Discover Limerick this St. Patrick’s Day

  • Limerick St. Patrick's Festival. Photo: Brian Arthur

Limerick City and County Council are calling on the world to “Discover Limerick” this March as Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival weekend returns for 2023.

- Parades and events to showcase what Limerick City and County has to offer

The theme of this year’s festival is “Discover Limerick”- and there is certainly plenty to discover across our city and county.

From Viking settlement to cosmopolitan city, a rich heritage and tradition is tightly woven into Limerick’s fabric. The past is a constant and welcome presence here. From the 13th Century fortress at King John’s Castle, the Treaty Stone and imposing St. Mary’s Cathedral; to the collections of art and antiquities at the Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum, the People’s Museum of Limerick, the Limerick City Gallery of Art and the elegant architecture of Georgian Limerick.

There are so many fascinating stories to uncover at megalithic Lough Gur, home to Ireland’s largest stone circle; in medieval Kilmallock, charming Adare, bustling Newcastle West or at Foynes, the birthplace of the world-famous Irish coffee.

Limerick’s culture is a source of justifiable pride, from our edgy street art and vibrant live music scene to a calendar bursting with theatre, film, festivals and events. Ireland’s first National City of Culture, we host the country’s only biennial of contemporary art, EVA International.

Limerick’s pride as a city of sport is evident at every turn and none more so than in our reigning three in a row, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions. Adare Manor is due to host the 2027 Ryder Cup and create memories that will sustain generations.

As the home of Munster Rugby, Limerick boasts the world renowned Thomond Park Stadium and the hotly anticipated International Rugby Experience. County Limerick is an adventure playground with Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails, Curraghchase Forest Park and Limerick Greenway, which carves a 40km path through lush local countryside, along with so many trails, loops, walks and hikes just waiting to be embraced.

There is so much to discover in Limerick.

To all our communities, we ask:

What is your Limerick?

What do you want people to know about your county?

Help us Discover Limerick together.

Limerick St Patrick’s Festival will include the traditional St Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday 17 March with the 51st edition of the Limerick International Band Championship taking place this year on Sunday 19 March.

Other events on the fringe of the parade and band championship will be announced in the coming weeks.

Limerick City and County Council is calling on groups, clubs, organisations, associations and companies of all shapes and sizes to sign up and become involved in this year’s Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade. 

To apply to become part of the parade, log on to Limerick.ie and complete the form. 

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Francis Foley commented: "Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival is a unique weekend in Limerick as we host two major parades in the city, alongside several community parades throughout the county. Limerick is green all year round, but when it comes to the week of March 17, we really know how to put on a show. This year we are calling on all people in Limerick and indeed the world to “Discover Limerick” and to take part in, or attend one of the many parades on show. We also encourage those from 100 different nationalities who have made Limerick their home to participate in the parade. With the days getting longer, there is even more time to discover all the city and county has for you, your family and friends”

Eileen Coleman Senior Executive Officer, Tourism, Arts, Festival and Events with Limerick City and County Council said: “The 2023 Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival will bring colour, music and street theatre to Limerick. It offers us all an opportunity to participate, to enjoy the creativity that Limerick has to offer, a moment of celebration. The theme “Discover Limerick” encourages all participants to share what Limerick means to them. Limerick has so much to offer and who better to inform us, than the people of Limerick themselves. The Limerick International Band Championship, a uniquely Limerick event, will take place on Sunday 19 March and the people of Limerick always show their appreciation for the performers in marching bands. St. Patrick’s weekend offers an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about Limerick together and share it with a local and international audience."

Grooveyard is producing this year’s Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival on behalf of Limerick City and County Council with Shane Vaughan as creative producer.

For more information on taking part, please contact Festivals & Events in Limerick City and County Council festivalsandevents@limerick.ie or +353 61 556427 / +353 61 557578.

More details will be available in the coming weeks on Limerick.ie/StPatricksFestival and on Limerick St Patrick’s Festival social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)

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