27 & 28 May | Limerick Gathering @ The Lime Tree Theatre
For over two decades, our annual Gathering has been a landmark event in the performing arts calendar. This year, we’re on our way to The Lime Tree Theatre Limerick for two days of conversation, provocation, and inspiration.
On this page you’ll be able to
-
- Book your ticket
- Have a look at hotel deals
- Apply for Independent artists and arts workers bursaries
- Find out more about accessibility at The Gathering
- Making your way – travel info
We are delighted to announce that Julie Kelleher will curate the Tuesday programme at The Gathering this year. Julie brings a wealth of expertise and a visionary approach to her work in the performing arts and we are excited to see how her creative vision will shape this year’s Gathering. More information about Julie at the bottom of this page.
A note from Julie Kelleher on her Tuesday afternoon curation.
Book your ticket
We’re delighted to be partnering with Ticketsolve to sell our tickets this year. You can still purchase tickets on this link. Your ticket includes day sessions, artistic programme, bespoke walking tour, lunch on both days and evening dinner.
Ticket prices:
- Non-member – Early Bird* €280 / Full Price €300
- Organisation member – Early Bird* €140 / Full Price €150
- Freelance artists/arts worker – Early Bird* €100 / Full Price €110
*Early Bird prices closed at 5pm on Tuesday 18th March
Networking at the Gathering – PAF Finders
As this is going to be our largest ever Gathering, we want to make networking and connecting as easy as possible. Inspired by the lovely Buddy System at IETM plenaries, we’re adding our own twist. If you’re attending on your own, or simply want to step outside your usual circle and meet new people, you can take part in PAF Finders – our informal peer connection programme
We’d love you to get involved – You can sign up as a:
- PAF Guest – a first-time or solo attendee, or someone keen to make new connections. You’ll be paired with a friendly point of contact to help you find your feet.
- PAF Host – a Gathering regular who’s happy to help someone feel at home and get the most out of the two days.
We’ll match you up and introduce you to each other by Thursday 23 May, so you can connect in advance by email. There’ll also be a PAF Finders meet-up at 13:00 on Tuesday 27 May at the big bank of steps outside the Lime Tree.
👉 Sign up by 5pm on Friday 16 May using this form.
Questions? Get in touch with Paul Donnelly at paul@performingartsforum.ie.
Gathering Stage
Performing Arts Forum (PAF) and the Irish Society of Performance Designers (ISPD) have teamed up to reimagine the stage for this year’s Gathering!
Co-ordinated by Molly O’Cathain, designers Mar Parés Baraldés (set) and Conor McGowan (lighting) will create a stage that not only inspires us visually, but also brings the principles of the Theatre Green Book to life in practice. There will more on this in the coming weeks.
We can’t wait for you to see it!
Schedule Tuesday 27 May
| Time | Session | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 – 13:45 | Lunch & Registration | Slí, TARA Building |
| 13:00 | PAF Finders meet-up | Steps, TARA Building |
| 13:45 – 14:00 | Welcome | Lime Tree Theatre |
| 14:00 – 15:15 | A Case Study in Changemaking: 10 Years on from #WakingTheFeminists Chaired panel with Lian Bell and Sarah Durcan looking back at the mechanics of this sea change in Irish theatre: the catalyst, organising for change, crafting a communal vision for change, and delivering it. |
Lime Tree Theatre |
| 15:15 – 15:45 | A Short Sharp Shock | Lime Tree Theatre |
| 15:45 – 16:15 | Coffee Break | Slí, TARA Building |
| 16:15 – 17:45 | Panel: The All-Seeing WE Harnessing the power of the hivemind, the all-seeing WE, we’ve invited a range of colleagues – artists and arts workers – working in circus, dance, music and theatre all around the island of Ireland to outline a vision for their desired future of the performing arts. Panellists: Paula Clarke, Valentina Gambardella, Gabriel Graves, Georgina Miller, Choy-Ping Ní Chléirigh-Ng 吳彩萍, Zoe Ní Riordáin, Áine Stapleton, Fadi Zmorrod. |
Lime Tree Theatre |
| 18:00 – 19:30 | Artistic Programme curated by Gill NicConmara Gathering attendees will be split into two groups at The Lime Tree Theatre, one heading to Belltable and other to The Gaff. We will be joined by amazing performers Lumen Street Theatre, The Wild Geeze, Virgo Moon, Stevie Storm, and T.A. Narrative. Lots more info here. |
The Gaff & Belltable |
| 20:00 – 00:00 | Dinner & Dancing Join us at Dolan’s for evening food, a DJ, and chats. Please use the entrance on St Alphonsus Street. |
Dolans |
Wednesday 28 May
