Access at Riverfest to be reviewed after Limerick mum raises concern
'Daughter won’t let her wheelchair use limit her life'
WAYS to improve accessibility at Riverfest for wheelchair users will be part of the festival review.
A Limerick city mother whose daughter uses a wheelchair was disappointed that her daughter could not fully enjoy the experiences on offer during the festival.
Shirley Whelan, from Georgian Village, told Limerick Live that her 12-year-old daughter Saoirse was born with spina bifida.
She said they love Riverfest and think it’s great for the city, however her daughter was disappointed that she couldn’t do more.
Mrs Whelan said that while there was a ramp so Saoirse and other wheelchair users could go on the big wheel, she couldn’t access some of the rides in the Riverfest village.
“She couldn’t do the zipline and she would have loved that,” adding that installing a portable lift would make this possible, “if they thought outside the box.”
Mrs Whelan described her daughter as a girl who won’t let her wheelchair use limit her life, as she does athletics, plays piano and wheelchair hurling.
A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said: “Ways to further improve accessibility in the future will form part of the post festival review.”