Killarney plans a celebration to be proud of
Killarney wants to ensure that this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade will leave all other locations green with envy as the country’s tourism capital is planning a spectacular day and night to remember.
Plans are at an advanced stage for the greening of Killarney with all the public buildings to be illuminated in various shades of the national colour and the town will be decorated to celebrate the life of the patron saint.
Buildings that will be lit up include St Mary’s Cathedral, the Franciscan Friary, St Mary’s Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church, Ross Castle and Killarney Town Hall as well as landmark statues and monuments, such as the Speir Bhean, the feature carved deer on Port Road and the life-sized carving of St Finian of Innisfallen at the ANAM building on East Avenue Road.
Hotels, shops, restaurants, public houses and several other business premises will also turn green and everybody has been asked to make a special effort this year.
“We want it to be a celebration to be proud of and one that will be a magnificent spectacle for locals and visitors,” said St Patrick’s Festival Chairman Paul Sherry.
This year will also feature a shop window competition with prizes up for grabs for the best green building and the best themed shop window.
Community groups, sports clubs, charities, businesses, groups of friends and work colleagues are all asked to partake in this year’s parade by entering a float or marching with prizes on offer in several categories.
The theme for the festival and parade is very much in keeping with the now corporate logo designed for the town which features the strapline Experience More.
The new brand and logo are part of the Killarney Destination Experience Development project – in association with Fáilte Ireland – which is an exciting and comprehensive five-year development plan for the town.
Organisers of the bumper festival have encouraged everybody to join in the festivities to help highlight the positive direction Killarney is taking and to promote the new branding to the world.
While based on the Experience More theme, entries for the parade are asked to outline what the Killarney experience means to them, whether it’s the lakes and mountains, the national park or the shopping experience, the culture, the music, the stories, the legends, the heroes or the people.
The new brand has been developed with Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Kerry County Council and multiple other Killarney stakeholders who have a shared vision to make Killarney a best in class tourist destination.
“We want people to dazzle us with their imagination and interpretation of the theme. Make it visual, make it noisy, create a performance but, most of all, have fun, lots of fun,” said Paul Sherry.
The parade will take place on Friday, March 17th, commencing at 2.00pm. Applications will be online this year and information can be found on the online portal until this Wednesday, March 1st, at https://stpatricksfestivalkillarney.ie/parade-application-form/.
