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Killarney will be looking to retain its Purple Flag following the latest assessment which will take place on Friday, July 27. The flag is currently flown with pride at the Town Hall, Garda Station and at KDYS Centre. The town was awarded the Purple Flag in 2014 and it has successfully retained its status since.

Two assessors will be visiting Killarney for the overnight assessment next Friday. They will tour the town from 4pm to 3am to determine whether Killarney has a safe and vibrant early evening and night-time economy.

Local businesses have been asked to row in behind the Purple Flag initiative by taking particular care on the night in question. They have been encouraged to decorate windows in purple and a number of hotels and buildings will be lit up in purple. Business owners have also been asked to be vigorous on litter and glass, especially from 10pm onwards.

Starting this weekend, security staff around the town will wear new purple high-vis jackets and they are encouraged by Killarney Purple Flag Working Group to pay particular attention during the assessment and to communicate with the gardaí.

The Purple Flag is an international accreditation scheme for towns and city centres in the evening and at night. It is the ‘gold standard’ for early night-time entertainment destinations. Like Blue Flags for beaches, towns that meet the stringent criteria can proudly fly the flag. Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of night-time destinations from 5pm to 5am. Town centres that achieve a Purple Flag are those which are vibrant and well managed in the evening and night-time.  It provides a safe and friendly environment in which to live, work and socialise.

Over 70 town and city and town centres have been awarded Purple Flags in the UK and Ireland since the scheme was launched in October 2009.  The total number in the Republic of Ireland is 16.

The Purple Flag accreditation is based on five sets of criteria that town centres must meet in order to obtain the award. These include wellbeing in terms of safety and care, movement meaning transport and car parking, appeal of restaurants, bars, other venues including arts and culture, place in terms of location and design and, most importantly, the policy envelope which shows a collaboration between sectors, agencies, service providers and policy-makers.

Killarney’s Purple Flag initiative is led by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, working with Killarney Municipal District/Kerry County Council, the gardaí, local businesses, groups and local schools. It is vitally important that Killarney retains its Purple Flag because the symbol is becoming widely known in the tourism industry as a major international brand.