The Sailor’s Home

8 O’Curry St, LimerickGoogle Maps

The Sailor’s Home was built at the end of the 19th century as a home for seamen. However, it was too late for its intended purpose, as the Limerick Docks had entered into decline around this time. The building went on to become an army barracks and later a training centre for Gardaí. It is owned by Shannon Foynes Port Company
Over the last 10 years, The Sailor's Home has existed as a significant and unique cultural space used by artists, students, festivals and collectives in Limerick for a myriad of creative activity spanning exhibitions, events, music and performance.
In July 2023 the building suffered extensive and devastating fire damage.
The Sailor's Home was used as a venue for EVA for two editions, in 2020/2021 and 2016.
For the 37th edition of EVA in 2016, curated by Koyo Kouoh (b. 1967, Cameroon) and titled Still (the) Barbarians, Michael Joo (b. 1966, USA) created this beautiful ship wreckage (which we interrogate)... (2016).
Recognising the site’s significance to the civic and social history of Limerick, Joo’s three-part installation responded to the building’s decorative architectural details, which were salvaged during ongoing restoration. Across the two storeys of the building, Joo installed video work, sculpture and spatial intervention.

Artwork presented at this venue

Benji Boyadgian, The Temporary Ruin, 2010–21.

(2021) Benji Boyadgian, The Temporary Ruin, 2010–ongoing, Mixed media installation, 18 paintings ink paintings, 16 drawings. Photo Jed Niezgoda

Melanie Jackson and Esther Leslie, The Inextinguishable, 2020.

Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings, Gaby, 2017.

Zeyno Pekünlü, Without a Camera, 2021.

Driant Zeneli, And Then I Found Some Meteorites In My Room, 2018.