Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) is delighted to welcome this touring exhibition of new work by Limerick-born artist, Diana Copperwhite, for this much anticipated exhibition between 27th April - 25th June 2023.
‘Diana Copperwhite makes big bold oil paintings that excite and stir our twenty-first-century perceptions. Her compelling images are both complex and energetic. She is never at a loss for the impulse to paint, though she is coy about revealing her concerns, often throwing the viewer just a few clues and leaving a lot of room for the imagination. She creates an exquisite tension between abstraction and figuration or representation of any kind. She appears to tease out this tension to hold our interest, as we both take in the visual splendour of her paintings and try to fathom what they are about’ 1
In an interview with Aidan Dunne, in the 2023 spring edition of the Irish Arts Review, Copperwhite states that music is an inspiration. “Recently, I’ve found it good to start a painting with composer, Arvo Part, but it’s not so good when it (the painting) gets further on and more complicated. I love Bach. And I’ve noticed, listening to jazz, it’s easier to deal with multiple elements of composition. You can jump from one corner to another quite naturally. You notice things differently with music”
1 Extracted from Reality, Virtual Reality, and Abstraction by Gail Levin
This exhibition, curated by Aoife Ruane, is presented as a national tour enabled by an Arts Council Touring Award.
The exhibition will run at LCGA until 25th June.
Further information please contact artgallery@limerick.ie
Liz and Mike Donlan, two very enthusiastic and experienced gardeners and U3A members, are delighted to invite all members to attend the Opening Weekend of Reiska Plant Nursery on the 29th and 30th April from 10 am to 4 pm each day.
They are based at Reiska, Kilcommon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, E41 X015.
There will be free tea and coffee for all visitors and there is a €25 voucher to be won on each day. As well as viewing what's on offer at the nursery you will also be free to wander around their garden which, although still a work in progress, they hope members will find interesting. There will also be 4 or 5 craft stalls on each of the 2 days.
Whilst Liz and Mike are specialists in carnivorous plants, small and miniature Hostas and Heuchera - all grown by themselves - they also have a varied selection of plants and shrubs which they have bought in.
This is an ideal opportunity to indulge your senses, galvanise your own good intentions to do something with your patch of ground and be inspired while you wander around the results of Liz and Mike's passionate endeavours.
So, this weekend, take yourself to Tipperary, E41 X015, Reiska Plant Nursery, a sensory treat awaits!
The outing this month for U3A members was a visit to the Rockbarton Garden Centre, Bruff on this dry but slightly chilly morning. On arrival we were treated to tea/coffee and scones in the centre’s Chatty Hen Coffee House served by the owner, Lynda, and her mother-in-law Mary. Mary lives next door to the garden centre and she graciously invited Lynda to take us on a tour of her beautiful oasis of a tranquil garden.
It was so beneficial to see plants and trees in situ in the ground and have Lynda share her immense knowledge of each plant, their growing habits, preferred locations, times & how to prune etc. And she was fulsome in answering the many, many queries we had in relation to all aspects of developing and maintaining a delightful garden.
With all her advice and answers to our many questions, I’m not sure how many of us will ever have, what could be described as a “delightful” garden! But hopefully we will enjoy the time spent in trying and in the knowledge that plants die even in the care of Diarmuid Gavin….. or so Lynda told us!
Walking around Mary’s garden gave us inspiration in choosing plants and shrubs when we retreated to the garden centre.
It was difficult restricting ourselves to what our pockets (and our backs for planting) could endure.
Thanks again to Lynda and Mary for a morning spent in the glorious surrounds of Rockbarton.
Limerick City Library present a free bilingual talk for Seachtain Na Gaeilge by Dr. Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc on Thursday 16th March at 6:30 pm…… “Irish is a Foreign Language - no different to Yiddish” A history of the suppression of the Irish Language.
As part of our Seachtain Na Gaeilge celebration, we are delighted to be able to host Dr. Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc who will deliver a talk in Limerick City Library, Barrow House, Michael Street on Thursday 16th March at 6:30pm.
Padraig earned his PhD in History from the University of Limerick and has published six books, mainly on the Irish Revolutionary Period. His lecture will cover the hidden history of the attempts to both suppress and save the Irish language during the Irish Revolution.
Those interested will need to reserve their spot in advance as places are limited.
