Art
Routes for The Giants Journey
‘The Grandmother fallen from the galaxy into a field in Munster’
Over 100,000 people are expected to line the streets of Limerick from this Friday 5th to Sunday 7th of September as Limerick City Of Culture plays host to Royal De Luxe and the Giant Grandmother’s journey through its streets.
Thousands of people will follow the Giant’s journey across the city each day, visiting some well-known landmarks and also those less well known. It’s the biggest event in the city since the Pope’s visit in 1979.
With preparations currently underway, the routes for the three day journey have been announced. The action kicks off when the Grandmother arrives by train on Friday morning at 10am and begins her weekend exploration of the city.
If you are planning on heading to Limerick please check out the following routes, traffic and travel advice:
SCHEDULE
Friday 5th September
10am – 11.45am (approx)
Grandmother arrives by train at Bus Éireann School Transport Offices on Roxboro Road and makes her way to Upper William Street, down William Street turning left onto O’Connell Street. She continues up O’Connell Street to the O’Connell Monument, turning left onto Barrington Street, continues to Pery Square, Upper Mallow Street and arrives at Russell Park.
4pm – 6.40pm (approx)
Grandmother leaves Russell Park continues onto Parnell Street, down Roches Street turning right onto O’Connell Street, continuing onto Sarsfield Street, Liddy Street, around by Arthur’s Quay Park, onto Patrick Street, back around Arthur’s Quay making her way to Henry Street and then Harvey’s and Howley’s Quay. She proceeds to make her way up Lower Cecil Street back onto O’Connell Street up to The Crescent, turning onto Barrington Street, Pery Square, Upper Mallow Street, onto Lord Edward Street arriving at Sarsfield Barracks 6.40 approx. (which will remain open for a further 2 hours)
Saturday 6th September
10am – 12.30pm (approx)
Grandmother wakes up at 10am in Sarsfield Barracks and sets off on her journey around the City, taking in Lord Edward Street, Parnell Street, Upper William Street, down William Street, over Sarsfield Bridge, turning right onto Clancy’s Strand, continuing over Thomond Bridge onto Castle Street and Island Road arriving at Lee Estate.
4pm – 6.15pm (approx)
Grandmother wakes in Lee Estate and continues onto Island Road, turning right onto Bridge Street, Rutland Street, Patrick Street, O’Connell Street, Lower Cecil Street, Henry Street, Mill Lane, Bishop’s Quay, Howley’s Quay, Lower Shannon Street, Henry Street, Sarsfield Bridge, Clancy’s Strand, High Road, Thomondgate, Sexton Street North to Hassett’s Cross, left onto Shelbourne Road into Shelbourne Park 6.15 approx. (which will remain open for a further 2 hours)
Sunday 7th September
12 noon – 2pm
Starting at The Treaty Stone continuing onto Clancy’s Strand onto Sarsfield Bridge, Sarsfield Street, Patrick Street, Rutland Street to Merchant’s Quay. Departing Merchant’s Quay, Rutland Street, Patrick Street, Sarsfield Street onto Sarsfield Bridge and departs by boat on The River Shannon.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Advice
Over the three days much of the City Centre will be pedestrianised so that spectators can enjoy this family friendly free event. The City Centre is open for business on all three days. Watch out for special offers in cafes, hotels, restaurants and shops. All routes and road closures can be seen from the official website. During the event, should you be in any doubt, there will be live updates on the logistical movement of the Giant, via the Twitter account @Limerick2014. The Limerick City of Culture team will be live tweeting the event, so you will know exactly what our friendly Giant is up to.
Plan Your Journey
Grandmother Giant will be walking a total 19km over the three days, and will be stopping intermittently, so this gives all visitors a chance to explore the city. All potential hospitality options for your stay are live on www.royaldeluxelimerick.ie with many local businesses promoting special offers for the occasion.
Shuttle Buses
Shuttle bus services to the city centre will operate from approved out of town car parking sites. Park and Walk sites closer to the city will also be available. Full details of sites are available on www.royaldeluxelimerick.ie
Online information
All Giant information relating to travel, traffic and parking is available on www.royaldeluxelimerick.ie For up to date information follow The Giant’s Journey on Twitter @Limerick2014 #LimerickGiant or on Facebook.com/LimerickCityofCulture
Accessibility
Due to the Giant’s height of 7.5 metres, it will be viewable from long distances. To help maximise your enjoyment, wheelchair users and people with special needs will be permitted to gain access to protected viewing at marked static performance sites. Further information atwww.royaldeluxelimerick.ie
Accommodation
All accommodation providers have special offers online and are available on www.royaldeluxelimerick.ie or www.limerick.ie
What to expect
If you are wondering whether you are certain to see Grandmother Giant, don’t worry. Like many people, after a long stroll our Grandmother Giant will need a snooze and everyone will have the opportunity to see her asleep in a 6.4m-high wheelchair, which makes her visible to all spectators.
And it is not just the Giant you will want to see. There will be a troupe of Lilliputians, dressed in velour-velvet uniform, guiding the 85-year-old Granny through many of Limerick’s streets. And behind the Giant and her little helpers, a live band performing an official Royal de Luxe score for the duration of the street performance. Music lovers will undoubtedly fall for the original soundtrack as the Grandmother jigs and struts through Limerick.
Royal de Luxe’s charm and beauty lies with the diversity of the entire show and the eclectic range of spectators it attracts.
What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes and a weather-ready wardrobe will see you through the day with ease. In true Irish fashion, this means preparing for four seasons in one day – pop a rain poncho, windproof jacket, umbrella, sun block, sunglasses along with the route map in your backpack. Do the same for little ones along with some wellies and you’ll be set.
GETTING TO LIMERICK
BY AIR: Shannon International Airport is located 15 miles from Limerick BY RAIL: Limerick’s Colbert Railway Station has main line connections with Dublin, Cork and Galway and can be reached from any railway station in Ireland BY ROAD: Situated just over 2 hours from Dublin City (M7) and 1.5 hours from Cork (N20) and Galway (N18), Limerick‚Äôs location on Ireland’s West Coast can be effortlessly reached via all major roads BY BUS: Bus Eireann (and other bus service providers) operate bus routes to/from Limerick out of anywhere in Ireland.
Read more about The Giants Journey and Royal de Luxe here!