Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD, today announced that ACI Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ:ACIW) is to expand its Software Development Centre in Limerick with the creation of 60 new jobs. ACI Worldwide is a major vendor of software and services to the global payments industry. This investment is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.

ACI’s expansion of its Limerick facility will involve the increase of its headcount in software development.  Recruitment for the new jobs is already underway and details of the positions can be found on http://www.aciworldwide.com/en/Who-we-are/Careers.aspx.

Limerick will become a mecca for foodies, fun seekers and fun runners this May Bank Holiday weekend as the city’s biggest festival RIVERFEST launched its programme of events today.

Running from Friday, May 3^rd – Monday, May 6^th, the Limerick festival is pulling out all the stops this year with the Coors Light RIVERFEST BBQ, Ireland’s largest BBQ cook-off attracting professional and amateur teams from across Ireland featuring a host of grilled gastronomic delights, cookery demonstrations from celebrity chef Donal Skehan and a huge artisan Continental Fair.

Just some of the highlights of the four day RIVERFEST festival on the banks of the River Shannon in Limerick include;-

• The exhilarating P750 National Powerboat Championships
• A spectacular fireworks display over the Shannon
• Late night bar exemptions (subject to licence) and live music across Limerick City
• A celebration of Limerick fashion

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Limerick climber Mark Quinn, who became the youngest person born in the Irish Republic to conquer Mount Everest in 2011, has taken on a new challenge, climbing two of the world’s highest mountains on a single expedition.

Mark’s summer expedition was launched today by Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Gerry McLoughlin, at the Savoy Hotel in Limerick city.

There are fourteen mountains in the world higher than eight thousand meters. To climb all fourteen is rarer than Olympic gold for mountaineers and only an estimated 33 people have achieved this. Irish mountaineers have climbed seven of these and Mark is attempting to add two more to the list for Ireland: Gasherbrum I / K5 and Gasherbrum II / K4, the 11^th and 13^th highest mountains in the world, respectively.

Canada’s oldest and largest youth marching band, The Burlington Teen Tour band have taken the top prize at the Limerick International Band Championship in front of 40,000 spectators in Limerick this afternoon (Monday).

Limerick’s St Patrick’s Festival 2013 entertained like never before with a fun filled parade, bright sunshine and a world record attempt!

A giant St Patrick led more than 4,000 colourful participants in Limerick’s St Patrick’s Day Parade as Grand Marshal, including 285 locals dressed as Ireland’s patron saint in an attempt to break the world record for the most gathered in one place. The record had been held by Kilrush, Co Clare who had 207 at last year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade.

Local dignitaries including Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Gerry McLoughlin, Cathaoirleach Jerome Scanlan and Kieran O’Donnell TD joined members of Limerick City Council and invited guests to witness more than 100 different community groups, companies, bands and sports clubs take part in the two hour parade which is Ireland’s largest regional event today.

A fascinating insight into Limerick’s social history has been unlocked with the transfer of almost two hundred years of records from St Joseph’s Hospital to Limerick City Archives.

The St. Joseph’s Hospital Archive Collection has been transferred from the Health Services Executive (HSE) to Limerick City Archives on long term loan. The transfer of records took place today (Monday) at a launch in City Hall, Limerick by Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

St. Joseph’s Hospital was founded as the Limerick District Lunatic Asylum in 1827 and records of the institution survive in the archive from that date.