Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Thursday 24 Nov 05
Thursday Club
Thursday club is a social club for senior citizen which takes place in Villiers Homes on Thursday mornings. They do various activities; bingo, games craft ( they showed me some of the christmas decorations they had made), sing and have speakers.
Today they had a nun from a local convent speaking of her experiences during her career in particular working it countries during times of political unrest. It was reaaly interesting to sit and listen to someone telling you about their life in such an informal setting -sitting around having have tea and cake, Bettys walnut and bannana cake itself would warrent an return visit ( I had three slices!).
Thursday Club
Villiers Homes
Kings Island
http://cathedral.limerick.anglican.org/Thursdayclub
Social Club for senior members of the community.
Thursdays 10.30am–12.30pm
Wednesday 23 Nov 05
Attic Artists
Attic artists are a group of retired people who meet on Wednesday mornings in the basement of the Gaelic League building to have art classes and do their work. People were working with pen, pencil, acrylic and old doing portriture, lanscape,still life and imaginative compositions. I had brough paper and pencils but when I got there I didnt know what to work on, evrone had their own piece that they were working on, one of the artists Fonze was working on a portrait of another of the attic artists - he was working on a series of them and giving them to the artist depicted. Many people were working from photographs and one lady had brough some primroses to paint. After doing a few quick sketches of people working the art teacher who was their giving advice gave me some dried mushrooms to draw - which I loved - great abstract shapes. I really got into just sitting there drawing away in the quiet chatter. I was quiet disappointed when the session ended and i hadnt finifhed my mushrooms!
Basement
Gaelic League Hall
Thomas St
Limerick
Bob Ryan, bobryan3@eircom.net
http.welcome.to/attic
Whitehouse Poetry Revival
It's a bit of a strange one walking into a pub on your own not to be meeting anyone but to sit and wait and i did for the Whitehouse poetry reviival. Luckly there were several other people there doing the same thing and many regulars who spotting a new face came over to chat and tell me a bit about the evenings events. After about half an hour the readings began all local male poets except for one young american woman. The standard varied or at least to what i liked and wasnt so fond of but the key thing seemed to be to give people a chance to get the work they had done in solitude get out into the air and other peoples ears. That combined with a couple of pints and some complementart chips and cocktails sausages made for a convivial evening indeed.
The White House Poetry Revival
The White House
0’Connell St
Limerick
Barney Sheehan -086 8657494
Dominic Taylor -0872996409
whitehousepoets@eircom.net
www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Wednesdays 9pm -close
Attic artists are a group of retired people who meet on Wednesday mornings in the basement of the Gaelic League building to have art classes and do their work. People were working with pen, pencil, acrylic and old doing portriture, lanscape,still life and imaginative compositions. I had brough paper and pencils but when I got there I didnt know what to work on, evrone had their own piece that they were working on, one of the artists Fonze was working on a portrait of another of the attic artists - he was working on a series of them and giving them to the artist depicted. Many people were working from photographs and one lady had brough some primroses to paint. After doing a few quick sketches of people working the art teacher who was their giving advice gave me some dried mushrooms to draw - which I loved - great abstract shapes. I really got into just sitting there drawing away in the quiet chatter. I was quiet disappointed when the session ended and i hadnt finifhed my mushrooms!
Basement
Gaelic League Hall
Thomas St
Limerick
Bob Ryan, bobryan3@eircom.net
http.welcome.to/attic
Whitehouse Poetry Revival
It's a bit of a strange one walking into a pub on your own not to be meeting anyone but to sit and wait and i did for the Whitehouse poetry reviival. Luckly there were several other people there doing the same thing and many regulars who spotting a new face came over to chat and tell me a bit about the evenings events. After about half an hour the readings began all local male poets except for one young american woman. The standard varied or at least to what i liked and wasnt so fond of but the key thing seemed to be to give people a chance to get the work they had done in solitude get out into the air and other peoples ears. That combined with a couple of pints and some complementart chips and cocktails sausages made for a convivial evening indeed.
