Thousands of spectators lined the streets of the town centre on Monday evening to welcome back the first 4th of July Parade since 2019.

FESTIVAL: The town centre is awash with colour this 4th of July.Photo by Sean Moriarty

FESTIVAL: The town centre is awash with colour this 4th of July.Photo by Sean Moriarty

It was the key event in Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce's annual celebration of The United States' Independence Day.

The festival’s official opening ceremony took place just after 3pm on Monday when Mayor Niall Kelleher and Chamber of Tourism and Commerce vice-president hoisted the American and Irish flags over the town hall.

“It is very important that we are back after two years,” Mayor Kelleher told the Killarney Advertiser.

“It is great to see all the vibrancy and craic and welcome our American visitors.”

A local group of musicians entertained the large crowd that had gathered outside the town hall and they sang both the Irish and American national anthems.

Pat Mulcahy, the first lieutenant of the American Legion pledged allegiance to the American flag and many of the gathered crowd joined him in his recitation of the verse.

New for this year was the presentation of state flags to US visitors. American visitors were invited to take their state flag and join in the celebration and there was at least one person there from each of the 50 states.

These people were invited to lead the parade later that evening and added extra colour and vibrancy to the event.

Thousands of people, many waving American flags,lined the streets of the town for the big parade and that was followed by a lively hour-long Beat on the Street from 8pm.

Ireland’s multi-award winning soul performer Buck Taylor entertained the masses at the Soul in the Park at 9pm and at 10 o’clock the celebrations continued in fabulous fashion with an open air screening of the hit movie 'The Greatest Showman' on the lawns of Killarney House and Gardens.

The Killarney 4th of July celebration concluded with a fireworks display just after 11pm.

The festival is organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce with support from Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland as well as sponsors Heineken.