Victory for the hardworking Greene team

Local salon in national spotlight at Fantastic Hairdresser Awards

Killaloe’s The Greene Room won first prize of ‘Fantastic Marketing Award’ and director Shaun Moriarty won second for ‘Fantastic Stylist Award’ at the Alfaparf Milano Fantastic Hairdresser Awards 2018 at the RDS. The event is hosted by Brendan Courtney with 1200 from the industry in attendance and ten awards given for creativity and commercial acumen.

Speaking after the Awards, stylist Shaun said he was “absolutely thrilled to have been recognised by his peers and the judging panel. We are looking forward to showcasing our work as we open our second salon in Nenagh in the coming weeks.” Continue reading

Pigtown Food Series returns for second year

Pictured at the launch of the Pigtown Series 2018 on Rigney’s Farm were Patricia Roberts (No 1 Pery Square), Mike Tweedie (Adare Manor) and Edon O’Brien (age 4).

In celebration of Limerick’s unique food heritage, the Pigtown Series is back for its second year. Inspired by the history of Limerick’s famous bacon industry, an exciting programme of themed events will take place in various venues in Limerick throughout the month of September.

Developed by the Limerick Food Group and supported by Limerick City and County Council, LEO, LIT and Marketti, the series will focus on Limerick’s unique heritage as a way to showcase the great food available locally, and encourage us to embrace our food culture.

The chef line-up for the free weekly Pigtown Cookery Demos series is a cross-section of some of the most interesting chefs working in the region including Wade Murphy of 1826 Adare; Peter Jackson of Armada Hotel; Mike Tweedie of The Oak Room in Adare Manor; Tom Flavin of Limerick Strand Hotel joined by Eithne Gavigan of LIT Culinary Arts; and Ciara Brennan of Happy Food at Home along with the Firefighting Chef Paul Knapp of TV3 IrelandAM in a ‘back to school’ themed event kicking off the series on Saturday September 1st in the Milk Market upstairs mezzanine.

The festival programme includes Guided Food Heritage Tours leaving No1 Pery Square at 10.30am each Saturday morning in September, which weave their way through Georgian Limerick’s historical streets meeting some local characters along the way with tastings, and ending up at the Milk Market in time for the free cookery demos at midday.

Themed restaurant events dotted across the month include “This Little Piggy Went to Town…” for the Limerick Food Mile, a fun evening with a menu focus on local producers where guests experience four courses in four different city restaurants – The River at the Strand, Azur, The Savoy Hotel, and Sash Restaurant at No1 Pery Square. Continue reading

Urban Food Fest is back for ‘Summer Fiesta’

Myself and the team at Limerick Food Group are excited to to bringing back Urban Food Fest, here’s all the info, get in touch on limkfoodgroup(at)gmail.com if you want to take a stall…

Limerick Food Group will hold Urban Food Fest street food evening in the Milk Market on Thursday June 14th with a ‘Summer Fiesta’ theme in one big Limerick city summer party.

Pictured launching the event were, Tom Flavin, Executive Chef, The Strand Hotel, Olivia O’Sullivan, eatinlimerick.ie and Stephen Cunneen, Treaty City Brewery. Pic: Alan Place

Record crowds of 6,000 people turned out for Urban Food Fest in 2016 for Limerick Food Group’s first event and the voluntary community group has gone from strength to strength since, with last year’s event taking place as part of the Pigtown Culture & Food Series in September.

Guests to the upcoming event, which has free entry and will operate a cashless token system (€15 for 5 tokens), can expect the historic market venue to be transformed into a street food mecca as producers, market traders, restaurants, and hotels come together for a unique Limerick food event. Continue reading

Ireland’s first international fashion design star

Hunt Museum presents innovative career of renowned Irish fashion designer

The Hunt Museum has curated a new exhibition from its collection of Sybil Connolly clothing, sketchbooks, swatches, glass and ceramics to explore her trailblazing design career in a new presentation entitled ‘Sybil’.

Connolly is regarded as Ireland’s first international fashion design icon. She used tweed, crochet and lace in vibrant colours and interesting silhouettes in her work with pleated linen her trademark. In 1953, her full-length red cape and white crochet dress was on the cover of Life Magazine, accompanied by the caption ‘Irish Invade Fashion World’.

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RIP Dolores, modern style icon

The superstar powerhouse who always stayed through to her own individual style

Limerick and the world said goodbye this week to iconic singer, and The Cranberries front woman, Dolores O’Riordan, from Ballybricken. Musical tributes have poured in from across the world of entertainment, but the fashion stage too has lost a pioneering soul.

Anyone growing up in Limerick in the 90s understood exactly where Dolores’ style came from originally. Grunge with a touch of punk, a big dab of goth and a hint of mod (all influences to be found at Quinn’s Pub on Ellen Street on any given weekend or later on in Termites, and other such establishments catering to the alternative youth at the time) crafting a bold look that she would develop into her own style and carry around the world. Continue reading

New Director announced for The Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum has issued the press release below announcing the appointment of their new Director. It’s a very exciting time for the Museum and Dr Cousins sounds like a fantastic addition to the cultural sector in our region. I look forward to seeing the further development of the Museum under her directorship.