The White House Poetry Revival
The White House
0’Connell St
Limerick
Barney Sheehan -086 8657494
Dominic Taylor -0872996409
whitehousepoets@eircom.net
www.limerick.com/whitehousepoets
Wednesdays 9pm -close
Tuesday 22 Nov 05
Limerick Fairtade City Launch
3.00 pm Awarding of Fairtrade Certification to Limerick City
Peter Clohessy's Sin Bin, Howley's Quay
"Limerick City is one of a growing number of towns and cities nationwide who have achieved Fairtrade status. Limerick City Fair Trade Project was officially launched by the former Mayor, Cllr. Michael Hourigan on 11th Jan 2005 and the Steering Committee are delighted that the city has achieved Fairtrade City status so soon. This has been achieved by the collaborative effort of retail outlets, catering outlets, organisations and schools supporting the project. Fairtrade is about justice not charity and aims to improve the lives of producers and workers throughout the developing world. Fairtrade ensures
that producers receive a fair and guaranteed price for their product while workers in plantations and factories receive a fair wage. "
Had a cup of tea and a sambo. Entered the draw for some free trade goodies (didnt win). Had a chat with a lady who runs a shop selling products with that are farirtrade or produced under fair standards.
Contact Studios
Had a lovely evening in Contact Studios , its so nice to be part of a creative community; have people to chat to and in the case of this evening make you tea and share their twix with you.
3.00 pm Awarding of Fairtrade Certification to Limerick City
Peter Clohessy's Sin Bin, Howley's Quay
"Limerick City is one of a growing number of towns and cities nationwide who have achieved Fairtrade status. Limerick City Fair Trade Project was officially launched by the former Mayor, Cllr. Michael Hourigan on 11th Jan 2005 and the Steering Committee are delighted that the city has achieved Fairtrade City status so soon. This has been achieved by the collaborative effort of retail outlets, catering outlets, organisations and schools supporting the project. Fairtrade is about justice not charity and aims to improve the lives of producers and workers throughout the developing world. Fairtrade ensures
that producers receive a fair and guaranteed price for their product while workers in plantations and factories receive a fair wage. "
Had a cup of tea and a sambo. Entered the draw for some free trade goodies (didnt win). Had a chat with a lady who runs a shop selling products with that are farirtrade or produced under fair standards.
Contact Studios
Had a lovely evening in Contact Studios , its so nice to be part of a creative community; have people to chat to and in the case of this evening make you tea and share their twix with you.
Saturday 19 Nov 06
Limerick Youth Theatre
Missed my usual class with the 1st year students of the Limerick Youth Theatre to take place in a film by the 2nd years. I was to play the mother in the piece - a task I took not to be derogitory even though my on screen daughter was played by a 17 year old! I didnt get my script till just before we started filming so have little time to learn my lines or to worry too much. I had three sceans one a mother daugher moment, another in a doctors office discussing my daughters condition and medication and the thrid in a hospital waiting room which involoved me crying - a difficult proposition when you have only been an actress for an hour! Once I put aside my inital nervousness and fear of forgetting my lines it wasnt too bad and I actually quite enjoyed it but im sure i'll cring at my not so oscar provoking performance when i see it!
Missed my usual class with the 1st year students of the Limerick Youth Theatre to take place in a film by the 2nd years. I was to play the mother in the piece - a task I took not to be derogitory even though my on screen daughter was played by a 17 year old! I didnt get my script till just before we started filming so have little time to learn my lines or to worry too much. I had three sceans one a mother daugher moment, another in a doctors office discussing my daughters condition and medication and the thrid in a hospital waiting room which involoved me crying - a difficult proposition when you have only been an actress for an hour! Once I put aside my inital nervousness and fear of forgetting my lines it wasnt too bad and I actually quite enjoyed it but im sure i'll cring at my not so oscar provoking performance when i see it!
Friday 18 Nov 05
Thursday 17 Nov 05
Belltable Film Club
8.00 pm Belltable Arts Centre
Film: Good Morning, Night by Marco Bellochio
"In 1978 Italy, Red Brigade terriorists abducted the statesman Aldo Moro, a past prime Minister ... Marco Bellocchio's terse, speculative revisiting of the shattering incident" starring Maya Sansa, luigi Lo Cascio and Robert Herlitzha.
