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International bands to perform in Killarney’s St Patrick’s Day parade

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ST PATRICK'S PREPARATIONS: Brendan Griffin TD pictured with Ciara Sugrue (F‡áilte Ireland's Head of Festivals), Saoirse Clifford (Celtic Steps dancer), David Rae (St Patrick's Festival Killarney Director), Eileen O'Donoghue (Killarney Municipal District), Cllr Michael Gleeson (Cathaoirleach Killarney Municipal District), Pat Dawson and R—is’n Ryan (Manager Killarney House and Gardens). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

 

By Sean Moriarty

 

This year’s St Patrick’s Day celebration in Killarney will have an international feel to it.

Highlights for this year’s celebrations include two US bands, The New Hampshire Police Pipes and Drums Band and the Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County New Jersey.

The parade will also feature a group of Majorettes from Casperia in Italy – as revealed by the Killarney Advertiser in January.

Last year, Fáilte Ireland announced funding of up to €65,000 to help support and develop Killarney’s St Patrick’s Day events over the next three years as part of their plan to develop the celebration in locations across the country.

“Festivals and events play a critical role in delivering brilliant visitor experiences and St Patrick’s Day provides a significant opportunity to attract overseas visitors to Kerry outside the traditional peak tourism season. I look forward to seeing a great day of celebrations in Killarney,” Brendan Griffin, the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, said.

As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland has identified festivals as a key component for tourism growth. The tourism development body is aiming to grow overseas visitors coming to Ireland to attend a festival to 300,000 by 2022. Killarney is the leading the way.

“We have been working with the festival organisers on a development plan for the festival over the last few months and, with a strong international proposition, we believe that Killarney’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations have the potential to motivate significant numbers of overseas visitors,” Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Festivals, Ciara Sugrue, said.

 

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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