture.

Johnny_BravoIII

Ok, let's boil this down. You argue...

City of culture me arse

I say limerick actually has a vibrant "culture" scene.

90% of you examples are drawn from modern/pop music and of interest to the mainly under 30's.

100% of my examples are drawn from what is happening in the city.

100% of your examples are drawn from what you would like to see happening in the city.

I come from a decidedly working class background. Can working class people not be interested in culture ?

You hold classical arts, music and dance upon a pedestal as examples of culture. Your taste is extremely niche & irrelevent to most people across all classes in modern day Ireland.

For example, there's a huge growth in the influence of hip-hop in working class areas across limerick & Ireland.There's street kids "battling" each other with frickin poetry across Ireland.Would you recognise street art/graffiti as examples of culture (not taggin)?

This just shows a complete chip on the shoulder reverse snobbery

The irony

Irish culture is European ! And it is also Czech French German Polish -how can anyone even think otherwise !

Local culture is local and it's everywhere around us.

And to recognise and embrace all that is a basic requirement of a City Of Culture.

Again the irony.....

ps
The quote button is 7th from the right. Press it & insert your text between the brackets.

Kess73

Johnny_BravoIII wrote: »

Hi marienbad,
Your post is self-contradictory.
You begin by using classical recitals as a barometer of cultural activity in the city centre but then recognise its probably not the best measure.


Whilst it may be your passion, nobody gives a fiddlers about classical these days, especially in a working class city, such as limerick.
Handel himself would struggle to fill a 3month run in LIT @ 20quid a pop.


But Micronite is packed out the door once a month to the sounds of world class DJ's taking the roof off dolans. There also regularly a hugh metal night called the Siege of Limerick which packs em in.

The best of Irish alternative acts play Bourkes bar for free every Thursday night & it's standing room only.
I've seen some great acts playing to full crowds downstairs in the Blind Pig.

The Wicked Chicken/Bakers has being running regular nights in which they have 4-5 Dj's playing from early until late mixing the best of Limerick/Irish/International acts.

There's a glut of properly talented original Irish bands playing all over the city regularly.

There's always some kind of art project/installation going on throughout the city. Movie nights here & there.
There's a regular comedy night Friday nights in Fiddlers for a fiver, I've been to open mic nights, signer-songwriter performances & trad sessiúns which have been excellent, . .etc ...
..........etc etc

Refer to Pigtown & Leakboots posts above.


What's this got to do with the price of chips?
In fact, is it that you find little comparability between your own personal experience of limerick/Irish culture and sometime spend hobnobbing around the Italian/German/French upper class classical/arts circuit.



IMO you have your eyes closed to Irish culture in favour of European

Again, Limerick is low key, but there is a vibrant arts/music/cultural scene here.

The Siege Of Limerick is a once a year metal event, your comment makes it sound like it is on weekly or monthly.

I don't think anyone is saying that Limerick does not have cultural events/activities, but that the attendence of such events/activities in Limerick is pretty poor over the course of a year. For me, Limerick is not a cultural city in that many many fantastic and varied events/activities get pretty much shunned by the majority of the local population week in week out save for a small number of events.

I guess what I am trying to say is that Limerick is not, imho of course, a cutural city in terms of the general public attending/participating in events, rather than Limerick not being a cultural city in terms of events/attractions/history.

I would love to see events celebrating culture similar to the fantastic Mid Summer Festival which starts tomorrow in Cork and runs for 16 days. I would love to be able to see and experience some of the attractions at it here in Limerick instead of going down to Cork for it. The Sinking of the Titanic is a must see for me, to name but one attraction from the 16 days, and I will be in Cork come Saturday night spending my money down there, when I would prefer if I was spending the same money and enjoying the same experience here in Limerick, but the numbers game comes into play as Limerick often gets bypassed time after time becuase many organisers know that it would not be cost effective to come to Limerick.

