'From wonderful Wild Geese to memorable horse racing!' - Celia Holman Lee

THERE are few greater pleasures in life than celebrating your own city’s culture and history in grand style, and the recent launch of the 2025 Limerick Wild Geese Festival did exactly that, and more.

Held in the charming surrounds of No.1 Pery Square Hotel & Spa, a venue that oozes elegance, the June 9 launch marked the unveiling of this year’s festival programme, and what a vibrant, ambitious celebration it promises to be.

As someone who has always taken pride in Limerick’s heritage, I was genuinely moved by the scale and sophistication of what’s in store for this sixth edition.

A fabulous celebration of our deep historical ties with France and the enduring legacy of the Flight of the Wild Geese, it is running from July 3 to 6, with a pre-festival event on June 26.

I’m also getting ready for one of the most glamorous dates on the social calendar, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 29. I’ve already popped into Sinead’s Boutique for outfit inspiration!

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This year’s Derby will carry a poignant note.

It’s the first Derby since the passing of Colm McLoughlin, the visionary behind Dubai Duty Free.

Passing last November, Colm was a gentleman in every sense of the word, and someone who has played such a monumental role in elevating Dubai Duty Free to global acclaim. Colm and his beautiful wife Breeda always invited me to the Curragh in Co Kildare, and, honestly, it was an extraordinary honour.

A race will be named in Colm’s honour this year, and I’m so proud to be there to mark his legacy with his family and friends.

From Limerick’s historic streets to the elegance of the Curragh, it is a month steeped in both emotion and celebration.

XxCelia