Limerick County

Events

Throughout the year, the county is abuzz with rich culture and history that bursts forth with a wide-ranging selection of festivals and events that celebrate anything from traditional Irish music and literature to more modern festivals and even sporting contests. Other activities serve to showcase the great cultural heritage of the county, which is more of a community and its visitors working in unison for experiences that are ever memorable.

Limerick St. Patrick’s Festival: Each March, Limerick city is brought to life with its St. Patrick’s Day parade, one of the largest in Ireland. Elaborate well beyond the parade itself, colorful floats, marching bands, and performers take to the streets. The festival through the weekend offers one of the best examples of Irish culture and heritage with music, street theatre, and free events.

Riverfest Limerick: Riverfest is an annual festival celebrating the best of what Limerick city has to offer. Free events see locals join almost 40,000 visitors who come for the fine weather and the good value, with free events for all ages. Events include the spectacular fireworks display, the Riverfest BBQ competition, fashion events, and lots of water-based activities.

International Band Championship of Limerick: the perfect complement to the St. Patrick’s Festival, with marching bands from around the world competing on the streets of Limerick. Music and color presented in an international competition on the streets of the city show the strength of a musical tradition in this city.

Limerick Literary Festival: The festival is dedicated to the Limerick-born novelist and playwright Kate O’Brien. Writers, poets, and prominent literary names from all around the country and abroad convene in the city every February for a weekend of readings, workshops, and talks.

Limerick Sings International Choral Festival: Taking place every June, choirs from all over the world converge on Limerick for a non-competitive but celebratory weekend of choral music. In general, there are a number of performances taking place across the city and county’s best-known venues, workshops, and social networks of choirs taking part.

Munster Fleadh Cheoil: A most appraised music festival in traditional Irish music held across the province of Munster and often within Limerick. This is a competition of music, songs, and dance accompanied by the use of the Irish language, which attracts the most diverse audience for the purpose of celebrating the cultural traditions of the island.

Limerick Culture Night For the 2013 edition, the city is teaming up with the September national event as it once again throws open its doors for free evening events at galleries, museums, churches, historic houses, and cultural centers. It will celebrate the powerful mix of culture, creativity, and the arts across the county.

The Richard Harris International Film Festival: Paying homage to one of Limerick’s most famous acting sons, this October film festival presents a cross-section of the best of Irish and international film. It is an opportunity for filmmakers to present their works and for film lovers to watch the screenings of the presented films. They also hold workshops and discussions at the same time.

Great Limerick Run: Taking part in the feature event of the Irish sporting calendar is the May annual marathon and road race, with thousands competing and even more watching. The course leads through one of the most attractive but challenging settings in the city’s historical district and along the River Shannon. The get-together is among a plethora of events hosted throughout the year that make the county live to display its culture, its traditions, and the spirit of community.