Due to the COVID 19 outbreak, Limerick City and County Council have announced that this year’s Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade and the 50th International Band Championship have been called off. Limerick City and County Council is acutely aware that the St Patrick’s Festival is one of the civic and tourist highlights of the year in Limerick; however, public health and safety have to be paramount. Several thousand participants had signed up to take part in the Limerick St Patrick’s Day Parade, which attracts up to 50,000 spectators and had a theme of ‘Our Future is Green’. This year the parade was to be shown live to millions of people across the United States, as the ABC Network and global internet media company Travelzoo were due to broadcast live from Limerick’s O’Connell Street courtesy of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
The 50th International Band Championship has also been cancelled. This was due to take place on Sunday, 15th March. The country’s only marching band championship attracted a total of 20 bands comprising around 2,000 musicians. Seven pipe bands were due to participate this year including Newcastle West Pipe Band, City of Limerick Pipe Band, the CBS Pipe Band and Boherbuoy Brass and Reed Band.