Limerick launches Riverfest 2013 - Celebrate the City this May Bank Holiday Weekend

Limerick will become a mecca for foodies, fun seekers and fun runners this May Bank Holiday weekend as the city's biggest festival RIVERFEST launched its programme of events today.

Running from Friday, May 3rd – Monday, May 6th, the Limerick festival is pulling out all the stops this year with the Coors Light RIVERFEST BBQ, Ireland’s largest BBQ cook-off attracting professional and amateur teams from across Ireland featuring a host of grilled gastronomic delights, cookery demonstrations from celebrity chef Donal Skehan and a huge artisan Continental Fair.

Just some of the highlights of the four day RIVERFEST festival on the banks of the River Shannon in Limerick include:

  • The exhilarating P750 National Powerboat Championships

  • A spectacular fireworks display over the Shannon

  • Late night bar exemptions (subject to licence) and live music across Limerick City

  • A celebration of Limerick fashion with outdoor style shows and jazz

  • 24 hour theatre with street entertainers, drummers, face painters and jugglers providing plenty of festival fun including an Inflatable Sculpture carnival.

  • The spectacular party on the banks of the River Shannon will also see thousands of runners and walkers come to the city to participate in the which takes in many of the historical and scenic sights across Limerick.

Riverfest is delighted to welcome Coors Light on board as sponsor of the Riverfest BBQ which is already attracting record entries for the 2013 event.

Ronan Linehan, Brand Manager for Coors Light, comments; ''Having seen the success of last year’s Riverfest BBQ, Coors Light is absolutely delighted to sponsor it this year and to become a part of the festivities. It’s one of the highlights of Limerick’s summer and with record entrants to date, we can’t wait to get tasting what the competing teams cook up on the grill!"

Last year’s Riverfest saw 40,000 people enjoy their experience in Limerick. Speaking at today’s launch, Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Gerry McLoughlin, said Riverfest has grown into a hugely successful festival which promotes the best of Limerick life and is a really enjoyable weekend.

"Riverfest 2013 is shaping up to be the best yet, with new attractions being added every day - it truly does celebrate our city, highlighting Limerick’s most treasured resources: the scenic River Shannon, our generous hospitality and the exciting events we have to offer," he said. "As thousands of visitors to our city will affirm, we know how to enjoy ourselves in Limerick and our friendly welcome is renowned by those who keep coming back year after year. We’re looking forward to hosting Ireland’s biggest party on the May Bank Holiday weekend and a very successful Riverfest 2013."

Limerick Hotels Association spokesman, Ivan Tuohy, said the feedback from the hotel sector is extremely positive.

"Riverfest is a key event on the Limerick festivals calendar and the May bank holiday weekend is now one of the busiest weekends of the year," he said. "We feel that Riverfest is now a national brand and with over 30 individual and family events planned, it is really helping to drive 100% occupancy across all the city hotels. We are looking forward to offering all our travelling guests a warm & friendly Limerick welcome when they arrive. Most of the hotels are arranging special breakfasts and lunches for all the runners’ participating in the Great Limerick Run on the Bank Holiday Sunday so it truly going to be a super weekend with something for everyone."

Riverfest is run on behalf of the Limerick Communications Office by Futureama Productions.

It is sponsored by Limerick City Council, Fáilte Ireland, Coors Light, Stryker, Analog, Limerick County Council, Shannon Development, Limerick Hotels Association, Mr Binman, McDonalds with media sponsors, The Limerick Post, Limerick Chronicle and Limerick’s Live 95 FM.

For full event listings and information please see our section, visit www.riverfest.ie or find us on Facebook Riverfest Limerick or on Twitter @riverfestlmk #riverfestlmk

Please enjoy Coors Light responsibly.

ENDS

For further media information, please contact Laura Ryan/Kelly Moran, Limerick Communications Office, 88 O’Connell Street, Limerick. 061-400010/086-6042544.

Key Events for Riverfest 2013 (May 3rd – 6th)

  • The Coors Light Riverfest BBQ, May 4th – Market Quarter: A Riverfest favourite, the Coors Light Riverfest BBQ will fire up at 11am on Denmark St and Robert St in Limerick’s Market Quarter. An amateur competition, the daylong event will host three different cooking categories based on flavour, texture and presentation. See up to 100 teams take part in this fun event and try out some free samples!

  • Continental Fair on Michael Street, May 3rd – 6th: A Riverfest tradition, colourful stalls from European traders line the entirety of Michael Street bringing an international vibe to the city centre

  • Amazing Fireworks On Saturday May 4th the Limerick sky will light up with a spectacular fireworks display! Thousands will gather on the bridges around the River Shannon to celebrate Riverfest 2013. The dazzling extravaganza gets under way from 9.45pm.

  • Torann Drums A huge success at Electric Picnic and set to play Glastonbury this summer, Riverfest is delighted to welcome Torann Drums to the festival. A seven piece drumming group based in Waterford, they are bringing their unique sound to Riverfest on Sunday, 5th May. They will be located at the junction of Cruises St /O’Connell St.Sports on the Shannon

  • As always there’ll be lots of fun on the River Shannon during Riverfest as the National Powerboating Championship returns to the city! P750 (Thundercat) Racing is one of the freshest and most exciting sports on the planet today and will entertain the crowds that gather around the River Shannon on Sunday, 5th May. Other events across the weekend include sailing, cruisers and currach racing.

  • Inflatable Sculpture Festival The Hunt Museum is pulling out all the stops with their line-up of Riverfest events, especially their Inflatable Sculpture Festival! An installation of temporary inflatable sculptures created by the Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) Sculpture Department will be on display throughout the galleries of the Hunt Museum as well as live music performed on an inflatable bandstand! Free inflatable sculpture workshops run on Saturday 4th May and admission is free, but advance booking essential as places are limited!

  • Fashion Friday on Friday May 3rd: The city’s pedestrianised Thomas Street will be transformed into a catwalk as Limerick’s top stores present Riverfest Fashion Friday with live shows at 1.15pm and 4.30pm featuring top Limerick fashion houses and live jazz

  • A flotilla of yachts will sail up the Shannon from Foynes, the top crews in the country will compete in the Coonagh Currach Regatta while cruisers will gather on the banks of the Shannon

  • Limerick Riverfest Racing, May 4th & 5th: Seven National Hunt races each day will make for an exciting day at the races!

  • The Great Limerick Run, May 5th: Cheer on the thousands of runners who will descend on Limerick for the Marathon, Half Marathon and Six Mile race!

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Treaty Stone Limerick. Photo Piotr Machowczyk