Limerick welcomed tens of thousands of visitors across the weekend with Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival proving a massive success. Over 50,000 people lined the streets of the city for a loud, colourful and highly entertaining St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday.
There was boatloads of creativity on display with impressive spectacles such as the large Viking Long Ship and a nine-and-a-half foot tall Treaty Stone recreation.
The parade theme was ‘Discover Limerick’ and Grand Marshal, actor Jon Kenny got on his bike to promote Limerick’s cycling trails.
More than seventy groups put their own artistic stamp on proceedings.
The fun continued with St. Patrick’s Festival Street Show Saturday providing high-energy acrobatics, magic and comedy on Bedford Row and Thomas Street. The Limerick City Centre Traders’ Association spread the fun with a range of amusements on Cruises Street.
On Sunday, thousands of people were blown away by energetic performances from twenty bands who didn’t let the wet weather dampen their enthusiasm. Limerick’s 51st International Band Championship featured more than fifteen hundred musicians and performers from across the globe.
The Pride of Bixby Marching Band from Oklahoma were overall winners but there were awards too for many of the other groups.
The Panoramic Wheel was a high point for many and will remain in Arthur’s Quay Park until the 21st of April.
Eugene Crimmins – Festivals and Events Officer, Limerick City and County Council said: “We are delighted with the hugely positive feedback we have received from the public about Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival 2023. The hard work really pays off when you see it all come together in such a spectacular fashion. People turned out to enjoy the festival in large numbers despite the mixed weather and all the community groups, musicians and other performers gave it their all to make this a weekend to remember.”
Take a look back on all the festive fun in this entertaining video from Limerick City and County Council.
Grooveyard produced this year’s Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival on behalf of Limerick City and County Council along with partners Analog Devices, Mr. Binman, Maldron Hotel and Fáilte Ireland.
Media Sponsors were Limerick Leader, Live 95, Limerick Post, Spin South West and I Love Limerick.
Catch up on the weekend that was on Limerick.ie/StPatricksFestival and Limerick St Patrick’s Festival social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).
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