| Time | Session | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 9:20 – 10:50 | Aerial Creation Centre (IACC) Attendees are invited to a special morning visit to the Irish Aerial Creation Centre (IACC)—Ireland’s national home for aerial dance and home to its founding company, Fidget Feet Aerial Dance. Located in Corbally, Co. Clare, just a short journey from Limerick city, the IACC offers a unique insight into aerial arts in Ireland. Places are limited to 30. Sign-up here. |
Bus pick up at George Hotel will drop to Lime Tree |
| Optional 09:45 – 10:55 | Audience Insights 2024: What We’ve Learned – and What’s Next Over the past three years, Performing Arts Forum has worked closely with Heather Maitland and Katy Raines (Indigo) to develop a robust Audience Insights programme for the performing arts sector. In this Gathering session, we’ll share the key findings from our 2024 data – what it tells us about audience behaviours, attitudes, and trends across Ireland – and what this means for our sector. |
Lime Tree Theatre |
| Optional 09:45 – 10:55 | Green by Design – Designing Stages with Environmental Intention Join us for a fast-paced session of ideas, reflections, and practical insights on how environmental thinking is reshaping stage design — from sets and costumes to lighting and direction. Hear from the Green Arts Initiative in Ireland, ISPD, and a selection of designers sharing their experiences and tools for more sustainable practice. Bring your questions, ideas, and challenges – there’ll be plenty of time for discussion and exchange |
T118 |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Parallel Sessions Performing Arts Forum greatly values its working groups, which foster deeper connection, collaboration, and understanding across our membership and sector. At this point in the Gathering, we’ll break into these groups to continue the conversation in smaller, focused settings. These conversations will be followed by a coffee break, giving you time to continue connecting and talking.Independent Independent Artists & Arts Workers: T118 Arts Centres: Lime Tree Theatre Producer/Production Companies: T116 Festivals: T117 |
Lime Tree Theatre T116 T117 T118 |
| 12:00 – 12:20 | Coffee Break | Slí, TARA Building |
| 12:25 – 13:40 | Closing Plenary As The Gathering 2025 draws to a close, you’ll hear from the National Campaign for the Arts, Minding Creative Minds, the Green Arts Initiative in Ireland, and the Arts Coaching Collective, each offering insights and resources to support your practice and the wider sector. We’ll also share what’s coming up for Performing Arts Forum — including our evolving strategy and how you can get involved. Before we break for a well-earned lunch, we’ll open the floor to you, then wrap things up with our very own voxpop surprise! |
Lime Tree Theatre |
| 13:45 – 14:45 | Closing Lunch & Goodbye | Mary I canteen |
Your Stay in Limerick
For more information on accommodation deals please see our list here
Accessibility
Theatre Venue The Lime Tree Theatre is fully accessible: If you wish to avail of any of their following facilities : Wheelchair spaces, Loop Systems, Changing Places Facilities or Guide/Assistance Dogs – please contact paul@performingartsforum.ie.
Accommodation For individual hotels accessibility facilities please see notes on our accommodation page here.
Bursaries for independent artists and arts workers
You can view the available list of bursaries on this link.
Getting There
By train: There are direct train services from Dublin (Heuston Station – change at Limerick Junction), Cork & Galway to Limerick: See Irish Rail for full details.
By bus: There are direct services to Limerick from Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Waterford:
See Bus Eireann for full details, as well as connecting travel nationwide.
By car: For those wishing to travel by car, we have set up a carpool for this event. Either log your interest in availing of a lift or that you have a car and willing to take passengers interested in attending
Parking: For individual hotel parking, please see hotel notes on accommodation page
For multi-connecting travel, over the border travel routes and directions try Rome2Rio website for options, pricings and booking
Speakers & Panel Curator
Julie Kelleher
Julie is a Theatre Director and Producer. She holds a BA and an MA in Drama & Theatre Studies from UCC and was the 2022/23 Jerome Hynes Clore Leadership Fellow. Current projects include the redevelopment of Evening Train, a musical by Mick Flannery.
Directing credits include: Found by Aideen Wylde (BrokenCrow/Cork Midsummer Festival), The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh (The Everyman), Bluetooth by Rachel Thornton (The Everyman), Autumn Royal by Kevin Barry (The Everyman, associate director for remount), Dancing At Lughnasa by Brian Friel (The Everyman), The Factory Girls by Frank McGuinness (The Everyman), The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig (The Everyman), Lovers by Brian Friel (The Everyman), Mantle by Ronan FitzGibbon (BrokenCrow).
