Culture Night - A Guided Walk through Limerick in the Footsteps of Heinrich Böll
On September 19th, as part of this year’s Culture Night celebrations, CIGS hosted a literary journey through Limerick tracing the footsteps of Nobel Prize- winning author Heinrich Böll. The tour entitled “A Guided Walk through Limerick in the Footsteps of Heinrich Böll”, was led by Centre members Dr Hermann Rasche (University of Galway), Julia Weiß (DAAD Lektorin, University of Limerick), and Ciaran Kelly (University of Limerick). Starting at the Potato Market, the participants followed a route that passed St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the Treaty Stone, before crossing the River Shannon and concluding at Arthur’s Quay. Along the way, excerpts from Böll’s Irish journal (Irisches Tagebuch) were shared, allowing participants to step back into Limericks rich cultural tapestry and discuver places that inspired Böll during his time in Ireland, through his vivid and observant prose. Despite the customary Irish grey skies, the turnout was excellent, and the walk inspired lively discussions among participants, reflecting on Böll’s enduring insights into Irish culture and identity. Even long-time residents of Limerick were impressed by how Böll had captured the atmosphere and spirit of the city.