Limerick has, a wealth of culture that folk could experience. Culture that is mordern, old, Irish, European, New world, old world etc etc., it just does not have a population that wants to, in any great numbers, discover it or experience it.

eclectichoney

Great post Kess - nobody is saying that people in Limerick are not cultural or that there is not great stuff going on, but to designate any city as a city of X - it should be a national leader and a real beacon of excellence - I just don't think Limerick is when it comes to culture. However it is at other things, sport, food & dining, fashion is doing really well here. I think Dublin would have a far better shout as the best city for culture in Ireland for example, but no way when it comes to sport - that doesn't mean Dublin people can't enjoy and play sport and that there is not sport going on in Dublin. That's the point I was making - The issue is not whether limerick is cultural or not - clearly it is, but is it a "City of culture" for all to aspire to??

marienbad

Johnny_BravoIII wrote: »

Ok, let's boil this down. You argue...


I say limerick actually has a vibrant "culture" scene.

100% of my examples are drawn from what is happening in the city.

100% of your examples are drawn from what you would like to see happening in the city.


You hold classical arts, music and dance upon a pedestal as examples of culture. Your taste is extremely niche & irrelevent to most people across all classes in modern day Ireland.

For example, there's a huge growth in the influence of hip-hop in working class areas across limerick & Ireland.There's street kids "battling" each other with frickin poetry across Ireland.Would you recognise street art/graffiti as examples of culture (not taggin)?


The irony

Local culture is local and it's everywhere around us.


Again the irony.....

ps
The quote button is 7th from the right. Press it & insert your text between the brackets.

johnny we are at cross purposes here. All of the examples I have given were from the city exactly as yours were . my examples just wer'nt attended - that is all the point I am making.

And I keep repeating even though I have given examples from classical music - I could have just as easily given Art -Film- Dance instead.

Of course there is a vibrant modern music music scene in limerick , I am not disputing that . But that is not sufficient to earn the title of City Of Culture . If that is one of our strengths then lets go with that but call it what it is -a modern/hip-hop music festival . In the same way if it was just classical music and nothing else it would not qualify as a City Of Culture - it is just a classical music festival.

Have a look at the programme for the Kilkenny Arts Festival and see what can be done ( population 22,000)

Of course I recognise street art/graffitti as culture and speaking of street art/art - just have a read of the derisory comments that invariably greet the EV+A exhibitions with every councillor and would be cultural critic vying to be first to the press with their '' I don't know much about art but I know it when I see it'' or ''is this what our taxes are going on'' - just a constant race for the lowest common denominator . And these are the same people floating the city of culture notion - how about the irony of that.

This thread was only 3 or 4 posts old before the disparaging comment on the containers was in . At least these people are trying .

Local culture - what do you mean by that ? and how does it differenciate us from anywhere else ?

Culture is for everybody - what is the age range attending the events you have listed ?

pigtown

Kess73 wrote: »

I would love to see events celebrating culture similar to the fantastic Mid Summer Festival which starts tomorrow in Cork and runs for 16 days. I would love to be able to see and experience some of the attractions at it here in Limerick instead of going down to Cork for it. The Sinking of the Titanic is a must see for me, to name but one attraction from the 16 days, and I will be in Cork come Saturday night spending my money down there, when I would prefer if I was spending the same money and enjoying the same experience here in Limerick, but the numbers game comes into play as Limerick often gets bypassed time after time becuase many organisers know that it would not be cost effective to come to Limerick.

Then what's the problem with what's being suggested? Again I should say that nothing has been planned yet but designating Limerick as a City of Culture in 2014 will surely mean that some major events will be held in the city. The government will direct the various arts companies to hold events in Limerick, meaning that you may well get a chance to see a version of Sinking of the Titanic in Limerick, sponsored by the government (not really sure what it is, is it a play?). The problem with saying that we'd be better off with a major sports festival is funding. As far as I understand it the funds for the city of culture will come from existing funds with a coordinated effort in the city. (Still can't find the article online but has anyone else seen it? Maybe they could verify that I'm not getting this wrong).