Producing credits include the world premiere of Mick Flannery’s Evening Train musical (2019), the world premiere of Asking for It by Louise O’Neill (Landmark Productions and The Everyman, 2018), the world premiere of Autumn Royal by Kevin Barry (The Everyman, 2017) and the Irish premiere of Futureproof by Lynda Radley (The Everyman, 2017), and The Scarlet Letter, devised by Conflicted Theatre Company after Nathaniel Hawthorne (2013).
She was Artistic Director/CEO at Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray from 2020 – 2024 and Artistic Director of The Everyman, Cork from 2014 to 2020. She has a professional background in performance (acting and singing) and worked as an actor, director & producer with numerous Irish arts organisations and companies, including Painted Bird, Conflicted, BrokenCrow, Kinsale Arts Week, Cork Midsummer Festival, Hammergrin, Corcadorca, Meridian, Dublin Theatre Festival, Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, The Performance Corporation, Gare St. Lazare, Once Off Productions, Landmark Productions, and Siren Productions. Most recently, Julie completed MAKE an artist development programme presented by Cork Midsummer, Dublin Fringe Festival and Project Arts Centre.
Julie joined the board of Graffiti Theatre Company in September 2017 and is the current chair. She sits on the Irish Playography Panel at Irish Theatre Institute and served on the board of Theatre Forum from 2016 to 2022, taking on the role of Chair in the final three years of her term.
Artistic Programme
Gill NicConmara
Gill McNamara is a company stage manager, producer, and artistic programmer. She specialises in stage management, company management, production coordination, and artistic curatorship. She holds a BA in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies from Mary Immaculate College.
Gill’s most recent productions include company stage management for Jilly Morgan’s Birthday Party (Lime Tree Theatre); stage management for The Summer I Robbed a Bank (The Everyman); The Bus (Barnstorm); Gatman (The Everyman and Dublin Fringe Festival); and Found (BrokenCrow and The Everyman, in association with Cork Midsummer Festival and Clonmel Junction Arts Festival).
Other credits include stage management and creative collaboration for The Crow’s Way (Moonfish Theatre / Dublin Theatre Festival / Baboró International Arts Festival for Children); company stage management for Red Army (Lime Tree Theatre); and stage management for Pucked (Up All Night / Cathal Ryan).
Beyond production work, Gill is the current Co Artistic Programme Coordinator for The Gathering with the Lime Tree Theatre, and a producer with Moonfish Theatre, overseeing the development of new work such as Why The Moon Travels. She is passionate about fostering collaborative and inclusive creative spaces and supporting the next generation of performing arts audiences and artists. She hopes you enjoy the Artistic Programme!
Wild Geeze
Remember those viral hits like “Any Oaks?” and “Leave Molly Malone alone”? The Wild Geeze are the queens of comedy cabaret, with gems like “The Hoes of Tralee.” If you crave wild Irish humor, enchanting harmonies, and a hint of rebellion against the agricultural patriarchy, The Wild Geeze are your ticket. Join farmer comedian Breda Larkin and the hilarious burlesque chanteuse Miss Lavelle for a chaotically charming cabaret experience that’s anything but ordinary.
These modern Irish women are a boldly unique duo that seamlessly blend queer politics with everything from earthworms, oak trees, grief, masturbation, mental health and Joe Dolan. Their cabaret defies expectations, combining fierce feminism, culchie empowerment with enchanting harmonies, vagina puppets and biting social commentary.
Lumen Street Theatre
Lumen Street Theatre are Martin Shannon and Giordana Giache. Lumen works with communities and aims to revitalize the arts in local communities by engaging collectively to create street theatre through engagement programs, workshops and community participation to present scenes and performances that are visually spectacular, distinctive and inspiring.
With years of experience initiating programmes in schools and communities, Lumen are well-placed to deliver a high standard of training and professional engagement. Putting an emphasis on the practical as well as the theoretical, Lumen currently delivers a programme of work that gets immediate and exciting results from communities. Lumen provide workshops in schools; youth clubs, seasonal camps and within communities; these workshops facilitate making and creative thinking through arts, crafts, poetry, music, story and performance. Lumen members have created several Murals throughout the mid -west and pride themselves on delivering the spectacular.
T.A. Narrative
“Dynamic, immersive, intricate, authentic and creative” are just some of the words used to describe local pop superstars T.A. Narrative.
Celebrate Limerick’s roaring independent music scene with a duo who, with their new label SASP, are at the heart of Limericks music scene, and have been special guests to the likes of Les Savy Fav, King Kong Company, Bush Tetras, and Le Boom.
Get ready to dance at a live show that is both exciting and cathartic, using visuals created by local artists and music that “embodies the essence of freedom and connection.