While waiting in the foyer of the Belltable ( having a look at their current exhibition) I realised that i have never been to the cinema on my own. Im not sure why, I'm not really the most avid cinema goer even though i do love film. Usually its because im not a fan of going the see the latest block buster during the peak of its media push but I'm also not crazy about the massive impersonal multiplexes. The Belltable film club was far from this, I'd never heard of this film on the night - but thought it sounded interesting and the cinema itself was the old faded grandeur of a traditional film space. There were few attendees on the night and I settled down to a really enjoyable night without any one munching in my ear. It's great also to be exposed to a film like Good Morning, Goodnight; one you may not get in your local commercial cinema or video rental store.
The Belltable Film Club
Belltable Arts Centre.
69 O'Connell Street
Limerick
061 319 709 / 866
filmclub@eircom.net
http://www.belltable.ie
Belltable Film Club was founded by Declan McLoughlan over 20 years ago.
8.00 pm Belltable Arts Centre
Film: Good Morning, Night by Marco Bellochio
"In 1978 Italy, Red Brigade terriorists abducted the statesman Aldo Moro, a past prime Minister ... Marco Bellocchio's terse, speculative revisiting of the shattering incident" starring Maya Sansa, luigi Lo Cascio and Robert Herlitzha.
While waiting in the foyer of the Belltable ( having a look at their current exhibition) I realised that i have never been to the cinema on my own. Im not sure why, I'm not really the most avid cinema goer even though i do love film. Usually its because im not a fan of going the see the latest block buster during the peak of its media push but I'm also not crazy about the massive impersonal multiplexes. The Belltable film club was far from this, I'd never heard of this film on the night - but thought it sounded interesting and the cinema itself was the old faded grandeur of a traditional film space. There were few attendees on the night and I settled down to a really enjoyable night without any one munching in my ear. It's great also to be exposed to a film like Good Morning, Goodnight; one you may not get in your local commercial cinema or video rental store.
The Belltable Film Club
Belltable Arts Centre.
69 O'Connell Street
Limerick
061 319 709 / 866
filmclub@eircom.net
http://www.belltable.ie
Belltable Film Club was founded by Declan McLoughlan over 20 years ago.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Wednesday 16 Nov 05
3.30 Meeting with Saint Vincent de Paul
Last year Saint Vincent de Paul were 160 years old.
Their traditional role is in supporting families. They do this through taking their details which they pass on to volunteers who then 'conference' with the family throught vists and find out how they can be of help.This help may take the form of advice, material assistance (christmas hampers, direct payment...) or help with dealing with social services. SVP also run educational schemes(eg breakfast/ homework clubs) ans specialist visitations in hospitals, hospices and prisions.
In Limerick their educational support covers a preschools, traveller children fund, youth groups (boxing, reading, arts clubs), 2nd level (revision projects in examination years and grinds), bursaries for 3rd level and summer camps.
They give housing support through 24units for the elderly and a hostel for47 men fulltime which bed (own room) board and a care plan to help them move on. The also have a drop in centre searving soup, tea and coffee on a daily basis, and shower and laundry facilities . They aslo campaign for social justice.
To volunteer with SVP you just need to have some time available, know what you;d like to do or offer some expertise. Or you can use your own iniative to raise money for SVP with their support (contact them with an application form , 2 referees and a photo id).
The average volunteer with SVP is 57/58 with many volunteers in the 60's and also an active young membership.
www.ulsvp.ie (SVP group in University Limerick)
www.svpmw.ie
MAG Limerick
MAg Limerick was set up 7/8 years ago. It was actuallythe iniative of Mag Ireland who noticed that their were quite a few Mag members around the Limerick area so sent in the MAG cork group to help set up a Limerick Branch.Two of the main iniatives of MAg Limerick used to be the Toy run - where a cavalcade of bikers would bring presents to children in the local hospital at christmas accompanied by Santy in a side car and lobbying on issues related to motorcycle safety. The toy has since been passed over from MAG Limerick, they found the funraising to be a lot of work ( it took up six months of the year) but still happens through someone else. Some of the early campaingns were to the local council on issues just as potholes and hole covers (these are threcherous to bikers when wet or icy). Now a days is 90% with members wanteing to hang out and dicuss makes models etc.
Last year Saint Vincent de Paul were 160 years old.
