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St Patrick’s Festival Cill Airne 2018 have announced the Grand Marshall for this year’s St Patricks Day Parade. The honours this year are awarded to the doyen of Killarney Looking Good, Yvonne Quill.

“We are delighted that Yvonne could lead this year’s parade, which is a celebration of 60 years of the National Tidy Towns Competition,” said Paul Sherry, Voluntary Chairperson of the committee.

“Yvonne has been championing this cause for many years and annually all of us in Killarney see the fruits of her labour with the Killarney Looking Good awards.”

More details have been announced for the forthcoming St Patrick’s Festival Cill Airne for 2018. Announcing the exciting plans, Paul said: “the festival is shaping up to be a huge community event culminating in a celebration of Killarney You’re Looking Good. We are delighted with the level of interest and interaction with a host of community groups and sporting groups. We would encourage everyone to get out early on the day of the parade and join in what will be a spectacle for the whole family.”

In consultation with the County Council and the gardaí, the committee have drawn up a full safety strategy and traffic management plan for the parade. The committee advise that the parade floats and vehicles have to arrive at Mission Road from the Port Road and Cathedral Place side. Traffic will not be allowed to travel down Mission Road towards the Cathedral.

The route was also announced as follows: assembling on Mission Road, the parade commences at 2pm up Mission Road towards the Plaza, around Kenmare Place, East Avenue Road, Fair Hill, College Street, Plunkett Street, Main Street, New Street, Beech road and into Beech Road Car Park.

Details of the day’s entertainment have also been announced with Paddy’s Party on Main Street post-parade and bouncy castles and DJ Donal at Beech Road car park. There will also be a 60-inch screen which will show the Ireland v England rugby game.

Application forms for the parade are available from Killarney Town Hall, the Killarney Advertiser and Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce. The deadline for receipt of applications has been extended from March 4 to March 11 due to the adverse weather conditions last week