From July to December 2026, Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, providing an important opportunity to showcase the country’s role in shaping European policy and strengthening international partnerships.
As part of the national Presidency programme, Limerick is proud to participate in a county-pairing initiative with Germany, fostering closer cultural, educational, economic and civic links between our communities.
Throughout the Presidency period, Limerick City and County Council, together with the Centre for Irish-German Studies, UL, and many local partners and stakeholders, will host a series of events celebrating Ireland’s place in Europe and highlighting the many benefits of European cooperation. These events will provide opportunities for citizens, businesses, community groups and visitors to engage with European themes, learn about EU-funded initiatives, and celebrate the strong relationship between Ireland and Germany.
This page will be regularly updated with information on upcoming events, activities and opportunities to get involved as Limerick marks Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
July 2026
- German Art Trail | Limerick | 1st - 31st July | Time TBC
Explore this self guided tour of the German Art Trail in Limerick.
The trail brochure can be found here.
- LCGA German Collection | Limerick City Gallery of Art | 1st - 31st July
Welcome to the LCGA German Collection which has been specially curated in The Hub within the Gallery.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 12pm - 5pm.
The collection brochure can be found here.
- Guided Tour of German Art | The Hunt Museum | 11th July | 11am
Monthly guided tour with focus on art and artefacts with German links (continues throughout programme on every second Saturday of the month).
- Ardnacrusha Tours | Ardnacrusha Power Station | 1st - 31st July | 10am - 1pm
Public tours of the historic Siemens-Schuckert hydroelectric station (1925–1929) highlighting early Irish-German engineering cooperation
Book here.
- Irish Palatine Museum | Rathkeale | 1st - 31st July | 10am - 1pm
Highlighting early Irish-German migration from the year 1709.
Admission charge is €10 per person.
More information can be found here.
August 2026
- German Art Trail | Limerick | 1st - 31st August | Time TBC
Explore this self guided tour of the German Art Trail in Limerick.
The trail brochure can be found here.
- LCGA German Collection | Limerick City Gallery of Art | 1st - 31st August
Welcome to the LCGA German Collection which has been specially curated in The Hub within the Gallery.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 12pm - 5pm.
The collection brochure can be found here.
- European Sport For All Games 2026 | Limerick City | 7th - 10th August
Bringing together over 250 participants from 26 European delegations, transforming parks, streets and public spaces into a vibrant and colourful celebration of traditional sports, games, heritage and culture. For more information and the festival programme click here.
- European Sport For All Games - Grune Funken Oberelspe | Limerick City | 8th & 9th August | 11am - 4pm
German dance group Grüne Funken Oberelspe will perform at various locations across the city as part of the European Sport For All Games 2026.
For more information click here.
- Guided Tour of German Art | The Hunt Museum | 8th August | 11am
Monthly guided tour with focus on art and artefacts with German links (continues throughout programme on every second Saturday of the month).
- Ardnacrusha Tours | Ardnacrusha Power Station | 1st - 31st August | 9.30am - 2.30pm
Public tours of the historic Siemens-Schuckert hydroelectric station (1925–1929) highlighting early Irish-German engineering cooperation.
Please book here.
- Irish Palatine Museum | Rathkeale | 1st - 31st August | 10am - 1pm
Highlighting early Irish-German migration from the year 1709.
Admission charge is €10 per person.
More information can be found here.
September 2026
- German Art Trail | Limerick | 1st - 30th September | Time TBC
Explore this self guided tour of the German Art Trail in Limerick.
The trail brochure can be found here.
- LCGA German Collection | Limerick City Gallery of Art | 1st - 30th September
Welcome to the LCGA German Collection which has been specially curated in The Hub within the Gallery.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 12pm - 5pm.
The collection brochure can be found here.
- German Day - Religion, History, Music, Migration | St. Mary’s Cathedral | 5th September | Time TBC
This event features a lecture on the Palatine connection, organ recitals of German music, German Lutheran service. Refreshments will also be served.
- Irish Story Telling | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 5th September | Time TBC
Traditional seanchaí to work with youth and elderly. #cultur2026
- CIGS German Stammtisch in Limerick | Sexton's Bar, Henry St. | 7th September | 8pm
Monthly meet-up to practise your German in a friendly atmosphere, all levels of German welcome!
