The streets and parks in Limerick will become playgrounds for traditional sports and games when the European Sport for All Games event comes to the city in August.
From King John's Castle to the Milk Market, the games will transform Limerick city centre into a vibrant celebration of sport, culture and community.
Among the sports spectators can expect to see are asphalt stock sport from Austria, pljockanje from Poland, barrel rolling from France, gymnastics from Estonia, horseshoe throw from Hungary and tamburello from Italy.
Organisers have confirmed the venues that will host the games, which will attract over 250 participants from 26 European delegations, for four days of sport, cultural exchange and public events.
The venues confirmed include Nicholas Street, Hunt Museum Garden, Arthur’s Quay Park, People’s Park and Merchant’s Quay.
The programme will begin on 7 August with an opening ceremony at King John’s Castle and a conference at Mary Immaculate College.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, traditional sports and games from across Europe will take over the city centre, with demonstrations, performances and opportunities for the public to try out the different traditional games for themselves.
The games will conclude four days later with a closing ceremony at the Milk Market.
The announcement comes as representatives from Limerick Sports Partnership return from the 29th TAFISA World Congress in Prague, where anticipation is already building among participating nations ahead of the games coming to Ireland.
Phelim Macken from the Limerick Sports Partnership said: There is huge excitement among delegates and participating countries about coming to Limerick for the European Sport for All Games in August."
"What makes these games special is that they bring sport out into public spaces and create opportunities for everyone to get involved, whether that is by taking part, watching, volunteering or simply enjoying the atmosphere across the city," Mr Macken said.
The games are being organised by Limerick Sports Partnership and TAFISA in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Sport Ireland, University of Limerick, and co-funded by the European Union.