Their traditional role is in supporting families. They do this through taking their details which they pass on to volunteers who then 'conference' with the family throught vists and find out how they can be of help.This help may take the form of advice, material assistance (christmas hampers, direct payment...) or help with dealing with social services. SVP also run educational schemes(eg breakfast/ homework clubs) ans specialist visitations in hospitals, hospices and prisions.
In Limerick their educational support covers a preschools, traveller children fund, youth groups (boxing, reading, arts clubs), 2nd level (revision projects in examination years and grinds), bursaries for 3rd level and summer camps.
They give housing support through 24units for the elderly and a hostel for47 men fulltime which bed (own room) board and a care plan to help them move on. The also have a drop in centre searving soup, tea and coffee on a daily basis, and shower and laundry facilities . They aslo campaign for social justice.
To volunteer with SVP you just need to have some time available, know what you;d like to do or offer some expertise. Or you can use your own iniative to raise money for SVP with their support (contact them with an application form , 2 referees and a photo id).
The average volunteer with SVP is 57/58 with many volunteers in the 60's and also an active young membership.
www.ulsvp.ie (SVP group in University Limerick)
www.svpmw.ie
MAG Limerick
MAg Limerick was set up 7/8 years ago. It was actuallythe iniative of Mag Ireland who noticed that their were quite a few Mag members around the Limerick area so sent in the MAG cork group to help set up a Limerick Branch.Two of the main iniatives of MAg Limerick used to be the Toy run - where a cavalcade of bikers would bring presents to children in the local hospital at christmas accompanied by Santy in a side car and lobbying on issues related to motorcycle safety. The toy has since been passed over from MAG Limerick, they found the funraising to be a lot of work ( it took up six months of the year) but still happens through someone else. Some of the early campaingns were to the local council on issues just as potholes and hole covers (these are threcherous to bikers when wet or icy). Now a days is 90% with members wanteing to hang out and dicuss makes models etc.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Tuesday 15 Nov 05
10.00 - 1.00 Women' s dog walking group.
Tea and scone in Avoca afterwards.
3.00 Southhill Domestic Abuse project
Confidential provides practical and emotional help and education plus training including support and information (one –to –one support, support groups) and practical help on housing /finance /and legal issues.
Wendy Goggin.
Women's Support Worker
Southhill Domestic Abuse Project
266 Avondale Court
O’Malley Park
Limerick
061 313025
scdp@eircom.net
8.00- 10.00 Aikido
Circle of Harmony Aikido
St. John’s National School
Garryowen
Limerick
http://coh.aikidoinireland.org
Training Schedule:
Tuesday 7.30 –10 pm
Thursday 7.30 –10 pm
Monday, November 14, 2005
Monday 14 Nov 05
10.00 Amnesty International -Limerick Branch
Local branchesof Amnesty campaign and funraise mainly on Irish and local issues. Some of the issues and events the Luimerick branch have supported and been involved in are National Human Rights Day, Voilence against women and mental health. Some of their campaigning efforts include lobbying local politicians and letter writing campaigns. One of the things that realy impressed me with this local approach was Amnestry manner of working with the network of organisation in the city. As John explained if Amnestry want to raise awarness of Volience against women they will seek the advice of orgainsations such as the South Hill Abouse project. To join Amnesty you can do so through the website, they will then send you out news of Amnestry groups and events in your area.
They meet every 2nd Monday of the month over Phenesys bar at 8pm.
7.00 - 10.00 University of Limerick Archery Club
archery@skynet.ie
http://www.skynet.ie/~archery
Olympic Style and Field Archery.
Monday 7.00 –10.00 pm UL Sports Hall
Wednesday 7.00 –10.00 pm UL Sports Hall
Local branchesof Amnesty campaign and funraise mainly on Irish and local issues. Some of the issues and events the Luimerick branch have supported and been involved in are National Human Rights Day, Voilence against women and mental health. Some of their campaigning efforts include lobbying local politicians and letter writing campaigns. One of the things that realy impressed me with this local approach was Amnestry manner of working with the network of organisation in the city. As John explained if Amnestry want to raise awarness of Volience against women they will seek the advice of orgainsations such as the South Hill Abouse project. To join Amnesty you can do so through the website, they will then send you out news of Amnestry groups and events in your area.
