2013-01-30 17:15:22 - More than 150 people last night attended the first in a series of six free lectures exploring Limerick’s past, present and future.

Limerick County Council is presently hosting its sixth season of fortnightly biennial lectures on the Built Heritage of Limerick at Limerick County Hall in Dooradoyle

The themes of the public lectures include Medieval Limerick City, the architectural history of the University of Limerick, the Archaeology of Mills and Milling in County Limerick and the ‘Limerick 2030’ strategy.

The first lecture was held last night and featured a presentation by Dr. Matthew Stout on one of the most common features of the Limerick landscape, the Ringfort.

“These free lectures focus on individual aspects of the built heritage surrounding us in the landscape of Limerick City and County, from the historic landscape right up to the present or on this occasion the future,” explained Joan

MacKernan, Arts Officer, Limerick County Council.

Other topics scheduled to be covered during February and March include ‘Medieval Limerick City Today’ presented by Brian Hodkinson of Limerick City Museum; ‘The Archaeology of mills and milling in Co. Limerick from the early medieval period to c.1900’ hosted by Dr. Colin Rynne of UCC; and ‘The University of Limerick: a technological university on the banks of the Shannon’ presented by architect, historic building consultant, architectural historian and writer, Judith Hill.

The final lecture on March 26th is ‘Limerick 2030: An economic Strategy and Spatial Plan for Limerick’ presented by the principal author of the report, Gerry Hughes of GVA. The blueprint is described as a ‘once in a generation strategy’ to guide the economic, social and physical renaissance of the city and wider county and city region.

For further information contact: Limerick County Council, County Hall, Dooradoyle, Limerick; or Tel: 061 496498 / 496300.