It was the day Paschal Sheehy and St Patrick competed for the affections of the people of Killarney with the former rejecting a dramatic marriage proposal and the life and times of the latter celebrated like never before.
Thousands of people packed the streets for the St Patrick’s Festival which attracted one of the biggest crowds the town has seen for the annual celebration.
One of the funnier moments of the parade was when a determined lady in a headscarf, curlers and a housecoat – who was part of the Killarney Valley Vintage and Classic Club – demanded that RTÉ’s Paschal Sheehy step down from the grandstand at which stage she dropped to one knee and proposed to the station’s dapper southern editor.
Pictures: Konrad Paprocki
She went home disappointed, however, as Paschal decided, after careful deliberation, that one wife was enough for him.
The streets were near capacity for a number of hours before the parade got underway at 2.00pm and vehicles arriving via all approach roads in the afternoon could advance no further as it was a full house.
Festival fans stood 10-deep on many streets to catch a glimpse of the action in what was one of the most colourful and fun parades the town has experienced. There were in excess of 60 participating groups with marching bands, spectacular floats, excited children flying their club colours, novelty acts and many versions of St Patrick himself – from the very little to the extra-large – hitting the town.
Pride of place in the parade went to Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, aboard a 1930 Rolls Royce and she was closely followed, in a sleek BMW 320 convertible, by the three grand marshals, Kerry captain Gavin White, ladies’ GAA legend Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Ireland Paralympics star Jordan Lee.
Dancing troupes, gymnasts, Little Blue Heroes, visiting friends from overseas, Disney characters, drama schools, international dancers and cheerleaders all got to showcase their well-rehearsed routines in front of the grandstand on Main Street and some of the floats were so spectacular that gasps of admiration were audible as they approached.
St Patrick’s Festival Chairman, Jason Clifford, described the turnout for all the weekend activities as ”sensational” and he said there was a massive crowd in town on St Patrick’s Day from well before midday.
“Transforming the Beech Road car park into the festival zone for the weekend was a wonderful decision as it allowed us to put on so much more entertainment and activities,” he said.
The town’s first ever AbleFest was a high quality event on Sunday as it proved an ideal day of entertainment for those with diverse needs to enjoy a fabulous afternoon with Jake Carter the headline act for a rousing open air concert.
AbleFest attendees enjoyed drumming workshops, arts and crafts, an open air disco, an animal roadshow, face-painting karaoke, yoga, face painting and so much more.
There was more fun and games when the big parade ended on Monday as all eyes were drawn to the Plunge for Palliative event at which well-known locals were dropped into a giant pool of ice-cold water to help raise funds for the Kerry Hospice.
Among those who experienced the big chill were Mayor Maura Healy-Rae, Cllrs Niall O’Callaghan, John O’Donoghue, Martin Grady and Niall Kelleher, GAA stars Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Gavin White and several local business owners,
Jason Clifford said the St Patrick’s Festival just wouldn’t have happened without the enthusiasm and professionalism of the main organisers and sponsors Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland and the support of GMIB, Muckross House Trustees, Liebherr Container Cranes, the Dunloe Hotel and Gardens, the Europe Hotel and Resort and Elis Textiles Ltd who sponsored the greening of Killarney.
Although there was a shower of rain during the parade, even the weather gods smiled favourably on Killarney for what was, unquestionably, one of the biggest St Patrick’s Festival celebrations the town has ever seen.
Other events enjoyed at the weekend included a charity duck dash on the River Deenagh in Killarney National Park, with proceeds going to Down Syndrome Kerry, an evening of artistic performance with the West End House School of Arts and live music and performance on the streets.
Parade Pictures: Konrad Paprocki
Advertisers: Reach an unrivalled readership of several thousand people every day. Call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
