Preliminary details of the 2013 Limerick St Patrick’s Festival were announced today (Friday) as the countdown to the event gets underway.
The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Saints and Scholars’ and one of the features will include a Parade of Patricks when hundreds will dress up as St Patrick in an attempt to break the record for the most St Patricks in one place, led by Artistic Director, local actor/writer Mike Finn.
“The Parade of Patricks is part of a new arts initiative which will pair local businesses with community groups to create some spectacular performances,” Mr Finn explained.
“All of the participants will make their own costumes from locally sourced materials and the costumes have been designed by Jennifer Byrne, Michelle Doyle and Asta Alminaite, three fashion students from Limerick School of Art and Design so we’re delighted with their involvement.”
The diverse and colourful groups of Ireland’s patron saint will be dispersed throughout the parade which takes place on O’Connell Street on Sunday, March 17th at 12 noon.
Entry to the Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade is free. All sporting, cultural, community, business and social organisations are invited to take part in the event which regularly attracts 70,000 spectators on to the streets of Limerick.
The theme can be interpreted in a number of ways with participants deciding to design a float/entry to reflect our national saint, Ireland, Limerick or their business, school or favourite team.
A highlight of the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival is the 43rd International Band Championship when bands from all over Ireland, the USA and Europe will compete to be crowned ‘Overall Parade Champion’.
Limerick St Patrick’s Festival can announce that already hundreds of musicians in six large North American bands have confirmed their plans to participate in the 2013 International Band Championship. These include: Cedar Rapids School, Washington; Youngsville High School, Pennsylvania; The Burlington Teen Tour Band, Canada; The University of Alabama; The University of Louisiana and The Brewster High School Marching Band, New York.
The Band Championship will start in O’Connell Avenue at 12 noon on Monday, March 18th and end in Merchant’s Quay (outside City Hall) with a free concert for the public.
Commenting on this announcement, Mayor Gerry McLoughlin said: “2013 will be an exciting year for Limerick, it is the year of the Gathering and with over 90 Gathering events planned throughout our city and county, we wanted to do something a little different with the theme so we are ‘gathering’ hundreds of St Patrick’s to hopefully break a world record!
“One of the highlights of the festival is the International Band Championship and Limerick is really looking forward to welcoming these bands who always add to this marvelous international event, now in its 43rd year,” he added.
More details on the 2013 Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival including the International Band Championship can be found on www.limerick.ie/stpatricksfestival. Those wishing to download entry forms for the Limerick St Patrick’s Day parade can do so by visiting www.limerick.ie/stpatricksfestival or calling 061-400200.