LIMERICK will be very much alive this holiday weekend to a bumper celebration party-and hard pressed traders are confident that tills will be singing a merry tune. Thousands will converge on the city and county towns to enjoy a host of festivities, with organisers of the various events determined to put their best foot forward to present Limerick as the place to visit. The city will be central to activities, with the St Patrick’s Day Parade, the International Band Championships on Sunday and a huge variety of free street entertainments, shows, concerts, cultural and fun events.
Bookings were exceptionally brisk in two city hotels, the Absolute and George Boutique, on Wednesday.
“Given that Mother’s Day also coincides with the Band competition, it should be especially busy over all three days,” said Altaf Kahn, manager of the George Boutique.
“We have the hotel decorated in the traditional green and will also be serving traditional Irish dishes. Our staff will be dressed in green”.
Confirming that “a lot of shops will be open over the holiday period”, Helen O’Donnell, speaking on behalf of the city retailers, said:
“There will be lots of shops opening after the parade and on the Sunday – retailers are putting extra effort in”.
The Crescent Shopping centre will open from 9.30am to 6pm on St Patrick’s day, with entertainment for children, and from 12 noon to 6pm on Mother’s Day, and on Bank Holiday Monday.
Donnacha Hurley, manager of the Absolute Hotel predicts a buzzing few days.
“We’re filling up.
“We will all be wearing our leprechaun outfits as we’ll have lot of children and families here”.
Early risers on Sunday will be able to get a preview of what will be on offer in the International Band Championships if they head for the Milk Market at 10am, where market manager, David O’Brien, promises a special performance of ragtime from a band from Missouri.
“We will have the biggest markets of the year on Saturday and Sunday and our stalls will reflect St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day in various ways”. Continued on page 4.
Delighted with this year’s level of entries to the Parade on St Patrick’s Day, which for the first time includes floats from Vistakon and B & Q, festival organiser, Fran O’Donnell, said the weekend festivities “give us a few days to forget the recession and to enjoy being Irish – everyone loves a parade and we can be proud that the Limerick parade is the largest in the country”.
