Riverfest 2016

zulutango

Following the success of last years Riverfest .. :rolleyes: .. and this years St. Patrick's Day parade ... ...

Does anybody know if Grooveyard have been awarded the contract to run this year's Riverfest? I don't know how a brand new company with no track record in event management is getting these contracts, but somebody has to shout stop. Limerick deserves much better.

I had thought The Limerick Marketing Company had been disbanded before Christmas, and these were the ones handing out the contracts for these events, so how come Grooveyard were running the show at last week's St. Patrick's Day parade?

ciog52

They look to be a big company, i enjoyed Riverfest last year

Jofspring

ciog52 wrote: »

They look to be a big company, i enjoyed Riverfest last year

Weren't they brought in to freshen up the event with new ideas? Seems to me they had just rehashed the old ideas last year and added maybe one or two things. I don't know if they have more planned for this year.

Red King

zulutango wrote: »

I don't know how a brand new company with no track record in event management is getting these contracts.

I suspect the usual way people get things in this country when it obviously isn't to do with merit or qualifications or ability.

Riverfest has been appalling for years now. I expect this year to be no different:

The BBQ will be on a cramped Denmark Street and people will still be asking if you have to pay for the food or what exactly is in it for people not actually doing a BBQ.

There will be a band outside Smyth's and drinking on the street courtesy of the bars nearby providing plastic pint glasses. The usual scumbag element will show up with their bags of cans from the offie, leading to a very unpleasant atmosphere later on in the day/night. By midnight it will be a messy crowded drunken horror show.

There will be a half assed boating event that may or may not involve powerboats and the location and times of said event will be unknown to everyone until the last minute. Most people will miss it or be oblivious to it having ever taken place.

There will be a Continental Market outside the granary on a cramped narrow street. The Continental produce on offer will largely consist of ovetpriced pick n mix stalls, overpriced hot dogs and overpriced burgers. They might go mad and have an overpriced crepe stall in case anyone wants to go all out.

There will be something on in Arthur's Quay "Park" which might be kid friendly but definitely not wallet friendly.

Afterwards, Live 95fm, The Limerick Post &The Limerick Leader will tell us all what a glorious weekend it was and publish loads of photos with Rich Anthons (or whatever name he goes by these days) mug front and centre in every shot.

People will leave feedback on social media and it will all be ****ing ignored.

bigpink

I started thread on this i think
Its all moving to Arthurs quay park mainly to soak up the crowd for after the run

panda100

bigpink wrote: »

I started thread on this i think
Its all moving to Arthurs quay park mainly to soak up the crowd for after the run

Apparently it's heading to the Crescent :pac: http://limerickunderground.org/2016/04/01/riverfest-on-the-move-in-2016/

moby2101

Why bother ??? It's always been pants..

bazz26

I'm hoping that's an April fool joke.

Red King

panda100 wrote: »

Apparently it's heading to the Crescent :pac: http://limerickunderground.org/2016/04/01/riverfest-on-the-move-in-2016/

That's ****in priceless

mynameis905

panda100 wrote: »

Apparently it's heading to the Crescent :pac: http://limerickunderground.org/2016/04/01/riverfest-on-the-move-in-2016/

The honour of unveiling the plans for the festival fell to the little-known, maverick PR personality and founder of iloverichardlynch.com ilovelimerick.ie, Richard Lynch. On this special occasion, Lynch, who normally avoids the spotlight, insisted on posing agreed to pose for numerous photos, his head turned perfectly sideways so naturally and effortlessly, it seemed that the catwalks of Milan were missing a true star.

Comedy gold

Red King

So we are three weeks out from this and there is no official website and all that it says on Limerick.ie on a buried post is that highlights for this year will include the Great Limerick Run, the BBQ Competition, the Continental Fair of European Artisan Producers (fcuking lol) and Fashion Friday

What a farce. Do you notice the elephant in the room here besides the woeful planning - not a single "event" has anything to do with the river.

Compare that with Dublin Port Riverfest 2016 which takes place in JUNE

A full website already up and running, with a full programme of activities including visiting tall ships and schooners, DJ and street theatre, family fun fair, markets, children's art & pirate workshops, free walk through visits on the Jeanie Johnson, river kayaking, tugboat dance, boat race on Liffey, aerial acts, shanty singers, trips on MV St. Bridget, Admirals Ball and Parade of Sail Ships leaving.


That is how you do a Riverfest, not this Father Ted Tunnel of Goats bollocks that is foisted upon the people of Limerick year after year. It is an insult frankly and it is time that heads roll over this.

zulutango

Red King wrote: »

That is how you do a Riverfest, not this Father Ted Tunnel of Goats bollocks that is foisted upon the people of Limerick year after year. It is an insult frankly and it is time that heads roll over this.

:pac: :pac:

That couldn't be more accurate. Limerick City & County Council are like a pack of monkeys trying to drive a bus these days.

Red King

And let's remember, Riverfest just piggybacked onto the Great Limerick Run, which would be happening regardless.

