Celebration will jointly showcase Limerick’s cultural confidence and say thank-you to public for getting behind bid.
Celebration will jointly showcase Limerick’s cultural confidence and say thank-you to public for getting behind bid.
Limerick is set to party like it’s 2020 on Tuesday 12th July with a street celebration and thank-you to the public for its support for the European Capital of Culture bid
An open invitation has been issued by the newly elected Mayor of Limerick Cllr. Kieran O’Hanlon and the Limerick 2020 bid team to the public to join them in the city for a range of festivities planned for midday to evening as an appreciation for the collective effort for the 2020 European Capital of Culture bid.
Thousands of people are set to enjoy the carnival atmosphere that will take hold across the city.
Said Bid Deputy Director and Arts and Culture Officer for Limerick City and County Council Sheila Deegan: “We wanted to throw a big street party for the people of Limerick, for everyone who played a part in the magical journey we have had so far.
“Win or lose with the 2020 bid, we have achieved an awful lot and it is time to celebrate so we are asking that as many people as possible to turn out and enjoy this party with us.”
The Limerick bid team will travel to Dublin two days later for a formal pitch in front of the jury and, according to the Arts and Culture Officer, are buzzing with excitement ahead of the two key days.
“Effectively we have been working on this since the turn of the millennium when we began our bid for the 2005 Capital of Culture and really set off on what has been our cultural discovery journey in Limerick. The journey has awakened a real sense of cultural identity in Limerick and a wider awareness of just how rich, diverse and talented our cultural heritage is.
“We were Ireland’s first National City of Culture in 2014 and certainly showed over the course of that magical year just how much Limerick has found its cultural voice and it is now singing from the rooftops.”
The bid team, under the auspices of Limerick City and County Council, has put on a veritable street party that will give a flavour of the celebratory air that has unfolded across the cultural awakening that Limerick has experienced over the past decade and a half.
The festivities will include the return of the food carnival, Culture and Chips, which will take over the Crescent, at the top of O’Connell Street from midday until evening. This celebration of Limerick’s food culture will involve a food street-party on a scale never seen before in the city, with bunting, fairy lights, tent poles, street performers and fire eaters all adding to the food village of local producers ready to produce mouth-watering fare for all who attend.
The day-long party will also explore the traditions of tea and coffee making with the World Recipe Exchange. Come along and join our international hosts for a cuppa, chats and to exchange some delicious recipes.
There will be further special events at the Hunt Museum and the Urban Garden on O’Connell Street and, of course, on the boardwalk at Howley’s Quay as Limerick continues its celebration of the River Shannon, which is at the very heart of the city and county’s culture.
Looking ahead to the day, newly elected Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr. Kieran O’Hanlon said: “The process for the European Capital of Culture 2020 has been a wonderful collective for Limerick in which so many people and organisations have played a part so it is only right that we would have a big street party.
“This is really about Limerick taking the time to clap itself on the back, reflect on just how far we have come generally as a city and the influence that culture has had on that journey. Win or lose this bid, we have plenty of reason to celebrate and I would urge everyone to join us on this special and very important day.”
