A complete guide to St Patrick's Day parades in the city and across county Limerick

CELEBRATIONS for St Patrick’s Day will start two days early for three of the parades in the county.

Kilmallock, Newcastle West and Broadford will all host their St Patrick’s parades on Sunday, March 15. 

Broadford begins at 12 noon, with Kilmallock starting at 1pm and festivities in Newcastle West kicking off at 3pm.

The International Band Championship parade will also take to the city streets on Sunday at 12 noon. This year, bands from the UK, America and Ghana will join the line-up.

On St Patrick’s Day itself, there will be another 11 parades throughout the county with starting times varying from 12 noon right up to the latest parade starting in Abbeyfeale at 4pm. 

The Tuesday, March 17 Limerick city parade starts at 12 noon from the Roden Street junction of O’Connell Avenue.

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The parade will be led by Ireland's national women's marathon champion Ava Crean as Grand Marshal. 

The theme of this year's city parade is Legends of Limerick and there will also be a post-parade block party at Arthur's Quay Park.

The Irish National Clown Orchestra and Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company will come together for a spectacular performance at 2pm.

For the first time ever, both the city St Patriclk's Day parade and the International Band Championship parade  will be live-streamed on limerick.ie. 

As well as the parade, there is a full festival of events from March 13 until March 17. 

Some of the highlights include an enchanting harp performance in King John's Castle on St Patrick's Day led by Dr Fiana Ní Chonaill and the Cuisle Harp Ensemble. 

There is storytelling, guided tours, games and activities to celebrate Irish culture and heritage at the Hunt Museum.  

The Irish National Clown Orchestra will bring a high energy musical performance to the Milk Market on Sunday with  performances at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. 

Other highlights include a kite workshop and fireside stories about Saint Patrick in Kilmallock and city locations. 

To facilitate the parades in the city, there will be temporary road closures in place on March 15 and 17. 

These road closures will affect key city routes including O'Connell Avenue, Quinlan Street, The Crescent, Henry Street, Liddy Street, Cecil Street and adjoining roads. 

Closures will be in place from 7am until 3.30pm with parking prohibitions from 3am until 3.30pm on both days. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

Broadford at 12 noon, from Lios na Sí Broadford Community Centre

Kilmallock at  1pm, from Kilmallock Church

Newcastle West at  3pm, from Church Street

TUESDAY, MARCH 17

Castleconnell at  12 noon, from Scanlon Park

Rathkeale at  12 noon, from Tadhg O’Connor’s Hardware

Adare at  12 noon, from Scoil Naomh Iosaf 

Mountcollins at  12 noon, from the community centre

Hospital at  12 noon, from John the Baptist Community School

Kilfinane at  1.15pm, from McCarthy’s Yard

Askeaton at  2pm, from the church car park

Bruff at  2pm, from Scoil Dean Cussen

Castlemahon at  3pm, from the church car park

Ballylanders at  3pm, from the Natural Sleep yard

Abbeyfeale at  4pm, from the Mountmahon industrial estate

Limerick city at 12 noon, from the Roden Street junction of O’Connell Avenue