Limerick 'comes alive' as storytelling is celebrated during Heritage Week

HERITAGE Week in Limerick is coming to a close, with a wide range of events already finished with great success.

One of the many activities that locals and tourists alike could avail of during this year's Heritage Week was the Shaped by Water storytelling event in Lough Gur on Sunday, August 17.

Stories were told of ice skating on the lake, back when it used to freeze over, as well as folklore tales - shared by children - of giants creating lakes, and historical accounts of the importance of water throughout the centuries.

Lough Gur-based painter Robert Ryan shared his memories of the lake in his youth, where on busy summer days there used to be music performances in and around the lake and castle, only a short walk from his family home.

He recalled how there was even a wooden stage platform built over the water on the lake where bands would play and an audience would dance.

There were no sides or barriers on the platform but they got away with it, Robert explained, adding that it would “never get past health and safety nowadays!”

The storytelling event, supported by Limerick City and County Council, ESB and Fáilte Ireland, was also hosted at King John’s Castle and Adare Heritage Centre, where guests shared their memories of the River Shannon and River Maigue.

Locals spoke of fishing and swimming in the rivers as children, as well as several different stories about the maritime history of the Shannon.

Each event began with tales from professional storytellers, with John Carew and Daniel Clancy sharing stories in Lough Gur, and Daithi Collopy kicking off the event in King John's Castle and Adare.

“They tell stories that are a bit more historical and place-oriented,” Jill Cousins, chair of Discover Limerick DAC, explained.

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“The idea behind this is that people then will come and tell their own local stories or memories of water, whether they're good or bad. It can be from fishing to just strolling on the banks to ESB-type stories related to Ardnacrusha - it's very wide ranging.”

They never stop anybody telling a story, allowing them to speak for as long as they wish and share all of their memories and anecdotes.

All of the stories shared at the three events were recorded and will be put up on the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN), a nationwide project, established by the National Museum of Ireland and supported by the Heritage Council, that aims to “encourage and support communities to collect and share their local history and heritage online”.

These stories being uploaded means that they get to be “part of Ireland's storytelling tradition” and be “preserved in perpetuity,” Jill said.

The stories shared based around the King’s Island area will also be going on YouTube as part of another storytelling project, which includes storytelling sessions held regularly at Treaty City Brewery.

The preservation and promotion of the Irish tradition of storytelling is very important to Jill, with a Storytelling Street event being held on Nicholas Street for Culture Night last year.

Another goal of Discover Limerick is to “bring communities together, young and old”.

Jill shared their ambition to foster this connection between generations through having younger people interviewing their grandparents: “I think that's something we'd really like to do going forward so you're getting that connection.”

Locals were not the only ones who enjoyed the events, with tourists “really enjoying” hearing the stories shared, “the folklore side of things in particular,” Jill explained.

Jill praised the impact of Heritage Week on Limerick, saying that she believes it makes the city “come alive” with stories and culture.