Tens of thousands set for Limerick city parade

TENS OF thousands of people are set to line the streets of Limerick on Friday as the city’s annual St Patrick’s Day parade takes place.

They will witness around 1,500 people clad in green taking part in the parade, which, this year, has a special theme of Discover Limerick, with Viking warriors providing a reminder of who discovered Limerick.

It all kicks off at noon, and will be headed by actor and comedian, D'Unbelievables star Jon Kenny who is this year’s grand marshal.

For the second year in-a-row the parade will not take in the majority of O’Connell Street due to the ongoing works on the thoroughfare.

Instead, those marching will start at the O’Connell Avenue/Roden Street junction before taking a left onto Glentworth Street, then a right onto Henry Street before winding up in Rutland Street.

It’s also the second year in-a-row the parade has returned in full, with the spectacle cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Old favourites will return to the parade including Buí Bolg who this year are collaborating with Limerick Youth Festival to help celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Disappointment in Limerick as Banshees of Inisherin and An Cailín Ciúin lose out at the Oscars

Lumen Street Theatre return along with Limerick Youth Dance Company, Cloughjordan Circus Club, the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance with stilt-walkers, musicians, and of course many of Limerick’s bands and clubs adding to the colour on the day.

The festivities will continue the following day with an afternoon of comedy and acrobatics at the St Patrick’s Festival Street Show Saturday.

Street performers Wobbly Circus, Hakuna Matata Acrobats, Fanzini Brothers, Stephen McGinley’s crazy circus, and magician Jack Wise will have performances in Thomas Street and Bedford Row from noon to 3pm.

On Sunday at noon the International Band Parade returns to Limerick for the 51st time.

A total of 20 bands from Limerick, Ireland, wider Europe and the USA will battle it out for the title and a number of other category prizes.

The parade will follow broadly the same route as the St Patrick’s Day event, finishing instead in Arthur’s Quay Park where a free concert will take place.

You can follow all the action from both the city and band parade on our social media and limericklive.ie