The five friars—originally from America, France and Germany—set up St Patrick’s Friary to do outreach work in the troubled community and have settled in well.

Festivities will begin at 3pm with a parade of local children from Corpus Christi Church to the friary at 64 Delmege Park.

From 3pm to 4pm there will be lots of food provided by the Carambolakidz along with fun activities for everyone.

There will also be a lucky draw on the day, where everyone attending will be given a free ticket and the winner will receive a surprise gift.

The nativity play—with the added realism of real farmyard animals—will run from 4pm to 6pm and will include a reading of the nativity story accompanied by the voices of the Kilkee and John McGlynn Choirs.

Afterwards at 6.30pm a vigil mass will be held in the nearby Corpus Christi Church.

Brother Martin said that everyone is welcome and he encouraged people to attend and enter into the true spirit of the Christmas season.

There will be plenty of parking available both at the Community Centre in Moyross and at Corpus Christi School and everyone will be ferried in buses from there to Delmege Park by the Army Transport Corps from Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick Youth Service, Moyross Community Centre and others.

Brother Martin thanked all the other groups who have supported the event, including the local Fire Station, the Civil Defence, PAUL Partnership, the gardai and Corpus Christi Primary School.