HOSPITALITY in Limerick, nor charity, has not bottomed out with the recession. Aroma Coffee House hosted the announcement of 2010’s Roches Street Traders Association’s Art Festival, treating the company to a right glass with cheese and grape kebabs. The September show will take place in the lobbies, windows and on the walls of shops and services of this owner-managed street, with proceeds going to two charities, St Gabriel’s Centre and Milford Hospice.
Somethings old (supporting Milford, a united street, generating business) and somethings new were on the agenda with smoked salmon.
“St Gabriel’s was nominated as the beneficiary on my suggestion as it does wonderful work,” the association’s chair Michael Murphy told Arts page. “We are looking for artists to donate work this year as passing on 25 per cent of sales proceeds to charity is great, but passing on the full €300 say cost of a painting sold is much better. Last year we did very well raising €6,000 for Milford Hospice only and this year we hope to increase that by having more works donated”.
He makes the point that there are no big sales of €6/700 as they had before and with the help of Limerick Chamber of Commerce, traders are tying in with Limerick School of Art and Design to secure the work of graduates and under graduates. Enter Kieran McSweeney, president of the chamber, who came to launch the show.
“It’s good to see traders on the street united with a focus in this very important initiative of supporting charities and attractive additional business into the city,” commented Mr McSweeny. “One of the initiatives this year will be extending the sale to student art portfolios of LSAD with that of established artists. The quality of their work is actually outstanding and it’s extremely important to give these students a platform and perhaps by mentored by the established artists”.
His point is that LSAD is part of Limerick Insitute of Technology and “it’s important to see the links between the third level colleges and commercial interest in the city”.
Mission accomplished with the press, Roches Street traders and friends – James Walsh of Fine Wines; artist Jim O’Farrell; Dan Lawless of Lawless Flowers; Anne Dynan of JustSplit.com; Laura and Garvin Barry of Dolly Boutique; Brian and Christine Murphy with daughter Juliette – closed the doors of Aroma for festive feasting with Kate Sheahan of St Gabriel’s Centre, and Andy O’Connell and Sr Phyllis Donnellan of Milford Hospice.