Also to the person who suggested that Dublin would be a better candidate for a city of culture tag, the whole idea was to rejuvinate Limericks image nationally and internationally so maybe Dublin would be better suited to the title but I guess those in power see this as a good chance to boost the city using limited funding in an imaginative way.

marienbad

pigtown wrote: »

Then what's the problem with what's being suggested? Again I should say that nothing has been planned yet but designating Limerick as a City of Culture in 2014 will surely mean that some major events will be held in the city. The government will direct the various arts companies to hold events in Limerick, meaning that you may well get a chance to see a version of Sinking of the Titanic in Limerick, sponsored by the government (not really sure what it is, is it a play?). The problem with saying that we'd be better off with a major sports festival is funding. As far as I understand it the funds for the city of culture will come from existing funds with a coordinated effort in the city. (Still can't find the article online but has anyone else seen it? Maybe they could verify that I'm not getting this wrong).

Also to the person who suggested that Dublin would be a better candidate for a city of culture tag, the whole idea was to rejuvinate Limericks image nationally and internationally so maybe Dublin would be better suited to the title but I guess those in power see this as a good chance to boost the city using limited funding in an imaginative way.

There are loads of things we could do with the money we already have to make the city more attractive .After than the culture might follow, but until then this is just more image over substance , nothing imaginative about it at all. .

zulutango

marienbad wrote: »

There are loads of things we could do with the money we already have to make the city more attractive .After than the culture might follow, but until then this is just more image over substance , nothing imaginative about it at all. .

Marienbad, you're very negative

Here's some positivity - http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0117/1224310362602.html

marienbad

zulutango wrote: »

Marienbad, you're very negative

Here's some positivity - http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0117/1224310362602.html

Anything but negative zulutango , and while others talk about it I turn up year after year to every event I can and am now bringing the grandkids when I can ( get them young I say) ,so far this year , just off the top of my head - Hunt museum (twice) attendance about 6 people , Ranks exhibition at the Hunt museum- attandance -4 people , Kings Johns Castle twice - attendance about 10 people ,all the Met Opera Broadcasts at the Omniplex ( small screen about 33% full - but growing) as well as going to the Bunratty Folk Park , Cragganowen etc and innumerable cinema outings. And I have enjoyed every minute of it .

Plus every match at Thomond park and a rake of AIL matches.

So mr positivity what have you attended

zulutango

Attendance of events seems to be your barometer of how cultured the city is. It isn't a fair measure though. Limerick has a small and widely dispersed population. Most live in the suburbs and surrounding hinterland. We don't have a critical mass in or near the city centre that would facilitate large attendances to the regular cultural events on offer. But that's not to say that we're not a city of culture. There really is so much going on, as others have aluded to. Does it really matter what I've attended?

marienbad

zulutango wrote: »

Attendance of events seems to be your barometer of how cultured the city is. It isn't a fair measure though. Limerick has a small and widely dispersed population. Most live in the suburbs and surrounding hinterland. We don't have a critical mass in or near the city centre that would facilitate large attendances to the regular cultural events on offer. But that's not to say that we're not a city of culture. There really is so much going on, as others have aluded to. Does it really matter what I've attended?

No it dos'nt matter what you have attended , I was getting a rise out of you .

But attendance is one of the only realistic measures of any event - be it sporting cultural political etc. How else would you measure it ?
The only better measurement is participation - but the higher the standard the less participation and so attendance is a more realistic barometer.

As for the dispersed population - not at all - raheen/cahirdavin/ennis road corbally all within 20 minutes of the city centre of an evening . How near do you want to be ? As for the critical mass - how does Kilkenny (pop.22,000) manage it ?

Everyone keeps saying there are loads of things going on but other than loads of modern/pop/hip-hop music gigs -what are they ? This is all aimed at the under 30's- 35 at a stretch market . This just shows we have a vibrant music culture of a specific type. As I asked another poster when is the last time you saw your mother or your granny at any one of those gigs ? Culture is for everyone and not just the young.

There are loads of things we must do first (imho) before we start claiming to be a city of culture

leakyboots

You're just not down with the kids marienbad