The Hunt Museum is organising a county and city-wide Kite Power Festival as part of its current exhibition to highlight the power of wind as an
energy resource. The museum is calling on Kite enthusiasts and novices to get creative with recyclable materials and paint the sky of Limerick and Shannon with vibrant kites on 11 February 2024.

The Kite Power Festival takes the Hunt Museum’s Climate Change exhibition “Night’s Candles are Burnt Out: Climate, Culture, Change & Community”, outside its walls and onto the streets and hills of Limerick as it showcases the power of wind through art, culture and a fun community event.

In a visually captivating and eco-friendly manner, this unique family experience, sponsored by The Shannon Airport Group in collaboration with the Limerick.ie Festivals scheme, encourages participants to reuse their Christmas wrapping paper and tinsel and give it new life in the skies powered by the abundant wind in the Mid-West.

To help people get involved, Lumen Street Theatre will host a series of Kite Making Workshops across Limerick City and County and in Shannon Town.  Some Men’s Shed groups will also host their own Kite Making days.

Speaking at the launch, Jill Cousins, Director, Hunt Museum said, “We want to continue to engage people emotionally through art and creativity in campaigning for change to renewable energy sources.  The idea behind “Nights Candles are Burnt Out” is the use of culture to develop real understanding of the need to change both personally and nationally.  We want to be able to achieve Climate Action 2021 targets by 2030. By promoting clean energy in a fun and unique way, we hope to inspire individuals and communities to embrace sustainable energy solutions.”

Sinéad Murphy, Head of Sustainability at The Shannon Airport Group said, “We are delighted to sponsor this exciting event that will raise awareness in a fun and engaging way of the power of wind as a clean energy resource. Ireland, and the west coast in particular, has one of the world’s leading wind resources, so raising awareness of the opportunities this brings to our region is really key.  We would encourage everyone, schools, families, community groups to get involved to promote this great initiative”.

 

Prizes will be given in each location for:

  • The best flyer
  • The best use of recycled Christmas packaging and decoration
  • The best artistic design

After the festival, all Kites can be lent to The Hunt Museum for a post Festival exhibition.

 

Save the Date – Festival Highlights:

Saturday, January 13: Lumen Workshop in Adare

Saturday, January 20: Lumen Workshop in Kilmallock

Saturday, January 27: Lumen Workshop in Newcastle West

Tuesday, January 30: Lumen Workshop in Limerick Learning Hub

Saturday, February 3: Lumen Workshop in Abbeyfeale

Saturday, February 3: Hunt Museum Kite Making Day

Saturday, February 3: Men’s Shed Kite Making Day

Sunday, February 11: Kite Power Festival across Limerick & Shannon

 

ENDS