A project backed by Limerick County Council and FAS is currently recording and researching the heritage and folklore of west Limerick.
Operating under the title Duchas Dochas - From our Heritage Springs Hope - the project is based at the former Limerick County Council offices in Newcastle West. Its director is Mr David O'Grady (23) from Rathkeale, who has a degree in Irish and media studies from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
He sees the project as long-term. "It is a limited company and has major sponsors," he said. Since last autumn ten FAS trainees have been working out of the Bishop Street premises. "As everyone in the area will know, west Co Limerick is teeming with local history and folklore ranging from the most unassuming ring fort or standing stone to the domineering structure of a castle in the countryside or Desmond's Hall in Newcastle West," Mr O'Grady said.
He added: "There are stories and traditions associated with these national monuments and on every facet of life and daily occurrence, be they of a spiritual kind or not."
The project aims to research and document this history and stories. The first stages of a database of national monuments in the locality has already been developed.
The project is embarking on research into a project called "Working Lives". A series of lectures is being organised by Newcastle West library over the coming months, based on the theme of the worker's life through the years. The lectures will later be backed by publications.
The first lecture is next Tuesday, February 22nd, in the library. Patrick Feeley, researcher and producer with RTE, originally from Mountcollins in Co Limerick, will speak on "Servant Boys and Girls in Rural Ireland of the 20th century".
A similar project has been successfully operating in Co Clare for five years. The initiative also offers training in computer schools on written and oral presentation as well as recording techniques.
"We are hoping to pick up on the heightened cultural awareness that now exists," said Mr O'Grady.