VHI Women’s Mini Marathon for SpunOut.ie

I’ve been determined lately to get fit, taking baby steps at a time. Going for longer walks/runs, getting off the bus a few stops early etc. I recently saw an ad for the VHI women’s 10k mini marathon taking place on June 1st which is a fundraising event for charities across Ireland and abroad. This gives me the perfect opportunity as it gives me something to work towards to get fit while raising money for an excellent cause.

Master List

I’ve written a few pieces for a some websites/podcasts so I’ve decided to make a master list here to keep them all in one place that can be updated when it needs be 🙂

Limerick City of Culture 2014 Group Assignment

Another day, another assignment from our Introduction to Digital Media lecturer Gabriela!

In 2014, Limerick has been assigned the title of City of Culture. As a result of this, our assignment was to remain in our groups from the tweasure hunt and visit assigned locations in Limerick that had some cultural significance. 

My group (26) consisting of myself, Jennifer and Louise (still don’t know where our fourth member went to!) were given the Frank McCourt Museum. Initially I did not know who Frank McCourt was, but after a quick search on Google I found out he was the author of the worldwide famous book, “Angela’s Ashes”. I learned that the book was named after Frank’s mother Angela. I will admit when I visited the museum I hadn’t read the book or seen the film adaptation, but I’m rectifying that situation now! The Frank McCourt museum is located in Leamy House, formerly Leamy school on Hartstonge Street, Limerick as pictured below on Google Maps.

 

 

The staff at the museum were extremely welcoming upon our arrival and were thrilled when we told them that we would be setting up a wikipedia page dedicated to the museum. There were two third year UL students on work experience there also.

The entry cost of the museum was minimal, and all the money collected goes straight back into funding the cost of electricity etc. Our tour guide told us that the museum receives very little if any, government funding and the owner Una Heaton is keeping the museum open with her own finances.

The museum is essentially an exhibition of Frank McCourt’s life, as well as reconstructed rooms from his family home, and the classroom of his school days.

 

Leamy House was formerly Leamy school, where Frank would have received his primary education. The museum outlines his family life, and includes many of his own memorabilia including his own personal rosary bead collection that was kindly donated by the McCourt family.

Also included in the museum is stills from the film adaptation, and a copy of every language the book was translated into.

I found the museum to be fascinating, and learned a lot about the surrounding street of Leamy House as well as Frank McCourt himself.