The Board of the Hunt Museum is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Jill Cousins as Director and CEO of the Museum.

Dr Jill Cousins joins the Hunt with over 10 years of involvement in the European cultural heritage sector as the Executive Director of the Europeana Foundation, which she created from a project idea with 4 people to an operational service with 62 persons across 4 European offices. Funded, by the European Commission and the Ministries of Culture across Europe, Jill has worked with cultural heritage organisations across Europe to increase the use and visibility of their collections in education, research, creative industry and towards the general public. She has extensive business development experience and has previously worked in the publishing, event, marketing and information industries. Continue reading

Dressing soldiers worldwide, Limerick Clothing Factory

History of Limerick Clothing Factory, one of the largest clothing factories in Europe

Written by well known local historian Sharon Slater, and edited by Dr. Matthew Potter and Jacqui Hayes, new book ‘A Stitch In Time’ chronicles the history of the Limerick Clothing Factory.

A young Scottish man, Sir Peter Tait, founded the Limerick Clothing Factory in 1853. It became one of the largest clothing factories in Europe, supplying army clothing throughout the world. The factory had contributed to Tait’s rise in popularity locally. He became the Mayor of Limerick for three consecutive years and had a clock erected in his honour. Continue reading

Inaugural I.NY festival launched

An exciting national festival has been announced for Limerick, this time celebrating the relationship between Ireland and New York – here’s the press release:

Designer Orla Kiely, David Bowie’s musical director Gerry Leonard, director of The New Yorker Festival Rhonda Sherman and Oscar-winner Glen Hansard will appear at the inaugural I.NY festival in Limerick, Ireland. The I.NY festival takes place from Oct 5-15 and will explore and celebrate the relationship between Ireland and New York.

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey launched the inaugural I.NY Festival under the watchful eye of Irish writer Brendan Behan ‘The King of New York’ in Dublin

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey launched the inaugural I.NY Festival under the watchful eye of Irish writer Brendan Behan ‘The King of New York’ in Dublin

Other confirmed artists and participants include  Kathryn Lloyd  (Lower East Side Tenement Museum), Tim O’Connor  (former New York Consul General), musician  Damien Dempsey, Chris Byrne  (Black 47), Dermott Rowan (MD of Kiely Rowan), Qool DJ Marv (producer and DJ for HBO and Soho House New York), Dara O’Cinneide (All-Ireland winning footballer & broadcaster) and Diarmuid Lyng (former All-Star hurler & broadcaster), Mary Leonard (graphic designer),  Aidan Kelly (photographer) and club nights Sunday Times and Mother.

The festival also features: The Annie Moore Talks series inviting guest speakers from Ireland and New York to explore a range of topics from architecture to immigration; the diaspora-focused  I.NY  Gathering  hosted in Dromoland Castle; the I.NY Symposium on Creative Education in the University of Limerick; and the  I.NY Festival Club  featuring some of Ireland and New York’s most renowned DJs, producers and promoters. The I.NY festival will see participation and exhibition from New York partners including the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and Ellis Island with further announcements in the coming weeks.

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‘Urban Food Fest’ opening event of Pigtown Food & Culture Series

I’m very excited to be bringing Urban Food Fest back for 2017, it’s a lot of work for us but I know it’ll be so worth it come September 1st! Here’s the release we issued with all the details. One of those beautiful children is mine too! >>>

Pigtown Urban Food Fest at the Milk Market on Friday evening September 1st is the opening event of the Pigtown Food & Culture Series, a two-month long celebration of Limerick’s pig heritage with food, cultural and family events. See pigtown.ie for full listings.

22.08.17 Launching the Pigtown Food & Culture Series opening event Urban Food Fest at the Limerick Milk Market were, Chloe Harper (7), Annacotty, Edon O’Brien (3), Caherdavin and Charley Harper. (10), Annacotty Limerick. Picture: Alan Place

Following its enormous success last year, when an unprecedented 6,000 people turned out for the event ran by Limerick Food Group, Urban Food Fest will once again transform the historic Limerick Milk Market into a street food mecca as local producers, market traders, restaurants, and hotels come together for a unique Limerick food event. This time it’s a ‘Pigtown edition’ to celebrate the start of the Pigtown Culture & Food Series. Continue reading

Going the whole hog – Limerick’s Pigtown Food Series

I’ve been working on something very exciting with the Limerick Food Group, here’s the announcement release with all the info. I did the design work on this too, have to say I’m very happy with my Pigtown logo! >>>

This autumn, the Pigtown Food Series is taking over Limerick in an exciting celebration of Limerick’s Food Culture. Inspired by the history of Limerick’s famous bacon industry, the ‘Pigtown Culture and Food Series’ is an exciting new programme of themed events happening in September and October 2017 in Limerick.

