Up the Creek at riverfest in Limerick

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Saturday May 13, 2006 12:55

by Sean O'Neill - Republican Sinn Fein

lris at eircom dot net

38 Quinns Cottages Limerick

061 418425

Where were you in your canoe when the tide went out

Time and tide waits for no man or woman the organisors of River fest in Limerick learned when canoeists had to wade ashore

Media release from
Sean O’Neill, Secretary, Republican Sinn Fein
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For the attention of News Editor/Newsroom…..
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UP THE CREEK BECAUSE OF LOW TIDE

The organisers of the Limerick River fest were left up the
creek without a paddle when the tide went out on their
plans for a Shannon based canoe extravaganza at the weekend.

Timed for the early afternoon, the event drew hundred of
participants and spectators to the banks of the River
Shannon in Limerick but the tide did not rise to the occasion!

“The display of canoes on the water was timed for when the
tide was going out and the rocks at the Curraghour falls made
the river impassable for the canoeists,” said Sean O’Neill, the
local RSF secretary.

“Many of the participants who came from outside Limerick to
take part, had to wade ashore because of the low water.

“This type of dis-organisation leaves a lot to be desired and
does not promote an image of a dynamic go ahead city.

“It is all very well for these promotional bodies to say they
are doing a wonderful job of highlighting the advantages of
locating in Limerick but this type of disaster turns us into a
laughing stock.

“While I agree that the River Shannon is one of the major
attractions of Limerick that needs to be promoted, there
must be solid research in relation to tides and tidal times
to ensure that such river based events are successful.

“Let this pr disaster, where the organisors were left high
and dry, be a lesson for the future promotion of river
based events in Limerick.

(Ends)
Issued on Friday 12th May 2006
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
for confirmation please contact Sean O’Neill (061) 418425 or
mobile 086 3360331

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Comments (3 of 3)

OMFG WE WILL BE RUINED BECAUSE OF THIS !!!!!

by squid - Limerick blogger

Sat May 13, 2006 20:00

Kindof exagerating things a little arn't we Sean? My belief that there is nothing positive about LRIS is confirmed by this statement, I mean one tiny thing goes wrong and your jumping up and down about it, how many events were organised for riverfest again?

I think you are just afraid to admit that over all it was the best riverfest we have had yet.

great events but timing was way off

by dave

Tue May 23, 2006 00:54

the riverfest would have been a lot better if the organisers had checked with people that know the tidal conditions of the city.
a lot of people came to see events acording to the time table but went away when they saw nothing happening and were told there would be a two hour delay because of low water.
there are people in limerick that can calculate tidal heights,so how did the organisers get it so wrong?????

You got it wrong Sean...

by Tony

Thu Mar 01, 2007 15:15

087 6439791

If you understood the point to the kayaking events organised for riverfest you will know that the organisers NEED the tide to be on the way out (if not fully out) for the freestyle kayaking events.

Curragower falls is arguably the best playspot in the country - a wave forms when there is plenty of water coming down through curragower falls and the tide needs to drop to expose this wave.

If the tide is full y up - there is no feature.

To further cure your ignorance - check out :http://playak.com/article.php?sid=1200

The other kayaking events that took place included a long distance race from Worrell's End, Castleconnell (which did not depend on tide in any way) and a big air ramp which was timed for the high tide in the evening as was required.

Personally I think you should completely retract your statement as you obviously misunderstood the preparation and organisation that went into the kayaking activities which, I might add, took little if nothing at all from the budget for the overall event given that prozes were heavily sponsored by many Irish kayaking shops and the events run by volunteers to promote their own sport.

I know several past and current members of UL kayak club were slaving to prepare for not just this event but to build ramps for the biking and skateboarding events also. In the thick of all this many of us also helped with assembly of barbeques for the world bbq event.

It's is neither helpfull or productive to assume through ignorance that the event was poorly organised when the opposite is the case.

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Up the Creek at riverfest in Limerick

Comments (3 of 3)