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Don’t let Christmas in Killarney be cancelled

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AN APPEAL is being made to ensure the future of the Christmas in Killarney festival, Killarney Advertiser can exclusively reveal.

Matters are in “dire straits” in the words of Kate O’Leary of the Christmas in Killarney committee. Kate made an impassioned plea for support for the festival at a Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce business networking lunch today. “If we manage to get the same amount of local sponsorship this year that we got last year, the only thing that we will be able to do is hang lights over the town; there will be no big parade, no parade every Saturday,” she told Killarney Advertiser. “We are in a dire situation.”

Committee members devoted in excess of 60 hours last year to trying to secure sponsorship, said Kate. She is appealing to businesses, schools and families to get behind Christmas in Killarney. “It is a month-long festival and it definitely has the biggest crowd-drawing power of any of our festivals,” she said. “To even contemplate Christmas in Killarney without the Christmas in Killarney festival is unbearable, it’s unthinkable.”

So what can be done? “At worst we need to raise €30,000 just to cover expenses that have rolled over from year to year,” said Kate. “At best we need to raise €90,000.”

The value of the festival and the return on investment in it must be “weighed up” against other sponsorship demands, she added. “You’re talking 7,000 people out on the streets on the night of the big parade and up to 4,000 people on the nights of the other parades,” she said.

Kate added: “The bottom line is we have to hold on to the festival. We have volunteers willing to do the work but we can’t magic up the money.” To help support the event, you can contact 087-2446131.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE ON TUESDAY WHEN WE WILL BROADCAST AN INTERVIEW WITH KATE O'LEARY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY FESTIVAL


Above: A scene from the Christmas in Killarney Magic Parade during last year’s Christmas in Killarney festival. Pic: Valerie O’Sullivan

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Chamber pays tribute to late Dick Henggeler

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, USA surrounded by his Aghadoe-born wife Eibhlin (née Moriarty), their son Franz, and other family members.
Dick and Eibhlin purchased The Rose Hotel in 2015 in tribute to their late daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington DC in the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Chamber said Mr Henggeler would be remembered for his warmth, good nature and positive approach, as well as for being a forward-thinking and knowledgeable businessman.
“He knew how to run a good hotel and that was and still is very obvious at The Rose Hotel, which is a great success story,” the Chamber said.
It added that continuity of ownership will remain in place, with Eibhlin, Franz, daughter-in-law Amber, and grandchildren Conrad and Rowan continuing to honour Dick’s legacy and vision for the hotel.
“Dick took enormous personal pride in Tralee and all of Kerry and he was always available to generously support any community initiative or endeavour undertaken in Killarney,” the Chamber said.
“He will be greatly missed by all that knew him but he leaves a wonderful legacy.”

He will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, on Friday (October 17), from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral will arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning at 10:00am for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed at https://www.churchservices.tv/killarneycathedral.

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Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

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Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

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