Southside Summer Circus

Towards the end of 2020, the youth team at LCETB, including the LCYP Coordinator, initiated a discussion around a potential wellness programme, in a post-lockdown context, to be piloted with three youth centres in Limerick City. Southill Hub, Limerick Youth Service/Garryowen CDP and the West End Youth Centre came together to look at programme options. Southill Hub took the lead on this project, offering their outdoor space that would be suitable for a range of activities. Youth workers at Southill, having previously engaged their young members in circus and aerial activity suggested a Summer circus school in collaboration with Galway Community Circus. All parties readily agreed to this exciting option and Galway Community Circus were happy to come on board. Throughout the month of July, the learning of circus skills enthralled young people from the participating youth centres with funambulism – the art of wirewalking with a balancing pole, proving by far the favourite activity. The outdoor space in Southill proved invaluable for this programme as did the close collaboration of all participating partners.