They meet every 2nd Monday of the month over Phenesys bar at 8pm.
7.00 - 10.00 University of Limerick Archery Club
archery@skynet.ie
http://www.skynet.ie/~archery
Olympic Style and Field Archery.
Monday 7.00 –10.00 pm UL Sports Hall
Wednesday 7.00 –10.00 pm UL Sports Hall
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Saturday 12 Nov 05
11.00 -1.30 Limerick Youth Theatre
Friday, November 11, 2005
Friday 11 Nov 05
5.30 - 7.00 St. Mary's Cathedral Choir
Dagdha Dance Company
When to Dagdha Mamuska night in their own venue ( a wonderful renovated church).
Mamuska " is a unique night of creativity designed to offer individuals the oportunity to experiment, the the presence of a live audience, with new and evolving artistc works. it aims to create an open space for all people to present or view artistic work in a friendly and favourable environment'.
A great night of dance, poetry, music and performance and wine.
www.dagdha.ie
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Wednesday 9 Nov 05
3.30 Met 2 ladies from the Limerick Art Society and their Chairperson at the pre -opening of their annual exhibition at LCGA.Had a glass of wine and some cheese and grapes on sticks while I chatted.
The society was set up in 1942 and their are currently 110 members. They organise one annual group show which is open to all members, all those who sumit are guarenteed to have at least one work exhibited (up to a total of three). Indeed this inclusivness is the ethos of the Society, all grades of those interested in the visual arts can join; from those who dont paint at all (for they are prdomently painters) for those who are regularly to be seen with brush in hand. Throughout the year they also organise demonstrations and talks and night of tutrials for members by professional artistsOne of the reasons for joining the ladies pointed out were that art is a solitary activity and in joing the group you get to speak to people with similar interests.
8.00 -10.00 Limerick Camera Club Mary I
The Limerick Camera club meets to give classes, lectures, run competitions, encourage beginners and discuss photography.
Tonights lecture was on digital photography by Eoin Stephenson from Ul. The talk mainly focused on photoshop, how to manipulate and correct images. Some of the infomation I knew before from pass classess and trying to figure stuff out on photoshop myself, but others i didnt. I think thats one of the tings with photshop its so vast you will only ever know so much, what you need to know, so dipping into someone elses hard one tricks is very valuable. Some of the things I learned are:
When sharpening an image (using unsharpen mask) so not as to degrade the image turn it to LAB mode, isolate B/W and sharpen.To make a coplor photo B/W boost the levels then turn to greyscale.The camera icon at the bottom of history takes a copy of a layer. There was also a very interesting discussion about ethics in digital photgraphy, with Eoin suggesting that digital phtography is the "truth you want to speak". Another nice quote from him is " Photographs are a language, they are elegant and they speak".
Tuesday 8 Nov 05
7.00 -9.30 Limerick School of Arms - Classical Fencing.
Upstairs from the School of Economics is Limerick School of Arms - 'the only dedicated fencing facility in Ireland and only the second dedicated classical fencing facility in Europe'.
The instructor who runs the school is Neville Gawley who became passionate about classical fencing while studing under a master in New York. One coming to Limerick Neville wanted to continue fencing and found to do so he would have to set up his own school. On the night I arrived 2 other fencers were practicing Yann (who is also and Archery instructor) and a lasy fencer.
Neville talked me though some of the history of classical fencing and showed me examples of various types of weapons; foil, epee, backsword, cudgelling, and La Canne Italiana (a type of fencing with a walking stick). And then the fencing! With my own practice foil in hand Neville went through the poses and moves - that may sond simple but it actually takes quiet a lot of concentration to get them right as the difference in getting it right or wrong can be down to a slight turn of a wrist. Neville is a great teacher thoguh - very patient and willing to go over moves gain and again until you understand and get it right. One of the most trilling parts of the evening was learning and performing the movements for 'on guard'. It really apealled to the romantic in me and also the kid who would be a mustakeer! Not only was the evening enjoyable but i think it was a pretty good workout too.