So Riverfest in all its glory is a BBQ competition and a Fashion showcase by Celia Holman Lee with a few pick n mix stalls and a burger grill pretending to be a Continental Market.

Who the hell is ultimately responsible for this embarrassment? I want names.

mynameis905

Red King wrote: »

So we are three weeks out from this and there is no official website and all that it says on Limerick.ie on a buried post is that highlights for this year will include the Great Limerick Run, the BBQ Competition, the Continental Fair of European Artisan Producers (fcuking lol) and Fashion Friday

What a farce. Do you notice the elephant in the room here besides the woeful planning - not a single "event" has anything to do with the river.

Compare that with Dublin Port Riverfest 2016 which takes place in JUNE

A full website already up and running, with a full programme of activities including visiting tall ships and schooners, DJ and street theatre, family fun fair, markets, children's art & pirate workshops, free walk through visits on the Jeanie Johnson, river kayaking, tugboat dance, boat race on Liffey, aerial acts, shanty singers, trips on MV St. Bridget, Admirals Ball and Parade of Sail Ships leaving.


That is how you do a Riverfest, not this Father Ted Tunnel of Goats bollocks that is foisted upon the people of Limerick year after year. It is an insult frankly and it is time that heads roll over this.

Nearly fell off my chair laughing at that one.

bazz26

I reckon a Father Ted Tunnel of Goats type attraction would actually be a plus point of the Riverfest. :pac:

bazz26

The_Dave

zulutango wrote: »

:pac: :pac:

Limerick City & County Council are like a pack of monkeys trying to drive a bus these days.

At least they have the double decker option now!

zol 2

I know of traders that will not be attending over the event management team and also over the astronomical prices being charged to trader there. It has one of the worst reputations amongst the people in this business so it doesn't look like it has got any better since last year.

osarusan

Every year we wonder will they fix any of the many very obvious problems, and every year it's the same thing, except getting smaller as traders decide it's not worth their while.

bigpink

Nothing on the Riverfest facebook page since November 2015 jesus christ its so bad.
Nothing on the Limerick Chambers facebook either they havent posted since 10th March

Christ if they cantdo basic social media thats free i give up

moleyv

The may bank holiday weekend is great...




In Killarney...

Red King

The entry charge for the BBQ competition is 100euro.

Ad just went up on the George Facebook page.

Red King

I see that last year they started updating the Riverfest Facebook page on March 20th. Obviously the genius minds behind this event have felt that this is too early, as is a functioning website.

This year must be the minimalist approach where they do sweet F.A. and cross their fingers that people show up on the weekend in question.

"Sure won't there be loads doing the Great Limerick Run! Why bother advertising at all, the people are guaranteed to be there!"

"What will we do with the money allocated to us so?"

....

Red King

http://www.riverfest.ie/

Compare this website with this one:

http://dublinriverfest.com/

vkid

Realistically they should just kill it off and try something new. Its had its day

zulutango

vkid wrote:

Realistically they should just kill it off and try something new. Its had its day

Bring back Paddy Expo!

moby2101

zulutango wrote: »

Bring back Paddy Expo!

Wow there's a blast from the past!! They were great (lost!!!) weekends .... I found one of the old t shirts there a few years ago, it did exactly what it said in the tin music and alcohol!!

DaraDali

Red King wrote: »

http://www.riverfest.ie/

Compare this website with this one:

http://dublinriverfest.com/

You broke the website, the amount of traffic to it must have been intense http://www.riverfest.ie/

godfrey

Just a few facts:

The current event management company, Grooveyard, won the contract which is for either 3 or 5 years, I can't remember which. It's not a new, inexperienced company, just new to Limerick.

The previous event management company was Futureama, which won - uncontested mostly - several contracts concurrently.

My personal opinion, for what it's worth:

Yes it's always been a shambles apart from the GLR and the BBQ competition. Minimum effort charged back to the council at maximum rates.

g

Red King

Grooveyard and Futureama are almost indistinguishable in the tripe they offer up as "events".

It is quite amazing how Futureama won so many contracts...actually not it isn't to anyone who pays attention to the way of doing business in Ireland, it is not down to merit but rather who you know.

Then the Council hand the contract to Grooveyard and they manage to be even worse. Amazing really. I wonder what their pitch to the council was - "We'll take an already **** festival and make it even worse. Sure who needs advertising, or a Facebook page or a website."

godfrey

Many people, groups and business entites have considered the task, but it's a politically charged nightmare, and some of the council 'experts' have no imagination or energy, leading to the result we have being considered acceptable and a miserable budget.

g

L.T.P.

I've just "Googled" Limerick Riverfest 2016 for some information on this year's event and the complete lack of information is astonishing. This "Event" has turned into a complete shambles and to say that this is supposedly the annual showpiece for our city is a disgrace.

