Retiring thirty-four-year-old rugby star and twenty-three-year-old singer received a huge reception as Anthony led the parade and Leanne travelled in an open-top-car along the parade route to the delight of one of the biggest crowds ever to attend a St Patrick's Day parade in Limerick

"I still can't believe it and I am just living on the buzz at the moment and the reaction has been great and everybody has just been coming up to me since I arrived back in Limerick, it's brilliant" she told the Limerick Chronicle.

Leanne received a standing ovation from the everyone on the VIP stand as she performed one of her songs for the 50,000 strong crowd.

Over 70 different groups took part in yesterday's parade, which featured representatives from various ethic cultures in Limerick as well as a fly-over from the Air-Corps and one the country's biggest military displays.

Event organiser Fran O'Donnell said the parade went off without a hitch. "We had everything – the weather, the crowds and over 2,000 participants – and it was a super parade and just look at the turnout, I think it was one of the biggest we have ever had in Limerick and the people certainly came out to support the parade," he said.

On Sunday afternoon over 30,000 people turned out for the International Marching Band Competition, which attracted participants from Limerick, Europe and the United States.

The overall winner of the International Band Competition was the Auburn University Marching Band who travelled from Alabama in the United States.