A Community-Led Creative Programme for Kilfinane

Ballyhoura Development CLG has been awarded a Creative Places Strand 1 Seed Award through The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon's Creative Places Programme to support the development of a three-year community-led arts and creativity programme in Kilfinane, Co. Limerick.

The award builds on an extensive research and community engagement process undertaken throughout 2025, which explored the role of arts, culture and creativity in the future development of Kilfinane and its surrounding hinterland. Led by Creative Practitioner Katie O'Rourke, the process engaged almost 2,000 people through workshops, conversations, surveys, events and community consultations.

Creative Places is a national initiative of The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon that supports communities to create and deliver vibrant, accessible and sustainable arts programmes rooted in local identity, participation and collaboration. 

Creative Places Kilfinane places local people at the centre of decision-making, ensuring that the programme reflects the needs, interests and aspirations of the community while creating new opportunities for creativity, participation and cultural development.

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About Creative Places Kilfinane

Creative Places Kilfinane aims to strengthen and expand opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with arts, culture and creativity.

Over the next three years, the programme will support new creative projects, foster collaboration between artists and communities, and build on the strong cultural and creative activity already taking place across the area.

The initiative will be coordinated locally by a dedicated Creative Places Co-ordinator, who will work closely with residents, artists, schools, community groups, local organisations and public agencies to develop and deliver the programme.

The programme has been shaped by the findings of the Creative Places Kilfinane Research Phase, which engaged almost 2,000 people across the town and surrounding area.

Five key priorities emerged through this process:

1. Youth Empowerment - Creating opportunities for young people to participate in and lead creative activities.
2. Community Partnerships - Building stronger connections between artists, community organisations, schools and local groups.
3. Artistic Development - Supporting artists and creative practitioners to develop sustainable creative careers and opportunities locally.
4. Festivals and Celebratory Events - Enhancing festivals, events and creative activities that bring people together and celebrate local identity.
5. Creative Infrastructure - Supporting the development and activation of spaces that enable creativity to flourish within the community.

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Over the Next Three Years

Creative Places Kilfinane will support a range of creative initiatives, partnerships and opportunities designed to strengthen the cultural life of the community and build on the aspirations identified during the research phase.

Over the lifetime of the programme, Creative Places Kilfinane will:

• Support young people to engage with and lead creative initiatives.
• Strengthen partnerships between artists, community groups and local organisations.
• Provide opportunities for artists and creative practitioners to develop sustainable practice locally.
• Expand festivals, events and creative activities that celebrate the identity and diversity of the community.
• Activate and enhance local spaces for creative use, participation and collaboration.

These actions will contribute to a long-term vision for Kilfinane as a vibrant rural creative hub where arts and creativity are embedded in everyday life, accessible to all, and recognised as an important part of community wellbeing, place-making and local development.

The Creative Places initiative is grounded in a strong, community-led partnership approach, with Ballyhoura Development working closely with Kilfinane Community Council, Limerick City and County Council Arts Office, local artists, schools and community organisations throughout the process. This partnership approach ensures that the programme remains community-led while benefiting from a broad range of expertise, knowledge and support. 

The programme is founded on the belief that creativity can strengthen communities, encourage participation, foster inclusion and create meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn and collaborate. 

Ballyhoura Development CLG acknowledges the support of The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon through the Creative Places Programme and extends sincere thanks to all partners, artists, community organisations, schools and residents who contributed to the research phase and helped shape this successful application.