It’s described as Ireland’s biggest party over the May Bank Holiday and this year organisers of Limerick’s Riverfest extravaganza plan to treat Limerick with a line up of BBQ treats, music in Peoples Park, the Great Limerick Run, a Currach Regatta, continental markets and much more.
Below are details of the events at this years Riverfest.
The Great Limerick BBQ, Saturday, May 1st
A Riverfest favourite, the Great Limerick BBQ will fire up at 11am on Saturday, May 1st on George’s Quay. An amateur competition, the day long event will host three different cooking categories based on flavour, texture and presentation. See up to 70 teams take part in this fun event and try out some free samples of delectable treats!
Riverfest Continental Market, Friday-Monday
Find everything from the sweetest handmade fudge, ripest olives, and tastiest French potatoes to handcrafted art and jewellery at the four day Riverfest market which features exotic treats and produce from France, Spain, Holland, the UK and Germany complemented by the best of Irish organic food and craft provided local traders.
Market Times on Michael Street.
Friday 30th April 10am – 7pm,
Saturday 1st May 10am – 7pm,
Sunday 2nd May 10am – 7pm
Monday 3rd May 10am to 3pm
Riverfest Coonagh Currach Regatta 2010, Saturday, May 1st
A flotilla of yachts from Foynes Boat Club to arrive into Limerick at 6pm on Saturday.
See the top twelve crews in the country compete in the Coonagh Currach Regatta on Saturday, May 1st at Howley’s Quay. Come support the Limerick Crew who are the 2008 winners of the International Great River Race in London, Limerick & Clare League winners 2009 and the current ‘Ocean to City’ winners 2009!
Three races will take place and will start in front of Clohessy’s Pub on Howley’s Quay. Competitors will row down under Shannon Bridge, pass the Clarion Hotel and row back to Howley’s Quay to finish. The Limerick crew from Coonagh are the current league champions and the 2009 winners of the International Great River Race
in London. There will be live commentary on all races and presentations on Howley’s Quay afterwards by Mayor of Limerick, Kevin Kiely. Sponsors of the Regatta include Bunratty Search & Rescue and a special flyover & manoeuvre by the Shannon based Search & Rescue Helicopter will also take place.
The Currach Racing begins Saturday 1st May at 5pm and Angeling Cots & Gandalows take part on Sunday 2nd May at 5pm.
May Music in the Park, Saturday, May 1st
Enjoy Riverfest with some of Limerick’s top musicians who will perform concerts in the city’s leafy parks throughout May as part of the May Music in the Park series. Jazz band Idol Bones will play in Arthur’s Quay Park and the Irish Chamber Orchestra will entertain in the award winning People’s Park at lunchtime on May 1st.
- The performances will begin on Saturday, May 1st-to co-incide with Limerick Riverfest 2010- with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in the award winning People’s Park and local jazz band Idol Bones in Arthur’s Quay Park.
- On Saturday, May 8th, The People’s Park will host a traditional music concert with musicians from the Irish World Academy while Sammy Benson’s Limerick City Brass and Reed Band will entertain in Arthur’s Quay Park.
- On Saturday, May 15th, it’s the turn of the Cantette Choir and Limerick Youth Choir in the People’s Park with Limerick’s Boherbuoy Brass and Reed Band playing in Arthur’s Quay Park.
All concerts are free and take place between 1.30pm-3pm.
The Great Limerick Run, Sunday, May 2nd
Cheer on the thousands of runners who will descend in Limerick for the Great Limerick Run on Sunday, May 2nd. All three races (Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k) start at the People’s Park and end in O’Connell Street and take in a host of historical and cultural sites along the way. Don’t forget the Great Limerick Run expo in Thomond Park showcasing a host of sporting products (Friday 2-8pm/ Saturday 9am-6pm)
More Details: Road Closures/ Restrictions | www.greatlimerickrun.com
Riverfest C:Inside 2010 Friday-Monday
Live tattooing, photographic printing and a 24 hour drawing marathon! Come and see how artists work and develop their ideas and how they create a piece of art. Six Limerick studios have put together a timetable of fun family cultural events to co-incide with Riverfest including Contact Studios, Limerick Printmakers Studio, Wickham Street Studios, Faber Studios, Raggle Taggle Consortium and All-Out Design.
