By Sean Moriarty

After several false starts the 50th Killarney London Reunion will go head on local soil this October.

The Killarney London Association celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2019.

It was always intended to host the 50th annual dinner dance in Killarney and a date in October 2020 was secured.

However, the pandemic arrived and all plans were thrown into disarray.

At long last organisers on both sides of the Irish Sea are in a position to run the event.

It will take place on October 8 in the Dromhall Hotel and will form one of the main events in the recently launched ‘An Turas Mór – Homecoming Kerry’ festival.

The month long gathering is a county wide initiative to bring home Kerry Diaspora during October this year.

It is presented by Kerry County Council as part of the Global Irish Festival Series which is a joint initiative between Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“An Turas Mór is a call home from all aspects of Kerry business, tourism, sports and cultural organisations spearheaded by Kerry County Council to come home and enjoy close to forty events and activities that will take place throughout the County during the month of October this year,” said a council statement.

Serving as a home away from home for Killarney exiles, the Killarney London Association has gone from strength to strength over the last half century.
The Killarney Association London was formed in 1969 by local priest Tom Looney, who was the parish priest in Wembley at the time, Cllr Donal Grady and the late Cllr Michael Courtney.

The Killarney Advertiser is an associate sponsor of the Killarney London Reunion.