A festive gathering to celebrate the tradition of Christmas in Georgian times has taken place in Limerick city, marking its significant heritage and traditions from over 200 years ago.
Families and members of the local community led by Limerick Mayor John Moran gathered at The Crescent at the top of O'Connell Street to begin a new tradition - to celebrate a festive afternoon of carols, music and street theatre.
Mayor Moran, who himself lives on The Crescent said Christmas time was a massive occasion in Georgian times in Limerick and they wanted to bring the community together to once again gather amidst the Georgian homes and buildings.
"It started as a community initiative, and people wanting to have a festive afternoon in the Georgian quarter for which the city is well known, and up away from the commercial and shopping end of O’Connell Street," he said.
Randal Hodkinson who lives in the area said its often forgotten that there are many families living in the Georgian buildings of Limerick city centre, and they wanted to gather for Christmas.
"We just wanted to celebrate our neighbourhood, which happens to be the Georgian quarter of Limerick, full of history and heritage. And we decided to get dressed up in our Dickensian costumes and invite people to come along and sing carols and dance and listen to music."
Lumen Street Theatre were also there, and brought their performance expertise to the street, with a town crier and a traditional Christmas cart.
Even Scrooge came along but no grumpiness or humbugs were allowed.
There were choir performances at the former Jesuit church on The Crescent, recently expertly restored and now run by priests of the Institute of Christ the King.
Canon Lebocq said it was wonderful to see people gathering outside and inside the church, listening to the choir singing hymns and carols.
He said it was completely uplifting for this time of year.
Around 50 pupils from Milford National School had been rehearsing all week to perform Christmas carols on the steps of The Crescent, to the enjoyment and encouragement of the many who had gathered there.
The Limerick Georgian Christmas festival may have just begun, but the aim is to make it a traditional family day each year.
