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WELL, it may be Dr Crokes’ week in sport, having notched the All-Ireland club title, but their fellow Killarney GAA club, Legion, took the spoils on home ground in the St Patrick’s Day parade awards last night when it was presented with the overall award, the Sean O’Keeffe Perpetual Trophy.

It was a case of standing room only at the awards ceremony, which unfolded in the International Hotel. The chairperson of the St Patrick’s Festival Killarney, Anne Marie Kennelly, congratulated all the winners as well as paying tribute to all involved in the festival. “Despite the weather we had on the 17th you all came out and got your troops together and gave great entertainment,” Anne Marie told the gathering.

“The St Patrick’s committee appreciate all the hard work that goes into getting ready for the parade and all the voluntary hours put in. We thank you as without all this hard work there would be no parade. And in spite of the wind and rain I loved every bit of it. You were all spectacular.”

The hard-working committee of Dermot Healy, Paul Sherry, Niall O’Donoghue, Fiona Crowley, David Rae, John Lenihan, Bernadette Randles and John Healy were also singled out for praise. “This year we innocently thought it would be very straightforward. We did not realise that Plunkett Street had roadworks scheduled – but we figured it out!” said Anne Marie.

“We want to thank Fitzgerald Stadium for accommodating us so fantastically and we also want to mention the Kilcoolaght Residents Association for getting behind us. We want to thank Killarney Municipal District under the leadership of Breda Mulryan and her team and Killarney Gardaí under the direction of Sergeant Dermot O’Connell. They are critical to the event planning and the work done in the background to ensure the whole day runs smoothly, safely and efficiently is admirable.”

The festival chairperson thanked photographer Valerie O’Sullivan for capturing the big day on camera and for creating the parade’s unofficial mascots, the Gobnaits.

She also paid tribute to Kerry County Council Community Support Fund, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Liebherr, M C Group, Killarney Advertiser, O’Carroll Engineering, MD O’Shea and Sons, Killarney Vintners, O’Donoghue Ring Hotels, Tricel, The Park and Ross Hotels, AIB and The Dromhall Hotel. “Our grand marshals this year were Paul Nagle, Rob Duggan, Ger Conway and Noel O’Sullivan Jnr. All of these guys are competing in World Rallying Championships this year – imagine four of our local young men competing at this high level on a world stage,” she said.
“On St Patrick’s Day itself we also had enormous support and help from the Killarney and District Motor Club under the chairmanship of Diarmuid Cronin.”

Anne Marie also paid tribute to all the volunteers, as well as awards ceremony host the International Hotel and prize sponsor SuperValu and thanked the judges Nancy Hegarty, Orlaith Monks and Kieran Healy.

 
Above: Prizewinners, organisers and sponsors at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Included are Stella Maloney, Legion GAA Club, who received  the Sean O'Keeffe perpetual trophy for best overall entry from Anne O'Keeffe, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President Paul O'Neill St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairperson  Anne Marie Kennelly, John Daly, Daly's SuperValu, Killarney Advertiser Editor Eve Kelliher, Dermot Healy (Parade Safety Officer), committee members Paul Sherry, David Rea and Bernadette Randles,  Terence Mulcahy, International Hotel. PICTURE: EAMONN KEOGH

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