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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