THE countdown has begun to the 2015 Limerick St Patrick’s Festival during which tens of thousands of people will line the streets of the city centre.
The festivities get underway from Pery Square at midday this Sunday when more than 1,1000 musicians from across Ireland, Europe and the USA perform in the 45th Limerick International Band Championship. A total of 24 marching bands have now been confirmed to bid for the title of ‘Overall Parade Champion’, won in 2014 by The Orchestra of the Estonian Defence Forces.
Up to 70,000 spectators are expected to watch the annual St Patrick’s Parade on Tuesday March 17 as local, national and international participants create a carnival of colour. Led by aerial dance and contemporary circus specialists Fidget Feet, the parade will feature thousands of participants including last year’s Best Float winner ʻMusic Generation Limerick Cityʼ and a community youth choir from Ontario in Canada. This year’s Flag Ambassadors are the students from Coláiste Nano Nagle who will carry Ireland’s largest tricolour.
Run on behalf of Limerick City and County Council by Grooveyard Productions, Limerick’s 2015 St Patrick’s Festival will embrace the theme of Spring, celebrating the carnival spirit associated with the season. It is sponsored by the Crescent Shopping Centre, Analog and the Maldron Hotel Limerick.
Other festival highlights include a St Patrick’s Market at the Milk Market on St Patrick’s Day, St Patrick’s Weekend of Racing at Greenmount Park and a special St Patrick’s themed day at the Hunt Museum from midday until 5pm.
Meanwhile, some of Limerick’s most prominent buildings will be illuminated in green light with Limerick City Hall, King John’s Castle, The Clarion Hotel, Barrington’s Hospital and Bellissimo Hair Salon joining the Niagara Falls, London Eye, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Colosseum in Rome, Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and dozens of other iconic sites around the world as part of Tourism Ireland’s annual ‘global greening’ initiative.
The Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade gets underway from midday Tuesday on O’Connell Street. This year’s Parade will see a special award – named after the Limerick based artist and teacher Martin Folan – being presented to the best creative entry. Judges in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade include Lucy Medlycott from the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle network (ISACS).
Visit www.limerick.ie/stpatricksfestival for more on the 2015 Limerick St Patrick’s Festival.
