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Street festival in Limerick

The Feet on the Street festival featured the by now familiar French Market, balloon sculpture, street theatre, live bands, a fashion show and even a religious mass on Sunday. Before all the construction work begins, it was decided to mark the occasion with a series of entertainment for all the family.On Thursday the carnival atmosphere began and there was something planned for each and every one of the family.

Thursday saw the commencement of the festival as it hosted the incredibly colourful French Street Market. The band La Chico took to the stage to entertain crowds in the late afternoon, prior to the fashion show that was planned by the No Name boutique. Children could enjoy a kiddies section to the street catwalk to show off gladrags suited for their generation. Feet on the Street then gathered momentum over the bank holiday Friday. On the open air stage at 7pm that evening was Jade the all-girl band that made its name in Eurostar.

By Saturday, the French Market set up stall to present its cheeses, wines, hot foods, leather goods and crafts. At lunch time, Celtic Ceilidh was set to whistle in the jigs and the reels. Limericks own Milk Market continued as ever. Saturday night`s concert had a Caribbean Party theme and the popular Century Steel Band took to the stage to get the party under way. The festival hosted a mass with the appropriate theme of Faith on the Street on the bank holiday Sunday.

This is the first time that an open air mass has been celebrated on the streets in Limerick city centre since the visit of Pope John Paul II. Father Liam Ryan from the Augustian Church on O`Connell Street celebrated the mass. Elikea, the multicultural choir based in Limerick, incorporated instruments and drums into their singing which really added to this historic occasion. After mass, a barbecue for all with food vendors and a magic show which took over the festival stage for the afternoon.