LIMERICK’S RUN AS 2014′s City of Culture hasn’t leapt off to the smoothest of starts.

Just hours after the event was officially launched on New Year’s Eve the festival’s artistic director resigned.

Now the Irish Times is reporting that Limerick’s City of Culture chief executive requested that some lyrics featured in a rap written to celebrate the city be changed.

Patricia Ryan felt that a reference to Limerick “looking rough” in the rap by Nathan Keane and Calvin McNamara was not representative of the image the festival was trying to portray.

The lyrics ultimately went unchanged despite being ‘off message’.

We can’t help but wonder how the festival bigwigs feel about Limerick’s unofficial cultural ambassadors Rubberbandits, and their own special ways of representing their city.

Here are some of the times Rubberbandits really put Limerick on the map…

1. Horse Outside

Amanda’s wedding, in a church on Thomas Street in Limerick City was the setting for Rubberbandits’ biggest tune to date.

At ten million YouTube hits and counting, it’s safe to say it’s a stone cold hit.

All together now…

FITZY DRIVES A MITZI…

2. They won an award at Edinburgh Fringe

In 2013 Rubberbandits won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.

3. Their services to local wildlife

Maybe one of the best Twitter exchanges ever?

4. The Rubberbandits Guide to Limerick

Showcasing the REAL jewel of Munster.

5. They brought Limerick to Channel 4

Rubberbandits were commissioned by Channel 4 to produce a series of comedy shorts in 2012.

Unfortunately it didn’t develop into a lasting relationship with the UK broadcaster, but hey, it was a foot in the door.

6. They defined irony

Two of Limerick’s titans – Rubberbandits and Willie O’Dea – came together on Joe Duffy’s Liveline radio show to defend Horse Outside in late 2010.

Callers said that the band were shining a negative light on Limerick.

Blind Boy from the band gave detractors a schooling in irony, metaphor and art live on the airwaves.

Just as the event begins, the artistic director of Limerick National City of Culture quits>

The Rubberbandits’ latest song offers some advice to Boyzone>