Newly elected Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Francis Foley extended a cheeky invitation to his opposite number in Kilkenny, David Fitzgerald, as he encouraged the latter to visit Limerick on Monday next following the All-Ireland final.
And it did not stop there; Foley also sent Fitzgerald a “therapy hamper” - a mix that includes 11 Limerick gifts as part of its ‘Limerick 11 Summer 2022’ tourism campaign to get him through the tension of the weekend ahead.
Mayor Foley wrote: “One of the things we’re proud to be known for is that we are a caring people and, with that in mind, we have put this hamper together; call it a ‘therapy hamper’.
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“We’re conscious of the tension in the build up to and during Sunday’s game; the unfortunate but, we feel, unavoidable come-down you will have; and the need for a pick-me up afterwards.
"So, we’re endeavouring to cater for all of this in our 11 item hamper to celebrate Limerick 11 Summer 2022, which is turning out to be a special summer indeed.”
The hamper includes 11 gifts to mark the city's 11 centuries and although the invite to the Treaty on the Monday after the All-Ireland tops the pile of 'goodies', there are further offerings.
Among the other items included are ‘Back 2 Back’, a photographic profile of Limerick’s two-in-a-row, 2020 and 2021, with the Mayor predicting the need for an update on the recorded facts lying within come Sunday evening also commenting that there is “still so much in this prequel to enjoy”.
Also included is a Limerick cup and locally roasted coffee blend, Limerick chocolate and a Viking mascot bearing a Limerick green crown.
‘Limerick Slang’, a compiled and illustrated book by Hugh McMahon is in the packed hamper as well.
Mayor Foley outlined the reason for including the guidebook: “This will enable you to interpret where you, the ref and the officials, stand with us at various stages during the game."
And last but not least, the hamper contains a packet of 'Dreamies' cat treats!
“So, after all that, please enjoy the game and see you perhaps Monday night here in Limerick," Mayor Foley concluded.
It is not the exchange between Lord Mayors of prevalent hurling teams ahead of All-Ireland final day.
Last year, then-Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher issued an hilarious letter to his opposite number in Limerick looking for the return of Liam MacCarthy before the 2021 All-Ireland hurling final between the two counties.
He posted a picture to Twitter displaying a well-written letter to Lord Mayor of Limerick Daniel Butler in which the former seeks the safe return of a certain Liam MacCarthy to Cork.
"I believe that you have something that belongs to us," the letter read.
"He's about 16 inches high, silver and goes by the name of Liam.
"Liam was lost to us back in 2006 and after many years of searching we almost found him again in 2013.
"Down the years since 2006, here have been sightings of him in Kilkenny, Galway, Tipperary & Clare for some reason (??).
"And now, I believe, Limerick."
'Limerick 11 Summer 22' is a tourism initiative which marks 11 centuries of the famous city. For more information on the campaign, click here and to watch a campaign video, click here.
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