Lots of people I talked to after doing fencing have been ' wow I'd love to do that' ' I didnt know there was a fencing shool in Limerick". Its definenly one of the persuits that show you that you cant know everything going on in a city.
Monday 7 Nov 05
Phone call from Limerick Leader looking for more info on project and some photos.
Interview with Pippa focusing ondocumentation v's experience and ethetics.
Interview with Pippa focusing ondocumentation v's experience and ethetics.
Saturday 5 Nov 05
11-1.00 Limerick Youth Theatre
Today Moliere and The Restoration.
Today Moliere and The Restoration.
Friday 4 Nov 05
11.30-1 Scribblers
Discussed reading, what type of works we like, authors etc.
Joe gave me 2 copies of his book Shannon Die...Never the prequelto his recently published work Shannon to Subitus. One he as donated to the archive and the other is for me. I cant wait to read it.
5 -7.15 St. Mary's Cathedral Choir
One of the hymns practiced tonight was The Souls of the Righteous by Stanley Merchant, some of the lyrics are"The souls of the righteouss are in the hand of god and there shall no torment no torment touch them. In the sight of the un-wise they seem'd to die. But they are in peace, they are in peace, they are in peace." There was just something about it that was .. im not sure chilling maybe or haunting, like i couldnt wriggle free of the sadness of it. Many of the hymns are like that reverend and solmn with peaks of elation. They also practiced A song of the spirit of wisdom by Selby (a psalm) its my favouite so far - pecause of the words rather than the tune as psalms are quite regmented in sound."Maranatha" was a word in another hymn, beautiful sounding, I wonder what it means?
8.00 -10.00 The Thomond Archeology and Historical Society.
Mary I college. This was the most formal lecture of those I have attended, that may have had something to do with the room also - I was your typical stepped leacture hall rahter than the class romm setting. Because of this I just slipped in and seated myself. Despite that is was obvious tha its very much a group ; with people chatting and greeting eachother on entry. The age range was 30's to 80's and of the 36 attending tonight 12 we women and 24 men.The lecturer was Dr. Marion Dowd from UCC . Liam who I think may be the Society Chairman gave her and introduction.The talk was on the excavations on a partiular cave - Glencurran cave in the burren.
Discussed reading, what type of works we like, authors etc.
Joe gave me 2 copies of his book Shannon Die...Never the prequelto his recently published work Shannon to Subitus. One he as donated to the archive and the other is for me. I cant wait to read it.
5 -7.15 St. Mary's Cathedral Choir
One of the hymns practiced tonight was The Souls of the Righteous by Stanley Merchant, some of the lyrics are"The souls of the righteouss are in the hand of god and there shall no torment no torment touch them. In the sight of the un-wise they seem'd to die. But they are in peace, they are in peace, they are in peace." There was just something about it that was .. im not sure chilling maybe or haunting, like i couldnt wriggle free of the sadness of it. Many of the hymns are like that reverend and solmn with peaks of elation. They also practiced A song of the spirit of wisdom by Selby (a psalm) its my favouite so far - pecause of the words rather than the tune as psalms are quite regmented in sound."Maranatha" was a word in another hymn, beautiful sounding, I wonder what it means?
8.00 -10.00 The Thomond Archeology and Historical Society.
Mary I college. This was the most formal lecture of those I have attended, that may have had something to do with the room also - I was your typical stepped leacture hall rahter than the class romm setting. Because of this I just slipped in and seated myself. Despite that is was obvious tha its very much a group ; with people chatting and greeting eachother on entry. The age range was 30's to 80's and of the 36 attending tonight 12 we women and 24 men.The lecturer was Dr. Marion Dowd from UCC . Liam who I think may be the Society Chairman gave her and introduction.The talk was on the excavations on a partiular cave - Glencurran cave in the burren.
Thursday 3 Nov 05
Phonecall from St Marys Art Group.
Limerick Climbing and Crochet Club. 10pm Souths Pub.
I headed off with my instructions of where to find the club congregated in the bar but still felt slightly nearvous like i was heading off on a blind date with 20 people. I wasnt hard to spot them and they quickly gathered me into their fold proffering a pint and all.
The group was originally part of the Ul Climbing club but formed a break away group due to the constrains on a club within a college - no outings during exams or non term time etc.
