County to go green for St Patrick’s Day events
There are a number of parades taking place across the county
LIMERICK is to turn green this weekend, with no fewer than 14 St Patrick’s Day parades taking place across the city and county.
Tens of thousands of people will line the city centre streets on Sunday, March 17, as Limerick’s largest parade takes place.
The fun gets under way at 12 noon, with the honour of grand marshal this year going to 17-year-old Sean O’Sullivan.
The talented Pallaskenry teenager - a student at Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom - was this year’s BT Young Scientist Exhibition winner with judges impressed by an artificial intelligence detection system he developed.
He will be joined by hundreds of other participants in the parade, which is this year themed as showing Limerick’s ‘different kind of energy’.
Visual artists Bui Bolg will join Lumen Street Theatre, the Limerick Youth Dance Company and many other participants.
There will be plenty of reasons for people to get to the city early - and stay a little longer - as there will be entertainment both before and after the parade.
From 30 minutes before its start, Hit Machine Drummers will bring lively and powerful high-energy sounds along the route, which like the last two years, will travel down to the main viewing stand outside Dunnes Stores in Henry Street.
Revellers can keep the party going immediately after with dance group Mirror Dancers performing in Thomas Street.
Across rural Limerick, there are 13 parades to mark Ireland’s national day.
All but one of these will take place on Sunday, March 17.
Elsewhere, Kilmallock’s parade on the Sunday starts at the earlier time of 12:30pm.
Limerick city will once again have something else to offer over the Bank Holiday weekend.
On the Monday at 12 noon, the 52nd International Band Championship will take place.
More than 1,600 musicians from across the world will bring a different kind of beat to the city.
For a full rundown of St Patrick’s Festival events in Limerick, call 061-556000.
Parade times
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Abbeyfeale at 4pm
Adare at 3pm
Askeaton 2.30pm
Ballylanders at 3pm
Broadford at 12 noon
Bruff at 2.30pm
Castleconnell at 12 noon
Castlemahon at 3pm
Kilmallock at 12.30pm
Kilfinane at 2pm
Limerick city at 12 noon
Mountcollins at 12.30pm
Rathkeale at 12.30pm
MONDAY, MARCH 18
City band parade at 12 noon