- CIGS Lecture and Music Event | University of Limerick | 2nd September | Time TBC
Performance and book presentation with Dr Felix Morgenstern (UL): Irish Folk Music in Germany.
- Guided Tour of German Art | The Hunt Museum | 12th September | 11am
Monthly guided tour with focus on art and artefacts with German links (continues throughout programme on every second Saturday of the month).
- German Ambassadorial Visit | Limerick | 17th September | Time TBC
Visit by Ambassador of Germany, H.E. Mr David Gill and Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Ms Maeve Collins to Limerick. This will include a visit to a school, a social farm and the Centre for Irish-German Studies, University of Limerick.
- Culture Night - Guided Walk | Potato Market | 18th September | 7pm
Guided walk on Heinrich Böll’s Footsteps and other German links with Limerick, led by Julia Weiss (UL) and Dr Hermann Rasche (NUIG). The walk is followed by a lecture by George Lee on the German-made windows in St. John’s Cathedral at 8.30pm.
- Culture Night – Music Event | King John's Castle | 18th September | 7pm - 11pm
Sionna & Trad Folkin’ Rocks Presents is a live outdoor music event celebrating Ireland’s contemporary electronic music culture, blending traditional roots, folk innovation, and alternative rock By merging heritage, modern electronic Irish music, and a historic landmark, the event will create a distinctive cultural experience that reflects both Ireland’s past and creative future. Brought to you by Limerick City and County Council. #cultur2026
- Irish-German Book Collection Tour | Glucksman Library, University of Limerick | 21st September | 12pm
Exploring a unique collection of Irish-German material, including the Gottschalk Collection (2nd floor and Special Collections and Archive).
- Palatine Play Refuge by Deirdre Kinahan | Lime Tree Theatre | 24th - 26th September | 8pm
First performance of the play Refuge in Ireland and opening of the travelling exhibition on the Irish Palatines.
Book here.
- Guided Tour of Imogen Stuart's Sculptures | Mary Immaculate College | 24th September | 4pm
An introduction to some of the major works by Imogen Stuart on the MIC Limerick Campus.
For more information email christiane.schonfeld@mic.ul.ie
- County Limerick Youth Theatre | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 25th September | Time TBC
Erasmus Plus project performance video with local stakeholders sharing of EU Youth Goals & what it means to be European. #cultur2026
- Irish Palatine Museum | Rathkeale | 1st - 30th September | 10am - 1pm
Highlighting early Irish-German migration from the year 1709.
Admission charge is €10 per person.
More information can be found here.
October 2026
- Éigse Michael Hartnett Literary & Arts Festival - Workshop & Parade | The Square, Newcastle West | 1st October | 7pm
Éigse Festival Parade with a European theme #cultur2026. Workshops with children and young people to be held in advance creating coloured streamers and banners using colours of EU flags. Parade will begin in The Square, led by drummers, and will proceed down Maiden St. to Longcourt House Hotel.
- Éigse Michael Hartnett Literary & Arts Festival - Gala Concert | Longcourt House Hotel | 1st October | 8pm - 9.30pm
Gala concert featuring German and Irish music, poetry and literary performances as part of #cultur2026. A free ticketed gala concert at the Longcourt House Hotel featuring German and Irish music, poetry and literary performances.
- German Art Trail | Limerick | 1st - 31st October | Time TBC
Explore this self guided tour of the German Art Trail in Limerick.
The trail brochure can be found here.
- LCGA German Collection | Limerick City Gallery of Art | 1st - 31st October
Welcome to the LCGA German Collection which has been specially curated in The Hub within the Gallery.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 12pm - 5pm.
The collection brochure can be found here.
- Éigse Michael Hartnett Literary & Arts Festival - Author Donal Ryan | Newcastle West | 3rd October | 7.30pm
Author Donal Ryan, recipient of the Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature will read and talk about his work as part of #cultur2026.
- Éigse Michael Hartnett Literary & Arts Festival - Arán agus Brot | Newcastle West | 4th October | 12.30pm
Arán agus Brot: #cultur2026 talk and demonstration by chef Tom Flavin on bread and its history and place in the life and culture of Germany and Ireland.
