NEWS

Bottom Dog Theatre: Me, Myself, and Them

Our friends at local theatre company Bottom Dog are hard at work preparing Me, Myself, and Them. An adaptation of the novel of the same name by local author Dan Mooney, the play is a dark story of loss, friendship, love and the lengths people go to cope.

We were joined for workshopping of the play by Mooney, Limerick pantomime legend Myles Breen and prodigious musician Emma Langford. We were also paid a visit by The Plasterer: the clownish villain of the piece, created by Em Fisher, Ivan Fisher Owen and Ella Daly.

Me, Myself, and Them will arrive on the stage soon. Watch this space!

Wonder walls for Cruinniu na nÓg

The Walls Project recently joined us at The GAFF for Wonder Walls, a bold, hands-on street art experience for young people! It was a pleasure to welcome artist Ella Daly and the participants on the day.

Wonder Walls forms part of Cruinniú na nÓg, a nationwide celebration to enable the creative potential of children and young people.

The GAFF's new building on 30 Lord Edward Street is a dedicated space to give artists and groups this support. Get in touch at theatreperformancehub@gmail.com if you would like to find out more about our operation.

Wonder Walls was made possible by Creative Ireland and Limerick Arts Office.

In a classroom with low, purple lighting, Frank McCarthy stands next to a young person at a table and reads their writing. Frank has short, dark hair and a beard, and he wears dark clothes. There are two other young people seated at the table. — Image by Marceli Slonina.

Templemore Youthreach Day

Thank you to the young people of Templemore, who recently joined us for a wonderful Youthreach Day!

Artists Frank McCarthy, Harry Bradshaw, Shannen Slattery and Eoin Burke Maguire guided the young people in making artworks and connecting with their creativity.

This Youthreach Day was organised by The GAFF in collaboration with Local Creative Youth Partnership Tipperary.

college players centenary on nationwide

College Players, Limerick's oldest theatre company, are celebrating their 100th anniversary with an exhibition and publication of a new book edited by Dave Griffin, Joan McGarry and Niall Moore.

To mark the occassion, the company appeared on RTÉ Nationwide on 1 May 2026, coinciding with the All-Ireland Drama Finals. Matt Kelly and Marian Malone filmed the College Players at their new home at The GAFF on Edward Street, Limerick. Several members were interviewed about their involvement over the years and the company's productions and legacy.

You can watch the College Players’ Nationwide slot on the RTÉ Player here.

College Players: A Century of Theatre 1926–2026 is available for purchase from O'Mahonys on O'Connell Street and every Easons in Limerick city.

An evening of three plays | The Lanahrone Players

The Lanahrone Players, Limerick’s newest troupe, will join us in The GAFF tonight and tomorrow for 'An Evening of Three Plays'.

The Players will present:

the thought-provoking 'What Would I Do Without You?'
'Fourteen', a comedy of manners set in the Roaring Twenties of New York
the psychological drama 'Crime'

These hotly-anticipated performances have been fully sold out for weeks!

A shakey showcase surprise | LCETB performing arts

Move over, Jessie Buckley – Shakespeare has come to The GAFF!

Performing Arts students at LCETB presented 'A Shakey Showcase Surprise' on Thursday, 26th March 2026. The students performed a variety of Shakespeare monologues, with some surprises along the way.

The GAFF's new building on 30 Lord Edward Street is a dedicated space to give artists and groups this support. Get in touch at theatreperformancehub@gmail.com if you would like to book.

REVISITING THE BANSHEE

The GAFF is delighted to announce its collaboration with artists Aileen Lambert and Michael Fortune for a new project, Revisiting the Banshee, twenty years following the release of their enormously popular folklore film The Banshee Lives in the Handball Alley.

The original film still holds a very special place in the hearts of Limerick people and is regarded by many as an exemplar across Ireland’s public art projects and one that has left an enduring legacy in the communities of Ballynanty and St. Mary’s where it was recorded.

Commencing in March 2025 the artists returned to Limerick to work with students in St. Mary’s National School, Bishop St. and with Thomond Primary School to create a new film. The process draws on elements of the original film with input from some of the young people, now in their 30s, who took part in the project in 2004.

In tandem with the work in primary schools, a public screening of the 2004 film took place in The GAFF on March 22nd. Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert joined past and present project participants to talk about the experience of having been involved in the film and how the new project is likely to take shape.

Recordings for the new film, with students from 5th and 6th classes in participating schools will take place in April with editing happening over the summer. The new work will premiere during Belltable’s Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival in October. Revisiting the Banshee is made possible with support from The Arts Council / An Chomairle Ealaíon and Limerick Arts Office.

New company home: Phase one Complete

Our new home on Edward St. achieved completion of Phase 1 renovations early Autumn 2024. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Limerick City and County Council, the JP McManus Benevolent Fund, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, College Players, Limerick Arts office and our colleagues in Limerick’s arts and community sector, all of whom have helped us realise this project. We look forward to Phase 2 commencing in 2025.

strategic plan 2025 - 2027

midART

Collaborative arts practice has seen a rich growth in the Midwest region of Ireland in recent years. Sometimes referred to as community arts or socially engaged practice, collaborative projects and programmes essentially involve connection between professional artists and communities of place or of interest.

The GAFF now presents MidART, a publication that shines a light on artists who are currently working or who have recently worked with community groups in different locations across Limerick and Clare. The list comprises artists engaging communities through dance, theatre, visual art, music and spectacle.

We hope that this publication promotes contemporary, collaborative arts practice in our region and we welcome suggestions for future publications.