Friday 30th April
* All Out Design, Sarsfield Street: Live Tatooing with Dr J
* Faber Studios, Catherine Street: Open Studio w Tea and Coffee
* Contact Studios, Mulgrave Street: Open Studio 10am to 10pm and 2pm to 4pm Photograhic Printing with Joanna Hopkins
* Raggle Taggle Consortium, Sarsfield Street: 5.30pm 24 Hour Drawing Marathon
* Limerick Printmakers Studio and Gallery: Robert Street: OPen Studios w printmaking demonstratrions from 11am to 5pm
* Wickham Street Studios, Wickham Street:Open Studios from 6pm to 9pm.
Saturday 1st May
* All Out Design, Sarsfield Street: Live Tatooing with Dr J
* Faber Studios, Catherine Street: Open Exhibition and workshops for kids and adults with Oragami and Paper Making 12pm to 6pm
* Contact Studios, Mulgrave Street: Open Studio 10am to 10pm and 2pm to 4pm Photograhic Printing with Joanna Hopkins and Pottery with Claire Butler from 2pm to 5pm
* Raggle Taggle Consortium, Sarsfield Street: until 5.30pm 24 Hour Drawing Marathon
* Limerick Printmakers Studio and Gallery: Robert Street: Open Studios w printmaking demonstratrions from 10.30am to 4pm
* Wickham Street Studios, Wickham Street:Open Studios from 12pm to 5pm.
Sunday 2nd May
* Raggle Taggle Consortium, Sarsfield Street: Presentation of 24 Hour Drawing Marathon Images
* All Out Design, Sarsfield Street: Presentation of Dr J’s live tatooing results.
Riverfest Fashion Friday, Friday, April 30th
Pop into Limerick city for a coffee and some great fashion to kick-start Riverfest weekend! The Café Quarter in association with Limerick Riverfest presents Friday Fashion Morning Coffee at the Cornstore, Thomas Street on Friday, April 30th at 10.15am. Come along to see Limerick’s top fashion houses present stunning new summer collections including In Vogue, Vamp, JRs in the City, Pamela Scott, O’Donnells, Mego and Ela Maria.
Shoes will be provided by Shoe Flair, hair by Liberty Hair salon and sunglasses by Vision2 Opticians. Models are by the Holman Lee Agency and jewellery is provided by Tadhg Kearney jewellers. Admission is free and there are also goody bags!
Fishing Competition
There will be a junior fishing competition on Merchants Quay on Saturday 1st May at 11am and a senior competition also on Merchant’s Quay on Sunday 2nd May at 11am.
Riverfest Rugbyfest
Watch Limerick Leprechauns take on the Gardai in a Charity Rugby Match before Limerick throws a huge party to watch Munster do battle with Biarritz in San Sebastian! . More Details. The match will be played a Young Munster RFC on Thursday 29th April. With a donation entry fee the throw-in is at 6.00pm.
Limerick Riverfest Racing, Monday, May 3rd
Celebrate Riverfest with a great line-up of National Hunt Racing starting from 2.30pm on Monday, May 3rd. Lots of specials, free children’s entertainment and a special bus service from Limerick city.
There is a host of other events taking place over Riverfest weekend including the acclaimed production of Language Unbecoming of a Lady by Bottom Dog Theatre, choke comedy at the Belltable, and a great live music line-up at Dolan’s including Nik Kershaw and Johnny Duhan at the Belltable.
ev+a 2010:Matters continues across the city centre and the Hunt Museum will host free Egyptian arts and crafts for children over Riverfest weekend.
King John’s Castle will also be free for visitors on Sunday, May 2nd and offer two for one specials on Bank Holiday Monday.
Riverfest is run on behalf of the Limerick Co-Ordination Office by Futureama Productions. Fran O’Donnell, managing director, said: “One of the highlights is the Great Limerick BBQ, now back in all its glory and we’re confident it will be a great success. It’s always been a very popular part of Riverfest and we’ve had huge interest from people wanting to take part. It’s always great fun and we’re looking forward to all the interesting dishes that the entrants will come up with this year!”
Limerick’s Live 95FM is the main commercial sponsor of Riverfest 2010 and other sponsors include Musgrave’s Foods and The Locke Bar & Oyster House. Partners of the festival include Limerick City Council and Shannon Development.
Road Closures for Riverfest
Limerick City Council wish to advise motorists and road users that the following roads will be closed to all through vehicular traffic and parking for riverfest activities.
Michael Street from 4.00am, Friday, 30th April, 2010 until 5.00pm Monday, 3rd May, 2010. Local access will be permitted to Business Premises from Charlottes Quay and from Ellen Street.
Georges Quay from 5.00am on Friday, 30th April, 2010 until 9.00am Monday, 3rd May, 2010.
Night time taxi ranks on Michael Street will be relocated temporarily to Charlottes Quay.