- CIGS German Stammtisch in Limerick | Sexton's Bar, Henry St. | 5th October | 8pm
Monthly meet-up to practise your German in a friendly atmosphere, all levels of German welcome!
- Irish-German Lecture | T116 TARA Building, Mary Immaculate College | 5th October | 8pm
"The travels of Limerick woman Maria Francis Dickson (1809-1885) to Germany and elsewhere" by Prof Joachim Fischer.
- Guided Tour of German Art | The Hunt Museum | 10th October | 11am
Monthly guided tour with focus on art and artefacts with German links (continues throughout programme on every second Saturday of the month).
- German Week & Literature Events - Lecture by Prof Joachim Fischer | University of Limerick | Date and Time TBC
Lecture by Prof Joachim Fischer on ‘Irish Writers on Germany in Context: The EU dimension’. More details to follow in early September.
- German Week & Literature Events - Workshops | University of Limerick | Dates and Times TBC
Workshops for universities, schools, teachers, and meetings with student ambassadors (online/in person).
- German Week & Literature Events - German writer Ulrike Draesner | University of Limerick | 13th October | Time TBC
Reading by acclaimed German writer Ulrike Draesner (online/in person).
- Irish and German Tea Morning | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 13th October | Time TBC
Cómhrá agus Konversation – Irish and German Tea morning – Coláiste Iosaef collaboration, confident Irish and German speaking students to present discussion in both languages around traditional culture – linked in with curriculum.
- German Week & Literature Events - Online German Roadshow | University of Limerick | 16th October | Time TBC
Online German Roadshow by the Goethe-Institut Dublin with information of employment opportunities and a short presentation.
- Guided Tour of Imogen Stuart's Sculptures | Mary Immaculate College | 15th October | 4pm
An introduction to some of the major works by Imogen Stuart on the MIC Limerick Campus.
For more information email christiane.schonfeld@mic.ul.ie
- Irish-German Book Collection Tour | Glucksman Library, University of Limerick | 19th October | Time TBC
Exploring a unique collection of Irish-German material, including the Gottschalk Collection (2nd floor and Special Collections and Archive).
- Energy Event | Foynes | 19th October | Time TBC
An event organised by Shannon Foynes Port and the Embassy of German Dublin to deepen the business connections between Germany and Limerick.
- Twilight Thursday | Limerick | 29th October | 6pm
City Culture event. Full Twilight Thursday programme to be confirmed.
November 2026
- German Christmas Workshops | University of Limerick/The Hunt Museum | 1st - 30th November | Time TBC
Workshops on St. Martin, Advent wreaths, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas baking recipes, and traditional crafts.
- German Art Trail | Limerick | 1st - 30th November | Time TBC
Explore this self guided tour of the German Art Trail in Limerick.
The trail brochure can be found here.
- LCGA German Collection | Limerick City Gallery of Art | 1st - 30th November
Welcome to the LCGA German Collection which has been specially curated in The Hub within the Gallery.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 12pm - 5pm.
The collection brochure can be found here.
- CIGS German Stammtisch in Limerick | Sexton's Bar, Henry St. | 2nd November | 8pm
Monthly meet-up to practise your German in a friendly atmosphere, all levels of German welcome!
- Migration and Language Policy Lecture | University of Limerick | 2nd & 3rd November | Time TBC
A lecture by Prof. Dr. Christoph Schroeder and Dr Fiodhna Gardiner Hyland on 'Questions of Migration and Language Policy'.
- Poetry Writing Workshop | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 3rd November | Time TBC
A Poetry writing workshop as part of #cultur2026.
- Margit Wagner Irish Films | Belltable | 4th November | 6.15pm - 10pm
Rediscovering Margit Wagner’s Irish Films from the 1950s to the 1970s (in conjunction with the Irish Film Institute)
- CIGS Sustainability & Climate Change Event | University of Limerick | 9th - 13th November | Time TBC
Climate and sustainability discussions with Prof. Karen Wiltshire, Vice Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute & CRH Chair of Climate Science, TCD; John Gormley, former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Lord Mayor of Dublin, Dr Sarah Schaefer, UL.
