By Michelle Crean

Photos: Eamonn Keogh

After the excitement of taking part in Thursday's St Patrick's Day Parade - especially since the last one was in 2019 - it was time to present the prizes to a number of local groups.

BEST MARCHING GROUP: Teresa Irwin and Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney present The Peter Irwin Memorial Perpetual Award for Best Marching Group/Cultural Arts to Anne Nagle and Noel Lucey Killarney Order of Malta. Standing from left are: Cllr Niall Kelleher (President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce) Clodagh Irwin Owens Emir Irwin O'Shea Ciara Irwin Foley and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry.

THEME AWARD: Mike and Donie Courtney present the Michael Courtney Memorial Perpetual award for Best Interpretation of Theme to Eugene Bowler Raheen National School. Also included are: Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prize-giving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night.

BEST SPORTING ENTRY: Sinead O'Connor Mike Morrissey Mackenzie Leahy and Maria Murphy Kilcummin GAA Club winners of the John Killer O'Callaghan Memorial award for Best Sporting Entry with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and Brian Teahan (Kerry County Council).

BEST ACTIVITY GROUP: Bernadette Randles Marie Murphy Killarney Athletic FC Best Activity Group award Brian Teahan (Kerry County Council) Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney Mike O'Shea and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry.

MOST ORIGINAL ENTRY: Emma and Doireann O'Connor Chloe and Luke Nott Fossa GAA Club Most Original Entry Award with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prize-giving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Standing from left are: Tom O'Connor Gemma and Eric Nott and Cllr Niall Kelleher (President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce).

MOST STYLISH: Kamile Lyne and Milandi Basel The Great Southern Killarney winners of the Most Stylish Entry Award with Bernadette Randles Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and Brian Teahan (Kerry County Council).

IMAGINATIVE: Katie Gleeson Kathleen Murphy and Maire Murphy Kerry Stars Special Olympics Group Imaginative award with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prize-giving function on Tuesday night.

BEST WINDOW DISPLAY: Eileen Casey and Kathleen Lyne Bricin Restaurant and Craft Shop Best Window Display with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry.

BEST GREENING: St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry Brian Teahan (Kerry County Council) accepting the Best Greened Building Award for ANAM Arts and Cultural Centre Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and Cllr Niall Kelleher (President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce).

BEST OVERALL ENTRY: Anne O'Keeffe presents the Sean O'Keeffe Memorial Perpetual award for Best Overall Entry to Katie Gleeson and Maire Murphy Kerry Stars Special Olympics Group. Standing from left are: Bernadette Randles Cllr Niall Kelleher (President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce) Kathleen Murphy Brian Teahan (Kerry County Council) Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry.

BEST SPORTS CLUB: Mike Morrissey Mackenzie Leahy and Maria Murphy Kilcummin GAA Club winners of Best Sports Club award with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry at the parade prize-giving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night.

BEST MUSICAL ENTRY: Michael McCarthy Millstreet Pipe Band Best Musical Entry Award with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prize-giving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night.

BEST NEW ENTRY: Derry Joy and Tim O'Donoghue Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company Best New Entry award with Cllr Niall Kelleher (President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce) and Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney at the parade prize-giving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night.

BEST VOLUNTARY GROUP: Katie Gleeson and Maire Murphy Kerry Stars Special Olympics Group Best Voluntary Group award with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney Brian Teahan (Kerry County Council) and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry.

BEST SCHOOL: Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney and Bernadette Randles with representatives from Raheen National School Best School award.

MOST ENTERTAINING: Caoimhe O'Neill and Katie May Jeal Killarney Scorchers Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club Most Entertaining Award with Cllr Marie Moloney Mayor of Killarney St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry.

There were some very happy faces when they learned that their entry had received an award last night (Tuesday) at the parade prize-giving function in The International Hotel as St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry, Cllr Marie Moloney, Mayor of Killarney, and Cllr Niall Kelleher, who is President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, made the presentations.

WINNERS

Anne O'Keeffe presented the Sean O'Keeffe Memorial Perpetual award for Best Overall Entry to Katie Gleeson and Maire Murphy, Kerry Stars Special Olympics Group. The group also received the Most Imaginative award.

The Fiona Crowley Stage School were the winners of the Best Children’s Group.

Mike Morrissey, Mackenzie Leahy and Maria Murphy from Kilcummin GAA Club, were delighted the club was named winner of Best Sports Club award. The club also received the John Killer O'Callaghan Memorial award for Best Sporting Entry.

Millstreet Pipe Band won Best Musical Entry award.

Derry Joy and Tim O'Donoghue from Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company were thrilled to get the Best New Entry award, while Katie Gleeson and Maire Murphy from Kerry Stars Special Olympics Group were smiling when they got the Best Voluntary Group award.

Best School went to Raheen National School, Most Entertaining award to Killarney Scorchers Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club, Killarney Athletic FC got the Best Activity Group award, Most Original Entry award was given to Fossa GAA Club, Most Stylish Entry was The Great Southern Killarney, and Best Window Display went to Bricín Restaurant and Craft Shop.

Other awards included Best Greening Building with Brian Teahan from Kerry County Council accepting it for ANAM Arts and Cultural Centre.

Teresa Irwin and Cllr Marie Moloney, Mayor of Killarney, presented The Peter Irwin Memorial Perpetual award for Best Marching Group/Cultural Arts to Anne Nagle and Noel Lucey from the Killarney Order of Malta.

Mike and Donie Courtney presented the Michael Courtney Memorial Perpetual award for Best Interpretation of Theme to Eugene Bowler, Raheen National School.