You can do so via
Email: citylibrary@limerick.ie
Phone: 061-557510
Our Gardening Group organised and hosted a guided visit to Coolwater Garden, near Fedamore today.
Coolwater, is a wonderful artistically designed garden on half an acre, with a breathtaking Water Garden, numerous alpine troughs crammed with choice specimens and a chimerical West Garden.
Owner and gardener Kevin was on hand to show us the garden and talk about the plantings. The garden has been designed for year round structure and shape and the water garden hosts a superabundance of aquatic wildlife.
Many of our members used their camera as we strolled around as it’s one of the most photogenic smaller gardens on the island. It was a truly impressive trip for our plant loving members and Kevin was an excellent guide.
Many thanks to Ùna and her gardening group for introducing us to this lovely oasis only 12 km from Limerick city
Thirty lucky U3A Limerick members enjoyed an exciting and informative visit to Ireland’s largest river hydroelectric scheme on Friday 24th February. This was a great opportunity to visit and explore one of Ireland’s greatest engineering developments at Ardnacrusha Power Station in Co Clare.
We were welcomed to the Ardnacrusha Experience by Dermot, our guide for the tour. As he led us through the heart of the station he brought to life the living heritage of the Shannon Scheme using a series of animations which celebrate the history and impact of this iconic project. We were also brought out on site to view the impressive headrace canal, locks and tail race.
The Ardnacrusha Experience tells the story of the power of electricity and its transformative impact on Irish life; it offers the opportunity for people to learn not just about the history of the plant dating back to its inception in the 1920s but also of ESB’s brighter future strategy which is leading the secure, affordable transition to a low-carbon energy future for Ireland.
A most invigorating and ‘enlightening’ couple of hours helping us to understand that there is slightly more to keeping the lights on than flicking a switch!
We had the blue skies, if not the temperatures, of foreign lands this morning as we meandered by the banks of the Shannon, past the old Corbally Baths, through the Mill Road Fairy Garden and back to the Corbally Road for the usual end of our walk with tea and bites in Hook and Ladder
Limerick City & County Council are delighted to sponsor this free Sustainable Gardening Course that will cover everything from gardening chemical free, pollinator planting, veg growing, mini pond building, pruning, cuttings and much more.
The course is run by horticulturist and environmentalist Aoife Munn and will take place on Saturday 28th of January from 10 am to 4 pm.
This course is suitable for adults who wants to garden for biodiversity but especially Tidy Towns groups, Green schools coordinators and Allotment Holders.
A full set of notes will be sent to all participants after the course
To get more information or to book your place please click the link below. https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/adare-sustainable-gardening-course-tickets-489617999617
The U3A Gardening group facilitated a Demo of Christmas flower arranging today 29th November in the lovely Busy Bee Garden Centre and cafe, Clondrinagh.
It was just the thing to lift the spirits, dispel the latent grinchiness and was a most pleasant and sociable way to spend a Tuesday morning! The flower arrangement demonstration by two of our U3A members, Marie Kennedy and Celia Hehir, of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary inspired us all to tap into our own latent creative genius! The completed arrangements were raffled between those attending.
We enjoyed coffee in the cafe and had plenty of time to wander around the garden centre afterwards. Any supplies that we needed for our own Christmas flower arrangements were available and the staff Rachel and Aishling were more than willing to help with any queries.
It was a really pleasant morning enjoyed by our members…..as evidenced by the attached selection of photos.
Twenty lucky members of U3A Limerick were treated to a guided tour of one of the special gems in Limerick city - the fabulous Hunt Museum in Limerick’s Georgian Custom House.
We were split into two groups and our guides initially gave an overview of the lives of John and Gertrude Hunt who travelled across Europe throughout the 1930 collecting objects from antique shops, churches, art museums and other collectors for their antique shop in London. In 1940 they moved to Lough Gur, Co Limerick where John worked as an amateur archaeologist. Some of the prehistoric artifacts found at Lough Gur are in the Hunt Museum today.
While living in Limerick, John and Gertrude continued to grow their collection by buying and selling objects. They also decorated their house in Lough Gur with their antique collection. Medieval statues and tapestries were on display, medieval pottery was used as everyday utensils and famous artworks adorned their walls.
The Hunt Museum was established in the 1990s to house the internationally important collection of approximately 2,000 works of art and antiquities formed by John and Gertrude Hunt during their lifetimes. As antique dealers and advisors to collectors they built a thriving business and also began to acquire pieces that reflected their own interests and curiosity rather than for commercial purposes.