About the name - well its actually more of a hiking club than climbing but some of the walks are steep or difficult (they range in difficuly so check before you decide to join one) the crochect bit came in as a tongue in cheek way to attract more lady members but its also a reference to a type of knot used in climbing.
There are plenty of ladies in the club now and a lot of members overall - some come regularly and some very infrequently. The reason they meet in a pub used to be to plan the next walk but now thats all done well in advance so now its more of a socail event and a way for new members to come along and find out about the club, ask questions and get to know some of the members. This I think is a great idea, there was another newbee their tonight who didnt know anyone in the club but was keen to join and I could see that the process really broke the ice and also allowed time to ask important questions about kit etc.
Kit is really important when in come to hiking, these guys are very keen of =n safetly and if your kit is not up to scratch you just arent going on a walk. Its fair both on the leaders who want to keep everyone in one piece, on you fellow walkers who want to enjoy their day out and on yourself - and jopur into a 5 hour walk you dont want to be suffering from blisters to you? let alone anthing more serious. So it can be an expensive hobby once youve gotten all the gear but one thing that really came throguh on speaking to people was that its a way of life and once you do get into it it can change the way you live or at least spend you weekends! It is easy to fall in love with the idea of tapsing up mountain the wind in your hair the fresh air in your lungs, getting out and experincing the country rahter than looking at it throught a window.
Limerick Climbing and Crochet Club. 10pm Souths Pub.
I headed off with my instructions of where to find the club congregated in the bar but still felt slightly nearvous like i was heading off on a blind date with 20 people. I wasnt hard to spot them and they quickly gathered me into their fold proffering a pint and all.
The group was originally part of the Ul Climbing club but formed a break away group due to the constrains on a club within a college - no outings during exams or non term time etc.
About the name - well its actually more of a hiking club than climbing but some of the walks are steep or difficult (they range in difficuly so check before you decide to join one) the crochect bit came in as a tongue in cheek way to attract more lady members but its also a reference to a type of knot used in climbing.
There are plenty of ladies in the club now and a lot of members overall - some come regularly and some very infrequently. The reason they meet in a pub used to be to plan the next walk but now thats all done well in advance so now its more of a socail event and a way for new members to come along and find out about the club, ask questions and get to know some of the members. This I think is a great idea, there was another newbee their tonight who didnt know anyone in the club but was keen to join and I could see that the process really broke the ice and also allowed time to ask important questions about kit etc.
Kit is really important when in come to hiking, these guys are very keen of =n safetly and if your kit is not up to scratch you just arent going on a walk. Its fair both on the leaders who want to keep everyone in one piece, on you fellow walkers who want to enjoy their day out and on yourself - and jopur into a 5 hour walk you dont want to be suffering from blisters to you? let alone anthing more serious. So it can be an expensive hobby once youve gotten all the gear but one thing that really came throguh on speaking to people was that its a way of life and once you do get into it it can change the way you live or at least spend you weekends! It is easy to fall in love with the idea of tapsing up mountain the wind in your hair the fresh air in your lungs, getting out and experincing the country rahter than looking at it throught a window.
Wednesday 2 Nov 05
Phone call from Amnesty international Limerick branch.
Shanonside Astronomy Club. 8pm Mary Immaculate College.
I got talking to one of the founding members of the club as I waited outside of the meeting to start (there was a board meeting going on inside). He explained that the club strted in 1985 after a astronomy classes given by a Ul Lecturer - the attendees of which decided to set up the club after the classes ended. They currently have articles in the Limerick leader with are focused at everybody rather than just the astronmically learned.
The club aims to encompass all levels of learning and interest in astronomy and is very open to new members. Indeed they were very friendly and only to delighted to give me information about themselves, at the end of the class many members stared behind to give advice to one new member on their new telescope. Their was 22 members at this meeting, men and women from late teens to 80's with a leaning towards men in their 30-60's not that this seemed to matter it was all about the skies!
The night opened with a presentation on whats happening in the sky currently - what you can see and when. This was very accessable to the lay person. Many of the sights can actually be seen with the naked eye others require a telescope. Really madee me think about looking up more often. I have thought about this in relation to architecture in the city - the need to look up but hadnt really focused on looking beyond that. There is the obvoius 'it makes you feel very small' but more than that it makes you feel very ignorant (not the club!) to think we (your average pleb) doesnt take more interest in whats going on beyond our own little space.
