By Sean Moriarty

Operators of Bird’s Euroshow have hit out against Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce after the business body issued a statement that it was concerned the funfair was intending setting up in the town this summer.

Don Bird, the grandson of the funfair’s founder William Bird, was unaware of the Chamber’s concerns or that they had issued a statement on the matter until contacted by the Killarney Advertiser.
“In view of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, with the town very gradually reopening for business following several months of lockdown, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce is very concerned that Bird’s Euroshow intends to set up in the town in the coming weeks,” said the chamber statement.
“In the current circumstances, from a public health perspective and to ensure the safest possible summer for locals and visitors, the Chamber is not in favour of the amusements setting up in the Fair Field car park. Any gathering of young people in such an environment would give real cause for concern. Precedent alone would indicate that it would be a major congregation point for teenagers.”
Bird’s Euroshow has included Killarney on its summer tour since 1937. The funfair traditionally operates in the Fair Field car park in July – usually in conjunction with the Killarney Races Summer meeting.
It then moves on to Puck Fair, the Rose of Tralee and finishes its summer season at Listowel Races in September.
Bird’s EuroShow is not a member of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce but is a member of similar bodies in Tralee and Limerick.
“This is not how a body that represents the business community should act,” Mr Bird told the Killarney Advertiser.
“I am not prepared to make any statement until I sit down and read this and discuss it with colleagues.”
The chamber defended its stance, saying it was putting the safety of visitors and townspeople first amid worries that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is more likely to spread amongst teenagers and younger adults.
“While an amusement park of this nature attracts young people, we now know that the Delta variant attacks young people and, given the current unavailability of a COVID-19 vaccination for that generation, the risks would be too great,” the Chamber statement added.