It was a most enjoyable morning for all of us gaining insights into some of the objects and paintings from ancient to modern times on display. The permanent collection is a serious cabinet of curiosities from all over the world and we only had time to interrogate a few of the treasures on display. As we discussed the tour over lunch in the Museum Café it was agreed that we will be back!
On a beautiful crisp sunny morning on 16th November the Social Walking Group enjoyed a lovely walk of the Three Bridges in Limerick City. We met some interesting folk on the way- see photos - and a welcoming cuppa in in Bowes Ryan cafe, Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre
It's that time of year again. Membership subs for U3A Limerick are now due to be paid for the coming year.
Single membership is €20 for the year and €30 for couples. Membership runs from November 1st to October 31st and fees are by annual subscription. I think the majority of us would agree that we get very good value for our money!
I know that some of you have already paid your subs and should, by now, have received acknowledgement of receipt of same from our treasurer. If you have paid for 2022-2023 and have not received acknowledgement can you please let me know asap at u3alimerick@gmail.com
The 9th November 2022 is, hopefully, the last day for payment of membership subs. Payment can be made at our next monthly talk to be held on the 9th November 2022 in UL Access Campus
Naturally, life gets troublesome sometimes, and if you find it difficult to meet this deadline, please let me know and we can work something out.
In conjunction with our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 29th September, we held a Social Fundraising Coffee event.
We enjoyed coffee, cake and chat with other U3A members…. thanks to those great bakers (and purchasers!) for a fabulous selection of delicious treats.
The recipient of this years Fundraiser is Mid West Simon Community. Simon supports people in this region out of homelessness, and offers a food bank service to individuals and families experiencing food poverty and/or those in danger of homelessness.
There was a great response to this appeal and a cheque, which included a donation from our own U3A funds, for €600.00 was presented to Jackie Leonard, Mid West Simon, by our Chair, Gabrielle Tarpey on the occasion of our monthly talk on the 12th October.
A huge thanks to all involved and to those who donated to this much needed charitable organisation was expressed by Jackie on behalf of Simon.
POSITIVE AGEING WEEK
The Limerick Sports Partnership endeavours to motivate adults over the age of 55 to continue to engage in physical activity through a wide medium of events and programmes.
The Limerick Sports Partnership in conjunction with Age Action offer Limerick people the opportunity to take part in ‘Positive Ageing’ week that showcases a wide variety of activities that are available to adults over the age of 55 across Limerick City and County. Throughout the week, the Limerick Sports Partnership runs a range of different activities including a Health and Wellness Seminar, 5km walks, Go for Life Games, Activator Walking, Aqua Aerobics, Swimming programme and a Scooch tournament.
These activities are open to all fitness levels and abilities.
The first event of the week was a Seminar in the UL Arena on Monday morning and we took a stand there for the event.
We hope all our members had an enjoyable summer and are feeling fit and well, and ready for the return of normal activities in the U3A calendar.
First, the Limber up with Joan/Relax with Michelle returns to your home next Monday 12th September at 11.00 hrs. Cathie will be sending out the Zoom link on Friday as usual.
The Book Clubs 1, 2 and 3 will also be resuming in September. Members of these book clubs have been informed of location, dates and times by Mary Shanahan.
The Music Appreciation Group will resume its monthly meetings on the 13th September 2022. A reminder from the co-ordinator will issue to members of this group closer to the 13th September.
The Poetry Appreciation Group will resume its fortnightly meetings on 20th September 2022. A reminder closer to the time will be issued by Cathie, co-ordinator for the group.
The Walking Group meets every Wednesday morning at 10.30 hrs. As the venue for the walk changes each week for variety's sake, interested members are informed via whatsapp by Denis McMahon on weekly locations.
All of these groups are open to all members of U3A so if you fancy joining any or all of them please let us know and we will pass on your details to the co-ordinators.
The Committee would very much appreciate any suggestions/recommendations from members regarding future interest groups that could be established and also any suggestions for topics for our monthly talks for the coming year. So, if inspiration comes knocking at your door, please share any lightbulb moments you may have!
Just drop an email at u3alimerick@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE 29th SEPTEMBER 2022 - 14.00 hrs UL Access Campus
The U3A Limerick Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday 29th September 2022 at 14.00 hrs in the UL Access Campus, Roxboro so please save that date for your diary. More details will be communicated to all members nearer to the date.