- Poetry Writing Workshop | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 10th November | Time TBC
A Poetry writing workshop as part of #cultur2026.
- German Roadshow | University of Limerick | 13th November | Time TBC
Roadshow for students of German with Goethe-Institut Dublin and German employers including events and workshops for schools, teachers, and employers with student ambassadors. CIGS video competition for final year students of German and more.
- Irish-German Lecture organised by the Rathkeale & District Historical Society | Rathkeale | 13th November | 8.30pm
‘The Shannon Scheme from a German perspective’ by Prof Joachim Fischer.
- Guided Tour of German Art | The Hunt Museum | 14th November | 11am
Monthly guided tour with focus on art and artefacts with German links (continues throughout programme on every second Saturday of the month).
- Traditional Irish Dancing & Trad Session with Ballyhoura Comhalta | Friars' Gate Theatre | 14th November | Time TBC
Intercultural #cultur2026 event – traditional Irish dancing & trad session with Ballyhoura Comhaltas – free public interactive workshop to share traditional Irish dance and music.
- Taste of Europe | TUS | 15th & 16th November | Time TBC
Culinary event and student information day of language options, including a special “Taste of Germany” celebration (part of TUS languages week)
- Irish-German Book Collection Tour | Glucksman Library, University of Limerick | 16th November | Time TBC
Exploring a unique collection of Irish-German material, including the Gottschalk Collection (2nd floor and Special Collections and Archive).
- Roundtable on Ireland and Germany in the EU | University of Limerick | 17th November | Time TBC
Policy discussion with David Donoghue (former Ambassador of Ireland to Germany) and Prof Brigid Laffan (Chancellor of the University of Limerick and Emeritus Professor at the European University Institute).
- Poetry Writing Workshop | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 17th November | Time TBC
A Poetry writing workshop as part of #cultur2026.
- Voices of Krups Launch | Limerick Museum | 19th November | 5.30pm
Celebrating Irish-German business links and launch of “Voices of Krups” – the CIGS audio-visual collection of recollections of one of Limerick’s most treasured employers.
- Lough Gur Pottery Workshop | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 21st November | Time TBC
Come along and create air dry, traditional Irish/German symbols with the German community.
- Poetry Writing Workshop | Friars' Gate Theatre, Kilmallock | 24th November | Time TBC
A Poetry writing workshop as part of #cultur2026.
- Shannon Scheme Book Launch | The Hunt Museum | 30th November | 6pm
Launch of the book on Ardnacrusha, the hydro-electric power station in partnership with Siemens, ESB and the German Embassy. There will also be ppportunities for German-Irish business networking.
December 2026
- German Christmas Workshops | University of Limerick/The Hunt Museum | 1st - 31st December | Time TBC
Workshops on St. Martin, Advent wreaths, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas baking recipes, and traditional crafts.
- German Art Trail | Limerick | 1st - 31st December | Time TBC
Explore this self guided tour of the German Art Trail in Limerick.
The trail brochure can be found here.
- LCGA German Collection | Limerick City Gallery of Art | 1st - 31st December
Welcome to the LCGA German Collection which has been specially curated in The Hub within the Gallery.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm & Sunday 12pm - 5pm.
The collection brochure can be found here.
- Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE 2026) | TUS | 2nd - 3rd December | 9am
WIRE 2026 will co-create strategies for sustainable regional growth, showcase regional success stories and innovations from across Europe.
For more information click here.
- CIGS German Stammtisch in Limerick | Sexton's Bar, Henry St. | 7th December | 8pm
Monthly meet-up to practise your German in a friendly atmosphere, all levels of German welcome!
- Guided Tour of German Art | The Hunt Museum | 12th December | Time TBC
Monthly guided tour with focus on art and artefacts with German links (continues throughout programme on every second Saturday of the month).
- Irish-German Book Collection Tour | Glucksman Library, University of Limerick | 21st December | 12pm
Exploring a unique collection of Irish-German material, including the Gottschalk Collection (2nd floor and Special Collections and Archive).
- German Christmas & Presidency Close Event | Limerick | Date and Time TBC
German Christmas-themed closing event for the Presidency programme.
Events published on Limerick.ie are subject to change. Readers are advised to check with the organiser for further details.
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