Limerick's St Patrick's Festival cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak

Limerick’s St Patrick’s Festival and smaller parades across the county have been cancelled in the interests public health due to the continuing coronavirus outbreak.

At a media briefing this Monday evening Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that St Patrick's Day parades nationwide will not proceed next week.

The decision was announced following a meeting of a cabinet sub-committee which is dealing with the Covid-19 situation. 

We’ve convened a Cabinet Committee of senior ministers and officials to discuss the evolving situation regarding Covid 19. First meeting today. Further updates later. #coronvirusireland #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/UtnKTTqtEn

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) March 9, 2020

Prior to the government decision, the organisers of a number of smaller parades across the country had announced that their parades would not be proceeding next week.

Tens of thousands of people had been expected to attend the Limerick city parade on March 17 while large crowds were also expected to attend the 50th International Band Championship this coming Sunday afternoon.

At the weekend, Cllr Conor Sheehan called for the St Patrick's festivities in Limerick to be cancelled saying he believed the risk to public health was too high.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people who voted in a snap poll on the Limerick Leader Twitter account agree with the decision to cancel the St Patrick’s Festival.

Of the 606 people who voted this Monday,  81.7% said they were in favour of the cancellation.

In a statement, confirming the cancellation on the St Patrick's Festival, a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said public health and safety have to be paramount.

"We would like to apologise to all the clubs, community groups and organisations, bands and street theatre entertainers and businesses affected by this decision but we are following the guidelines set down by the government and health officials and acting in the best interests of public health and safety," he said.

Limerick City and County Council regrets to announce that this year’s Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade and the 50th Limerick International Band Championship have been cancelled due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) concerns

Full details: https://t.co/rs8TnlI3bG #LimerickStPatsFestival pic.twitter.com/57dljbr81w

— Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) March 9, 2020

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Sheahan added: “We sincerely regret that we have to cancel this year’s parade and band championship but the health and safety of our thousands of participants, visitors and volunteers is paramount. We believe they are the correct decisions based on the current situation and most recent risk assessment which considered the volume of visitors expected to Limerick city and the duration of the event.”

Dr Pat Daly, Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council, said the decision was not easy. “Cancellation is not an easy thing to do and this will bring disappointment to many who had been working very hard behind the scenes and were looking forward to marching down O’Connell Street with pride next week, but we have taken this decision due to the possible threat to public health from COVID-19.”