Ruth Guiry, author of ‘Pigtown, A History of Limerick’s Bacon Industry’ at the launch of the Pigtown Culture and Food Series held at the Milk Market, Limerick. Picture Sean Curtin True Media.

Developed by the Limerick Food Group and supported by Fáilte Ireland, the series will focus on Limerick’s unique heritage as a way to showcase the great food available locally, building on their deep-rooted food heritage. Continue reading

The Hunt Museum Gala Fundraising Dinner with Private Preview of The Hunt’s Summer Exhibition

I’m involved behind the scenes for The Hunt Museum Gala Black Tie Dinner on Thursday June 1st 2017 in association with The Savoy Hotel. If you would like to join us at the event please get in touch! Below are more details and photos from the launch…

On the evening of June 1st, a Private Preview of ‘Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry: Contrasting Visions of Ireland’ exhibition with drinks reception will take place at The Hunt Museum from 6pm, followed by The Hunt Museum Gala Dinner at The Savoy Hotel from 7.30pm.

The hotel will present a sumptuous six-course menu of seasonal and local delights, and the evening includes an auction and other surprises. Tickets per person cost €150 for the Gala Dinner, and €250 for Gala Dinner plus Private Preview of the exhibition. Proceeds raised will go to The Hunt Museum Education and Community Engagement Programmes. Continue reading

Summer at The Hunt Museum – Contrasting Visions of Ireland: Jack B. Yeats & Paul Henry

I’m thrilled to be working with The Hunt Museum on their summer exhibition which we launched today. Here’s the press release with images from the launch and a short video which tells you all about it (you may spot my little Ollie in there!)

Dom Mark Patrick Hederman of Glenstal Abbey, was guest speaker at The Hunt Museum to announce details of an exciting exhibition taking place over the summer months: Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry: Contrasting Visions of Ireland.

This unique exhibition features two of Ireland’s most important 20th century artists side by side. Featuring rarely seen paintings borrowed from mostly private collections, this unique event will encourage visitors to see Ireland through the eyes of two very different artists working before, during and after the establishment of the Irish Free State.

Billed to be a show of both national and international significance, the exhibition will feature 50 works, many of which are normally unavailable for public viewing, and brings together a collection drawn from private and public collections including works from the European Investment Bank Collection in Luxembourg.

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Exhibition celebrating designer John McNamara

Limerick’s John McNamara to be remembered in an exhibition and student design award

john mc namara designs from the mid 90s

An exhibition to celebrate some of the outstanding fashion creations of the late Limerick fashion designer John Mc Namara will take place at the Hunt Museum for three weeks commencing Thursday, April 6 running until Sunday, April 30.

From South Circular Road in Limerick, John graduated in fashion from the Grafton Academy Dublin and Kingston University London and was regarded as one of Ireland’s most talented designers with an eye for glamour and tailoring. John worked with fashion supremo Ib Jorgenson in Dublin for many years, and then returned to his native Limerick where he set up his own workshop. His many clients included President Mary Robinson who commissioned John to design one of her inauguration outfits. John passed away in 2015 after a short illness while only in his late fifties. Continue reading

Limerick Pre-School Naíonra na nÓg Best in Ireland

Naionra-Yvonne-AwardWe had some very exciting news at my sister-in-law, Yvonne O’Sullivan’s pre-school, Naíonra na nÓg, (located at Shannonvale on the Old Cratloe Road) when it won the title of ‘Best Indoor Learning Environment in Ireland’ at the Maternity & Infant Early Education Awards which took place recently at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire. Below is more detail from the press release we issued announcing the good news. If you are looking for a place here for your 3-5 year olds I’d suggest you contact Yvonne ASAP to get on the list as the Naíonra (through Irish) is always fully booked and the new Montessori is rapidly getting very established in the area thanks to amazing staff and facilities…

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Elizabeth Emery’s ‘Sugar Rush’ graduate collection

Having returned to college in her 30s, Limerick designer Elizabeth Emery from Lord Edward Street last month exhibited as part of the Limerick School of Art & Design Graduate Fashion Show.

Last year she interned with label Vivalelisa in Berlin with the college’s renowned internship programme as part of the fashion degree’s third year. Elizabeth, now ready for the next chapter in her fashion journey, told me about her graduate collection…

Elizabeth Emery graduate fashion collection

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Culture & Chips Takes To The Streets for July 12th

I’m very excited to be part of this event – this year Culture & Chips Takes To The Streets in a one of a kind street party in conjunction with Limerick 2020, the likes of which Limerick has never seen before.

Culture and Chips Launch with Fidget Feet. Picture: Alan Place.

Here’s all the info you need >> On Tuesday July 12th, the jury for the European Capital of Culture bid will visit the city and they’re going to get one hell of a Limerick welcome… Daniel O’Connell’s whole block on upper O’Connell Street between Hartstonge Street and Barrington Street (the area known as The Crescent in the Georgian Quarter) will become party central as Culture & Chips Takes To The Streets from noon until evening. Continue reading