Our weekly social walking activities have continued a pace over the summer. It is proving to be a most popular outing with an average of 12 members joining in every Wednesday morning at 10.30 hrs under the guidance of Denis McMahon. Members suggest and agree a route and cafe for the following week. We have all being introduced to beautiful walking paths, within the city confines or a short distance out of town. And most wonderfully these outings are an opportunity to socialise with other members as we explore the walking trails around Limerick, and sit to enjoy the welcome cuppa at the end of our ramble.
Attached are a few pictures of the happy group out and about over the past few months.
If you would like to join this jolly group email Denis at mcmahondenis@gmail.com.
A wee reminder that our AGM will be taking place in September 2022 - date to be confirmed. As with all AGMs, there will be the election of members to the different Committee positions.
If you feel that you would like to be part of the Committee and are able to commit a little bit of time and work, please let us know at u3alimerick@gmail.com or talk to any committee member as soon as possible. As with all voluntary organisations, the smooth and effective running of all events depends on the co-operation and clear, cohesive communication between committee members and all other members.
Joan will be sending out a more comprehensive email with relevant details and information but in the meantime have a little think about what talents, skills and experience you might be willing to bring to your U3A association!!
Due to demand for membership of the Book Club, we have decided to set up a second and possibly a third Book Club. Mary Shanahan has kindly offered to coordinate the establishment of these new groups.
If you are interested in joining one of these Book Clubs please get in touch with Mary either by email at marysshanahan@gmail.com or by text or WhatsApp at 0876837481 by Friday 22nd July if possible.
Our Gardening Group is back in action now that Spring has Sprung.
The leader, Úna Hogan, will facilitate the next meeting on Tuesday 15th March at 10.30 am in the Busy Bee Gardening Centre and Tea Rooms, Clondrinagh Roundabout.
All U3A members welcome…....so just turn up!
Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival
The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival, now in its 12th year, will take place from Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th May 2022. The festival marks a celebration of lifelong learning and promotes learning in Limerick through a wide variety of creative, enjoyable and informative events.
This year's theme is Learn Something New in 2022. We invite you all to take on this learning challenge. What are you going to learn this year? Whether you are learning to develop new skills or to grow your career, the festival celebrates lifelong learning and can have a real impact on both your professional and personal development.
To see full programme of events see https://www.limerick.ie/LoveLearning
We are delighted to confirm that we have a lovely new venue for our monthly meetings as soon as we get back to in-person meetings:-
University of Limerick Access Campus, Unit J, LEDP, Roxboro Road, Limerick. V94 0D79.
This Campus, which is fully wheelchair accessible, has plenty of free parking spaces, and is located at the back of the LEDP building (previously Krups factory) near Roxboro Roundabout. It is opposite Tesco and shares an entrance with Aldi.
The UL Access Campus is a unique partnership initiative between Education (University of Limerick), the local community (LEDP), and the technology sector (Dell) creating a mini-campus which supports Limerick people in realising their potential through outreach educational opportunities.
“Bringing the University to the Community and the Community to the University”
We are delighted to announce that Bernadette Kiely has kindly offered to lead a Music Appreciation Group.
The group will meet fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons at 2.00 pm in the Limerick City Gallery of Art and the first get together will be on 18th January 2022. All U3A members welcome…
For further information please email u3alimerick@gmail.com.
Denis McMahon will again lead our next outing when we meet on Wednesday next 5th January at 10.30 am outside the gates of St Mary's Cathedral. I wonder where he will take us this time, and what coffee cafe we will end in.
You can contact Denis at mcmahondenis@gmail.com for further details, or to let him know if you would like to join in on this first walk.
While sharing ideas on possible topics and speakers for future talks we agreed that we have at our disposal a wide pool of expertise and experience in our own members, so we would like to encourage anyone who feels that they have an area of interest they would like to tell us about in a talk to come forward and let us know via email u3alimerick@gmail.com or via any member of the committee.
Two suggestions for extra sub-groups have come in:
- firstly a city-centre-based, easy walking group to take place on Wednesday or Friday mornings; and
- secondly a music appreciation group where anyone's love of any type of music would be shared between equals (i.e. no academic or specialist knowlege required).
If you have any interest in either or both of these, please let us know via u3alimerick@gmail.com or any member of the committee
Greetings to everyone on our U3A mailing list! This is to let you know firstly about some big changes to the way we have been doing things up to now, and secondly about some upcoming events.
