For tourism industry professionals, the Skal President’s Dinner is the social highlight of the year, but was also a perfect opportunity to show the best of Killarney.

GALA: Melanie and John Hurley at the Skal President's Dinner on Saturday night. Photo: Alexandra Bozic

PRESIDENT'S DINNER: Caroline Hennigan Molly O'Mahony and Geraldine O'Mahony at the Skal President's Dinner. Photo: Alexandra Bozic

SCHOOL: The singers and dancers from St Brigid's Presentation Secondary School who performed at the Skal President's Dinner on Saturday night. Photo: Alexandra Bozic

The gala event in the Plaza Hotel on Saturday night was hosted by Kerry Skal President Michelle Rosney and she used the occasion to highlight the best of Killarney’s performing arts talent, cuisine and locally produced drinks.

There were special performances on the night by singers and dancers from St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney and the West End House School of Arts who brought The Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, back to life for one night only to deliver a passionate dramatisation of a famous speech.

Food served included local produce from the Killarney Urban Farm project on East Avenue Road.

The tipple of choice for the traditional after dinner toast was the Liberator Irish Whiskey supplied by Maurice and Francesca O’Connell of Wayward Irish Spirits based in Fossa.

On display on the night were the All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate trophies recently won by Fossa and Rathmore respectively, and although the Sam Maguire was unavoidably absent, Kerry Skal President Michelle Rosney promised guests that, all going according to plan, Sam would be on display in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Skal is the largest international hospitality networking organisation in the world with 13,000 members in 308 clubs in almost 90 countries.

Special guests in attendance included Fáilte Ireland chairperson Paul Carty, Skal Ireland President Margaret Cahill, Skal Ireland Treasurer Francis Brennan, lifelong Skal member Dermot Cronin of Cork, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, MEP Seán Kelly, Kerry College and ETB Chairman Cllr Jim Finucane, Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels Federation Chairperson Bernadette Randles and Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne.