Andrea and Fionán talk St Patrick's Day in Limerick Events, Patrick Sarsfield Homecoming Project and Student Community Engagement

In this episode of the KBS Future Thinking Podcast, Erin welcomes back two previous guests, Andrea La Touche and Fionán Coughlan. They discuss the involvement of University of Limerick students in this year's St Patrick's Day procession and the subsequent student 'after-party' at the Milk Market.

Central to Andrea's strategic vision is fostering positive student interaction with the Limerick City community. This year, she is at the helm of the committee orchestrating the participation of 400 students in the St Patrick's Day march, culminating in an after-party at the city centre's Milk Market, featuring live music, culinary delights, and the unveiling of a significant art installation.

Fionán offers an insightful recount of the pivotal role Patrick Sarsfield played in Limerick's history, a narrative deserving of cinematic portrayal. He also sheds light on a distinctive and pioneering art installation to be unveiled for the first time in Patrick Sarsfield's honour at the Milk Market during the St Patrick's Day celebrations. Presently, an archaeological excavation is underway in Belgium under the guidance of Limerick scholar, Dr Luíc Guyon, with the aim of repatriating Patrick Sarsfield's remains to Limerick, thereby reinstating him as a local luminary.

Marking the 333rd anniversary of the Treaty's ratification, the Patrick Sarsfield Homecoming Project represents a momentous juncture in Limerick's annals.

This initiative signifies the commencement of drawing students into the city centre in a constructive manner. Andrea and Fionán also tease plans to establish a 'Student Market', designed not only to bolster community integration but also to encourage sustainability and entrepreneurial spirit.

The episode reaches a poignant conclusion with Fionán reciting an evocative poem that pays homage to Sarsfield's heroic efforts to safeguard the city.

https://www.limerick.ie/discover/whats-on/festivals/limerick-st-patricks-festival-2024

https://www.mic.ul.ie/news/2023/ba30-sarsfield-homecoming-project

This episode is produced by the KBS Digital Hub-Grzegorz Rogala