Firstly, due to the relaxation of the covid restrictions, we are hoping to have live meetings before the year end. Our monthly talks will be be held live and we are very excited about this return to near-normality.
As well as this, and because covid hasn't entirely gone away yet, we are going to tighten up on our membership procedures. We are introducing an annual membership fee of €20 per person or €30 for a couple to cover our insurance and other costs, and we are now asking you, if you wish to continue taking part in our activities, to do the following :
1) reply to that effect to u3alimerick@gmail.com;
2) make the fee payment before the 13th of October. The contact for this is Maura Turner, our treasurer, at maura.turner1@gmail.com. Maura will let you know how you can make the payment. And for anyone who may have difficulty finding €20 in one go, don't worry, you can make alternative arrangements with Maura;
3) indicate by e-mail to u3alimerick@gmail.com whether you will attend a talk, as we will need to know exactly how many people to expect. As before, we will be asking you to contribute €2 towards speakers' costs etc, for live meeting as well as to bring your vaccination certificates and observe the relevant covid-related social guidelines (masks, social distancing).
As you see, gone are the days of free and informal membership of U3A Limerick, unfortunately. The world has changed so much in the last 18 months!
But we are very happy to be back, and ready to kick off our monthly series of talks on Wednesday 13th October at 2.30 pm when one of our members, and a member of Birdwatch Ireland,Tom Tarpey, will be giving an illustrated talk on The Birds of Limerick in The People's Museum, 2 Pery Square. I'm sure you will agree that this aspect of biodiversity is an excellent topic with which to begin our new programme!
In November we will have our local Lyric FM presenter Lorcan Murray telling us about his career and love of music, and in December there will be a pre-Christmas flower-arranging demonstration by another of our members, Helen Cusack. But more details of these to come, and also on our new Facebook page (U3A Limerick ) and new Website (www.u3alimerick.com) - two more exciting developments at U3A Limerick!
One thing hasn't changed however - for all of you who have been waiting for "Limber up with Joan, relax with Michele" to return to Monday mornings, get ready to zoom next Monday, 4th October at 11 o'clock with your weights, mats, blankets etc - yes, in the comfort of your own home! We are staying online for these classes, to facilitate as many of you as wish to continue with them, but after the second class on the 11th October, you will have to be a registered, paid-up member to get the link.
Lastly, our four sub-groups - the book club, the poetry appreciation group, the gardening club and the photography group - will be starting up again soon, so anyone with an interest in any of them should let us know.
Hoping you all had a good summer, and looking forward to meeting some of you in person at last, best wishes on behalf of the committee of U3A Limerick,
Cathie Chappell, Chairperson and Joan Conran, Secretary
Monday 27 September is the start of Positive Ageing Week 2021 which is themed Reconnecting Our Communities by Reframing Ageing to challenge negative stereotypes of ageing and older people.
The portrayal of older people as vulnerable, frail, in need of care and protection that characterised public discourse during COVID-19 reflected negative stereotypes we hold about older people.
‘Positive Ageing Week is an opportunity for communities to reframe how we think, feel and act about older people and ageing. Negative perceptions about older people can creep into our policy making. We know public health measures saved hundreds of lives but advice to people over 70 to cocoon, visiting restrictions in nursing homes and the general lack of engagement with older people about policies that directly affected them left many feeling invisible or diminished. Those practices also undermine people’s rights such as right to family life and autonomy.’ said Paddy Connolly, CEO of Age Action.
Ageism towards older people is one of the most common prejudices in societies around the world, according to the World Health Organisation. With one in five people in Ireland going to be over the age of 65 by 2050 it is necessary that ageist attitudes and policies are challenged and addressed to uphold equality and rights.
Positive Ageing Week is an initiative of Age Action to promote the agency of older people and to celebrate the contribution they make to our families, workplaces, communities and society as a whole. For 19 years individuals, groups, Local Authorities and businesses have been organising events to mark Positive Ageing Week which culminates in the promotion of age equality on 1 October - United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
Over 80 activities are taking place virtually or in person for Positive Ageing Week including the Local Heroes Exhibition in Galway, Older People and the fight against disinformation in DCU, and Advice for over 50s Setting up Your Own Business in Waterford. More information on activities can be found at www.positiveageingweek.com.