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Killarney plans the greatest show for Independence Day

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Main Street will take on a Disney-like magic for a day next month as the 4th of July celebrations make a return!

The festival marks the town’s special centuries-old link with America and will include a spectacular parade with marching bands, striking custom-built floats, baton-twirling cheerleaders, colourful movie characters and leather clad bikers.

Thousands of visitors from Stateside choose Killarney as their favourite holiday destination every year and this is the town’s way of giving something back to mark the big US occasion.

“Just as our American friends celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style, we will do likewise to mark their Independence Day,” said 4th July Festival Chairman Diarmuid Leen.

“We are inviting everybody to come and celebrate with us and to do so in style,” he added.

The festivities on Monday, July 4 will get underway with the formal raising of the American Flag at the town hall with the Mayor of Killarney and the President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce presiding.

The Statue of Liberty will keep a close watch over Main Street with face-painters and street entertainers roaming the town while Killarney will be turned into Hollywood for a few glorious hours with everybody from Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Bonnie and Clyde, The Greatest Showman’s Bearded Lady and even a posse of fun-loving cowboys on the loose.

ENTERTAINMENT

Big bands and top quality singers will perform throughout the town all afternoon while a fun-filled street party will get into full swing with street fireworks and flame-throwers ready to light up the sky.

Thousands of people, many waving American flags, will line the streets of the town for the big parade, commencing at 7pm, and that will be followed by a lively hour-long Beat on the Street from 8pm.

Ireland’s multi-award winning soul performer Buck Taylor will entertain the masses at the Soul in the Park from 9pm and at 10 o’clock the celebrations will conclude in a fabulous fashion with an open air screening of the hit movie 'The Greatest Showman' on the lawns of Killarney House and Gardens.

The Killarney 4th of July celebration is organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce with great support from Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland as well as sponsors Heineken.

Tickets for the open air events on the lawns of Killarney House and Gardens – including the Soul in the Park and the big screen production of 'The Greatest Showman' – will be free of charge and available on Eventbrite.ie from June 20. The gates will open at 8.30pm.

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Killarney for Palestine film screening

Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz. The event, which […]

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Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz.

The event, which took place on July 3, included two screenings, both of which were fully booked. Guests enjoyed cheese and wine before the shows.
‘No Other Land’ depicts the ongoing destruction in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of villages in the Southern West Bank, and shows the experiences of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The film won in the Best Documentary category at this year’s Academy Awards.
The screenings were organised in association with the West End School of Arts.
All proceeds from the €25 tickets benefited Camp Breakerz Crew, a children’s charity based in Gaza that provides creative outlets through dance and is involved in food distribution programs in Nuseirat Camp and Deir-Al-Balah due to food shortages.
Sally MacMonagle, who recently spent time in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, also spoke at one of the screenings.

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Bid to host European Presidency summit meetings gathers pace

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026. Deputy Cahill […]

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Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026.

Deputy Cahill believes Kerry’s available accommodation, food, and conference facilities are “second to none,” with Killarney as the central location.
“Visitors from every corner of the earth have been coming to Kerry for centuries now, to experience its beauty and serenity and have returned on many occasions because of the fabulous time they have enjoyed during their stay here,” said Deputy Cahill. “Where else would you want to bring the senior Government Ministers of all of our EU counterpart states, to experience Ireland, its customs and heritage?”
The Rossbeigh TD outlined various attractions available for visitors during downtime: “During their downtime, they can visit the Blaskets and Slea Head, Sceilg Mhichíl and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney’s Lakes, Gap of Dunloe, National Park and Sliabh Luachra, all of our glorious beaches from Ballybunion to Rossbeigh, Kells to Ventry, Whitestrand to Inch, Ballinskelligs to Cromane, Waterville to Derrynane.” He also cited Kerry’s golf courses, Listowel Writers Week, the Rose of Tralee, and Puck Fair as potential experiences.
Deputy Cahill confirmed he has raised this matter with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris; and Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne.
“If Killarney’s bid is successful in bringing the Heads of State to our county for meetings, conferences and functions, it will be a massive boost to the local economy in Killarney and also throughout the county,” added Cahill.”Iwill continue to push in the coming months for Killarney and Kerry to be included as bases for the rounds of meetings that are to take place from July 1 to December 312026.”

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