Limerick St Patricks Festival 2022 returns to the streets with the theme of Belonging and Identity 

Limerick St Patricks Festival 2022 returns to the streets of Limerick for 2022! Pictured above is a dance troupe from the Irish World Academy, the University of Limerick at Limerick St Patrick’s Day parade in 2019. Picture: Sean Curtin/True Media

Limerick St Patricks Festival 2022 returns to the streets with the theme of Belonging and Identity 

Aidan Valdez, Texas USA at the Limerick Saint Patricks Festival in 2019. Picture: Sean Curtin/True Media

The fun and craic associated with the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival make a welcome return to the city streets following a COVID-enforced absence of two years.

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The Limerick St Patricks Festival 2022 will include the traditional St Patrick’s Day Parade on Thursday, March 17 and the Limerick International Band Championship taking place this year on Sunday, March 20.

In addition, the 38-metre panoramic wheel is due to return to Limerick for the festival, with other events taking place around Limerick as we celebrate our national day.

Outline planning for the Limerick St Patricks Festival 2022 has been taking place behind the scenes since before Christmas, however, it has only begun to ramp up now following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions announced by the government.

The theme of Limerick St Patricks Festival 2022 is Belonging and Identity, ideas which many people have been thinking about and discussing throughout the two years of enforced restrictions.

#LimerickStPatsFestival returns to the streets of Limerick this year!

This year will include the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Limerick International Band Championship, the panoramic wheel and more!

More info: https://t.co/5yY6srzVQa pic.twitter.com/t0douYKdnf

— Limerick St. Patrick's Festival (@LimerickStPats) January 25, 2022

Belonging can be as part of Limerick, a community, group or sports club. How does belonging shape our identity, how we see ourselves are some of the questions posed. These are all ideas that can be developed as we look for a wave of creativity and colour along the streets of Limerick for the parade.

This year also marks the 100^th anniversary of the Irish Free State and the 50^th anniversary of Ireland joining the EEC (now the European Union).

The 50^th edition of the International Band Champion will see the streets of Limerick filled with the spectacular sight and sound of talented marching band musicians from across Ireland, Europe and America for Ireland’s only International Band Championship. Cheer on the bands as they march through the city competing to be crowned International Band Champions!

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler said: “We’ve had a long two years to wait for the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival, so let’s ensure it is the brightest and most creative one to date. We all deserve to enjoy ourselves after all the sacrifices we have made due to COVID-19, so with the extra bank holiday, let’s make Limerick party-central this St Patrick’s Day.”

“I know time is short to get involved, but let’s show our creativity and our innovation as we embrace the theme of Belonging and Identity and show what we are really like.”

Pippa Little, Arts Officer with Limerick City and County Council said: “This Limerick St Patrick’s Festival will bring colour, music and street theatre to Limerick. It offers us all an opportunity to participate, to enjoy the creativity that Limerick has to offer, a moment of celebration and a means of forging our collective Belonging and Identity.”

Other events on the fringe of the parade and band championship will be announced in the coming weeks.

Grooveyard is producing this year’s Limerick St Patrick’s Festival on behalf of Limerick City and County Council with Aidan Phelan as creative producer.

For more information on taking part, please contact Festivals & Events in Limerick City and County Council [email protected] or 061 556308.

More details will be available in the coming weeks HERE

For more stories on St Patricks Festival go HERE