There may be 40 shades of green but the rainbow of colours that represent the multicultural mix of people now living, working and studying in Limerick, has given a welcome splash of contrasting depth to this city.
Appropriate then that this year's St Patrick's Festival will showcase the best the city has to offer in terms of sport, culture, community organisations and diverse artistic and business input into the everyday life of Limerick.
"The theme will be the United Colours of Limerick, and we are extending invitations to take part to people of all nationalities, community and social, sporting and cultural organisations, to make it a wonderfully colourful and exciting event," said Mary Dundon, Limerick Co-Ordination Office.
"All Eastern European people now living here, as well as other ethnic groups who have made Limerick their home, are very welcome to join in on Monday, March 17,"she added.
Eager that the festivities reflect the "modern, vibrant, multicultural city that Limerick has become," Mayor Ger Fahy, said he is confident that the parade will showcase Limerick's best sporting, cultural, community and social organisations.
The event management company behind Ireland On Ice has been appointed to co-ordinate Limerick's St Patrick's Day festivities for the next two years.
The company won the contract after it came up for renewal late last year. Eightball Productions who held the contract up until now did not apply to renew it for 2008.
Futureama Productions has extensive experience in organising events and festivals in Limerick over the past 11 years.
President Clinton's visit to Limerick, the big screen and homecoming for the Munster Rugby team in 2006 were all hailed as great successes and portrayed Limerick in a positive light.
Fran O' Donnell |
Declaring his delight, as a Limerickman, to have secured the event management contract, Fran O'Donnell said his company has "lots of ideas, enthusiasm and energy to put into delivering the best festivals possible for the city".
For thousands of Limerick people the festival would not be complete without the hugely popular Band Parade which, this year, will be held on Sunday, March 16, with local, national and international bands taking part.
"Incredibly, the Band Parade is now in its 36th year and is a huge hit with Limerick people.
This year, we're hoping to have a terrific representation from Limerick bands as well as from Northern Ireland, the United States, the UK, and Europe,"said Eoghan Prendergas of Shannon Development.
