Limerick hosts Féile na nGael 2013

Limerick Set to Welcome over 5,000 Competitors for National Sports Festival

Press Release

Friday, 28th June 2013

Limerick is preparing for the arrival of thousands of hurling, camogie and handball players as it hosts the national sports festival, Féile na nGael. Féile na nGael is a national festival for boys and girls under 14 years of age running from 5th-7th July 2013. To celebrate Limerick hosting the 2013 event, the city will hold a major parade on Friday 5th July, kick starting the festival.

As hurling fever spreads through the Treaty City ahead of Limerick’s battle with Cork on Sunday 14th July in the Munster Senior Hurling Final, Limerick’s streets will be filled with up to 5,000 marchers from all 32 counties and five marching bands, led by the Artane Band.

Newly appointed Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Kathleen Leddin, said Limerick is a proud sporting city with a long standing love affair with the GAA. “Limerick is one of Ireland’s strongest sporting cities and we have proved that with our outstanding performance in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship to date! I am most looking forward to welcoming the visiting teams to our city for what is shaping up to be an exciting, fun filled weekend,” said Mayor Leddin.

Each year 25,000 boys and girls take part in the festival across all 32 counties and Limerick will welcome up to 150 hurling and Camogie clubs along with 60 hand ball clubs, with a total of up to 5,000 participating in the weekend of events. The highlight of the weekend, the parade of competing teams, begins at the Gaelic Grounds at 7.30pm on Friday 5th July and will proceed along the Ennis Road, up to O’Connell Street where there will be a review stand. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and support their local teams.

Once the parade reaches the junction of Mallow Street and O’Connell Street, the marchers will disperse to Pery Square, Hartstonge Street, Upper Mallow Street, Barrington Street and Catherine Place. Visiting hurling and camogie clubs have been paired with host clubs here in Limerick and will be staying with host families. All other visitors, including handball players, will be staying in hotels/guesthouses around the city and county.

Féile na nGael is a national movement with the primary objective of facilitating and enabling the personal, social and cultural development of young people. It also emphasises cultural and community activities, leadership and training through sport. There will be road closures from the Gaelic Grounds along the Ennis Road, Sarsfield Bridge, Sarsfield Street and O’Connell Street as far as the Mallow Street junction for the parade on Friday, 5th July.

The Limerick Communications Office wishes both visiting and local participants an enjoyable weekend as they take in all that Limerick has to offer.

For more details and a full list of fixtures visit www.feilelimerick2013.com.