Little titbits I picked up are:
If the sun sets to your right then you are facing south (I could never remember what why this is)
All stars rise and set like the sun does.
An intersting area touched on was astral photography - would love to know more about the methods of this but I wont be around on the lecture date, it i believe entails attaching an SLR camera to a telescope.
Tonights lecture was on Quasars. I was warned that this might be a more technically diffecult talk that theie usual it did get away from me at times but was interesting none the less. So lets see I hope I have this right..
The first quasar (named 3C48) was a compact radion source identified with a 'stellar object'. A quasar has more radio waves than a star. All galaxies are moving away from us, all space is expanding- like the rising of a cooking pudding. The wave length of a source of light is moving away - toward the red end of the spectrum).
Nothing can move faster than the speed of light, light always moves at the same speed, 3 billion meters per second.
Radio images show jets of material emerging from the centres of quasars at speeds close to light, probably the axis of rotation of the black whole.
Their are billions of quasars - they are all light years away.
The galaxies that are fading now dont have quzars at their centre.
Ok I could have that all wrong but thats what I picked up.
Reading that some of the members reccommended are "Universe" by Kaufman (a textbook), Nightsky magazine, Astronomy magazine (nice images) and Sky and Telescope).
Shanonside Astronomy Club. 8pm Mary Immaculate College.
I got talking to one of the founding members of the club as I waited outside of the meeting to start (there was a board meeting going on inside). He explained that the club strted in 1985 after a astronomy classes given by a Ul Lecturer - the attendees of which decided to set up the club after the classes ended. They currently have articles in the Limerick leader with are focused at everybody rather than just the astronmically learned.
The club aims to encompass all levels of learning and interest in astronomy and is very open to new members. Indeed they were very friendly and only to delighted to give me information about themselves, at the end of the class many members stared behind to give advice to one new member on their new telescope. Their was 22 members at this meeting, men and women from late teens to 80's with a leaning towards men in their 30-60's not that this seemed to matter it was all about the skies!
The night opened with a presentation on whats happening in the sky currently - what you can see and when. This was very accessable to the lay person. Many of the sights can actually be seen with the naked eye others require a telescope. Really madee me think about looking up more often. I have thought about this in relation to architecture in the city - the need to look up but hadnt really focused on looking beyond that. There is the obvoius 'it makes you feel very small' but more than that it makes you feel very ignorant (not the club!) to think we (your average pleb) doesnt take more interest in whats going on beyond our own little space.
Little titbits I picked up are:
If the sun sets to your right then you are facing south (I could never remember what why this is)
All stars rise and set like the sun does.
An intersting area touched on was astral photography - would love to know more about the methods of this but I wont be around on the lecture date, it i believe entails attaching an SLR camera to a telescope.
Tonights lecture was on Quasars. I was warned that this might be a more technically diffecult talk that theie usual it did get away from me at times but was interesting none the less. So lets see I hope I have this right..
The first quasar (named 3C48) was a compact radion source identified with a 'stellar object'. A quasar has more radio waves than a star. All galaxies are moving away from us, all space is expanding- like the rising of a cooking pudding. The wave length of a source of light is moving away - toward the red end of the spectrum).
Nothing can move faster than the speed of light, light always moves at the same speed, 3 billion meters per second.
Radio images show jets of material emerging from the centres of quasars at speeds close to light, probably the axis of rotation of the black whole.
Their are billions of quasars - they are all light years away.
The galaxies that are fading now dont have quzars at their centre.
Ok I could have that all wrong but thats what I picked up.
Reading that some of the members reccommended are "Universe" by Kaufman (a textbook), Nightsky magazine, Astronomy magazine (nice images) and Sky and Telescope).
Tuesday 1 Nov 05
Emails from Universtiy of Limerick Badminton Club, Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) Limerick and Limerick Camera Club
Filing system arrived.
Filing system arrived.
Sat 29 Oct 05
11-1 Limerick Youth Theatre
Today Elizabeth and Jacobean theatre.
