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Colour, cheer and lots of fun as thousands celebrate St Patrick’s Day

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There was plenty of colour, cheer and lots of fun on the town's streets on Thursday as a massive crowd of spectators gathered once again to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Clare Buckley with her twin daughters Eve and Faye enjoying the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Klaus Ernst taking part in the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Spectators enjoying the atmosphere at the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Delighted with their appearance at the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

SPECTATORS: Spectators enjoying the atmosphere at the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

FUN: Klaus Ernst (L) and Maitú Gray (R) taking part in the St Patrick's Festival Parade on the streets of Killarney on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

BEST GREENING BUILDING: ANAM - Arts and Cultural Centre on East Avenue Road Killarney managed by Killarney Municipal District Council has been voted Best Greening Building in this year’s St Patrick's Festival Killarney. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

BEST SHOP FRONT: Bricín on High Street has been voted Best Greening Shopfront in this year’s St Patrick's Festival Killarney. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

FREE BEER: Timmy O'Donoghue Killarney Brewing drenching spectators with free beer at the St Patrick's Festival Parade on the streets of Killarney on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

COLOURFUL BUTTERFLIES: Students of the Fiona Crowley Stage School taking part in the St Patrick's Festival Parade Killarney on Main Street Killarney on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

COLOURFUL: Sebastian Klapa enjoying himself at the St Patrick's Festival Parade on the streets of Killarney on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Fiona Crowley being interviewed by Brendan Fuller MC in the St Patrick's Festival Parade Killarney on Main Street Killarney on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

HIGH JUMPER: Olympian High Jumper and International Athlete Killarney's Jordon Lee taking part in St Patrick's Festival Parade on the streets of Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

FAMILY TIME: President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Cllr. Niall Kelleher with this family enjoying the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

MUSIC: Millstreet Pipe Band playing in the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Sebastian Klapa enjoying the St Patrick's Festival Parade on Main Street Killarney on Thursday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

SOLIDARITY: Annalisa Hoek and Robert Le Livre taking part in the St Patrick's Festival Parade on the streets of Killarney on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

The rain stayed away as up to 50 floats made their way through the streets starting on Mission Road, along East Avenue Road, College St, Plunkett St, Main St, New St finishing up on Beech Rd.

The guests of honour at this year's parade, organised and funded by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland, were Margaret Cahill and her husband, Jimmy Dunne, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Marie Moloney and her husband, Michael, and President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Niall Kelleher.

There was plenty of cheering as the floats, musicians and local groups made their way through the town. 

They included: Mike McDonough, Annalisa and Roberto carrying the St Patrick's Day banner, The Colour Party, An Garda Síochána, Killarney Fire Service, Order of Malta, Fiona Crowley Stage School, 12 indigenous butterflies of Killarney National Park, Eagle float 4th of July, American Legion Fr Francis P Duffy, Gleneagle Brass Band, Killarney Celtic Football Club, The 'Mac'ademy, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Raheen National School, Little Explorers Preschool, Two Mile Community National School, Balloon float, Irwin School of Irish Dancing, Spa GAA Club, MD O'Shea’s float, Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, Kingdom Party Pals, Millstreet Pipe Band, Enchanted Ireland Tours, American Flag float, Killarney Legion GAA Club, Great Southern Hotel, Killarney Park Hotel and The Ross Hotel Wander Wild float, Killarney Rugby Football Club, Killarney Athletic AFC, Hat Float, Scorchers Cheerleaders, Bubble Garden, Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage, Killarney Ploughing Association, Purple Flag Mascot, Kilcummin GAA Club, Nicky Lenihan, Craiceann Drum Band, Dr Crokes GAA Club, Christmas In Killarney float, Michael Joe Lenihan, Fossa GAA, Pat Cullinane, Munster Honda Goldwing Club, Saloon Bar float.

Afterwards Bricín on High Street was been voted Best Greening Shopfront. Proprietors brothers Johnny and Paddy McGuire, decorated their shop front to perfection. The story of Ireland's patron saint, St Patrick, adorned one side of the shop and a display of Kerry artists, including the work of Killarney photographer, Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan’s latest book 'Killarney Behind the Mask' on the other side.

ANAM - Arts and Cultural Centre, on East Avenue Road, managed by Killarney Municipal District Council, was voted Best Greening Building.

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Killarney and District Motor Club members honoured by Motorsport Ireland

By Cormac Casey Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday. The highlight of the event is the […]

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By Cormac Casey

Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday.

The highlight of the event is the announcement of the sport’s top awards.

Kilkenny’s Jack Brennan (19) was named Young Rally Driver of the Year, while Wexford native Jack Byrne was named Young Racing Driver of the Year and the International Driver of the Year award went to recently crowned FIA Junior World Rally Champion, William Creighton.

Muckross-based co-driver Noel O’Sullivan was presented with his Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winning trophy.

This year saw the introduction of the Motorsport Ireland President’s Awards which celebrate the achievements of  clubs and organisations.

Killarney and District Motor Club won in the innovation category for their work with their KDMC 2 initiative thanks to the efforts of the club’s vice chairman Mike O’Shea.

Rally Rescue teams were also recognised and the club’s Mike Cleary picked up an award for his role he played in what was a difficult year for rescue crew operators.

Tom O’Riordan, who looks after ambulance procurement on the club’s events, was presented with an FIA Volunteer Pin by Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper.

Killarney Advertiser Journalist Sean Moriarty was presented with an award for best use of of PR and media in 2023.

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Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest ‘thank you’ event at Brehon

Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar […]

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Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar events again in 2024.

Feedback from more than 100 people who attended this year’s Fest events from 7th to 14th October was positive with 91% stating they were satisfied.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest is held annually over the course of a week to highlight World Mental Health Day on October 10.
It aims to raise awareness of the available supports and services in Kerry as well as empower people to engage with the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ through offering a dynamic and interactive programme of events.
99% percent of respondents, most of whom identified as female, said they would recommend the Fest to friends next year. Some key notes for improvement included a request for more events with wider variety throughout the county.
The Chair of the Interagency Steering Group, John Drummey from Kerry Mental Health Association, said: “We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to event organisers, community groups, businesses, funders and partners that facilitated the Fest’s dynamic and interactive programme of events in 2023. We are encouraged to see such growth in numbers attending the Fest events with a 50% increase from 2022. We are already making plans for the Fest from 5 to 12t October 2024 and we are looking forward to building on this year’s successes. That said, there is always room for improvement and we would welcome suggestions for new events and activities.”
Many of the event organisers attended a ‘thank-you’ event at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney, courtesy of the Kerry Volunteer Centre to coincide with the annual International Volunteer Day, December 5.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest was organised by an interagency steering group made up of local agencies that support wellbeing in our community.
The organising committee is a collaboration between Connecting for Life Kerry, Healthy Kerry, Kerry County Council, Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership, the HSE, NEWKD, SKDP, Kerry Mental Health Association, Jigsaw Kerry, Munster Technological University/Kerry, KDYS, Kerry Volunteer Centre and Family Resource Centres throughout the county.

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