Does anybody know if either the Limerick Leader, Limerick Post, or Live 95FM have reported on this or are they burying their collective heads in the sand??

panda100

Just saw on their facebook that apparently they have 'Big News' coming tomorrow. Any guesses what it might be?

vkid

An extra sweet stall at the "continental market"?

Red King

Now their official website redirects to Limerick.ie

Three weeks out and they have woken up. Pathetic. Probably someone saw this thread and had a word in their ear.

bazz26

Please, please let it be they are adding a tunnel of goats. :pac:

Red King

They've announced details on Limerick.ie

BBQ moved to Honans Quay. Riverfest Village for Arthur's Quay park - food and retail stalls.

Fashion Friday in Arthur's Quay

Wakeboarding, Kayaking etc on the river including a display by some world champion

Fireworks display

vkid

They moved a few things around so..will be interesting to see if anything different materialises at the village thing..I suspect it will be more or less the same as before in different locations. I would love to know how much money they spend on this annually. It doesn't seem a whole pile

zulutango

Jet-skiing and power boating is not the way to 'embrace the river'. If those ignorant things are blasting up and down the Shannon I won't be going near it. I don't think the people organising Riverfest have any idea about the river and Limerick whatsoever. What are the bets we'll have a big loud tannoy with some phoney Live95fm dj screaming at us all day long ..

Red King

Isn't it amazing that they completely exclude the iconic King John's Castle from the entire event? A magnificent riverside castle and courtyard and they can't think of a single way to include it in Riverfest. Likewise for the fabulous riverside boardwalk, indeed the entire loop that takes in the strand walkways.

Instead we get Fashion Friday and Celia Holman Lee bringing the catwalk to...er...Arthur's Quay.

Hooray Riverfest

um7y1h83ge06nx

In fairness these things just turn into a bandwagon for the usual people to plug their wares and make some money. Until the clique of Celia Holman Lee, Richard Lynch, Live 95FM "DJs" etc. are removed I don't think there will be much progress.

Vanquished

Moving it to the actual riverside was the very least they could have done. Although I'm not sure about the use of Honans Quay given the looming presence of the abandoned Dunnes Stores. What a nice backdrop that'll provide! Why not use the upgraded city quays and boardwalk?

I agree with the point about employing loive95effem DJs as default MCs for virtually every event in the city. "HELLO LIMERICK! ARE YOU HAVING A GREAT TIME?!!" What a terrible excuse for a radio station. I also had a read back over the Limerick Leader's comical piece about last years event. Read more like a regurgitated piece of PR guff rather than an actual news article.

Red King

Riverfest is run on behalf of Limerick City and County Council and Limerick 2020 by Grooveyard Event Management. Riverfest 2016 sponsors include; The Maldron Hotel, Limerick’s Live 95 FM, The Limerick Post, The Limerick Leader, Mr Binman, The Market Quarter, Fire & Food, Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre, Irish BBQ Association, and Dolans.

The interests behind this "event".

Don't expect any objective reporting on the success of the event.

bigpink

Is there going to be a bar at the Riveefeat Village?
Be intereating to see who is running that?
Is there a drinks sponsor?

Red King

No drinks sponsor as far as I can see.

Given that Dolan's and The Market Quarter are involved I'd imagine any bar in the park will be run by one of those associated establishments.

Chavways

I know the Get West outdoor activities company will be giving river tours of the city by kayak from Shannon Rowing Club for the whole weekend if anyone does in fact want to see the city from the river.

Very surprised at how badly this seems to have been run. You'd think they'd try and line the whole river from the skate park all the way up to King Johns Castle with stalls and events. That would be a great sight and a great celebration of the river and the city.

Red King

Speaking at today's event launch in the Curragower Bar and Restaurant on Clancy's Strand, Cllr Liam Galvin, the Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, congratulated the organisers for "showcasing the wonderful breadth of cultural activity in this most historic of Irish cities, one whose history is intrinsically linked with the River Shannon."

Cllr. Liam Galvin added; "As we enter the final stages in our bid to become European Capital of Culture 2020, the events taking place for this festival reminds us just why Riverfest sells out our hotels every year and is such a popular event attracting such a huge variety of people. It is the first major festival of the year in Ireland providing a wonderful opportunity for people from all over Ireland to come together in Limerick during the May Bank Holiday Weekend and experience everything that is special about our Treaty City."

Will someone run this through Google Translate to filter out the bull****?

panda100

If a fashion show by Celia Holman Lee in Arthurs Quay is showcasing the best of Limerick cultural activity we really are f**ked

Vanquished

panda100 wrote: »

If a fashion show by Celia Holman Lee in Arthurs Quay is showcasing the best of Limerick cultural activity we really are f**ked

Ah but sure at least she'll be able to write a gushing piece for her Limerick Leader column. Accompanied by many wonderful pictures of herself and her entourage posing and pouting expertly for the camera!

Straight Edge Punk

Will this bring €10m to the local economy?

testicle

Straight Edge Punk wrote: »

Will this bring €10m to the local economy?

If it even brings €10, I'll change my name to eunuch.