UP TO 70,000 folks braved the cold on Shannonside for what was one of the biggest St Patrick’s Day parades ever witnessed in Limerick City.
Despite the chill, the colour and vibrancy of the parade warmed the crowds that flooded the Treaty City in a wave of green, white, and gold.
Ireland Paralympic swimming silver medalist Róisín Ní Ríain, who was this year’s parade grand marshal, said: “I was super excited, it was a wonderful experience, so nice to see everyone out on the streets, the whole community coming together.”
“The crowds were huge and that makes it so much nicer. It was great to meet so many people and to see everyone enjoying themselves.”
Floats and groups from home, as well as across Asia, America, the Congo, and beyond brought with them the best in community, culture, and craic.
Giant Clary swans by Mahogany Carnival Design flew in from the nearby River Shannon to chaperone a white-suited, brill-creamed Elvis sitting atop a vintage tractor, followed by a chorus of dancers and circus performers from the Irish Aerial Creation Centre.
Almost eighty floats participated in this year’s parade, themed ‘A More Fun Limerick’, including “not your average sheep” Fionnula, a woolly wonder cast out from her island flock for daring to be different, but accepted by Limerick “as one of our own, kiiiidddddd”.
Lumen Street Theatre finished off the festivities with a blitz of colour, celebrating all that is “Pure and Daycent” in the Treaty City, led on horseback by an homage to Blindboy Boatclub wearing completely recycled and donated fabrics.
Mayor of Limerick John Moran, who accompanied this year’s grand marshal with ‘first dog’ Henri in tow, beamed: “It’s brilliant. Everyone is in great form and ready to party. There was a massive crowd here this year and even the rain held off.”
“This year, we wanted to get more fun into Limerick; it’s a big part of my mayoral programme that we just really enjoy where we live, and you can tell people are out having fun.”
“Yesterday the International Band Championship was amazing,” Mayor Moran added. “I’ve also been out to parades across the county, where people are out celebrating our patron saint, it is great to see.”
Further thousands flooded the Treaty City on Sunday for the 53rd International Band Competition, which saw the Doherty High School Band, from Colorado, USA, take the top prize back Stateside.
