A MONUMENT to commemorate Killarney’s staging of the prestigious World Ploughing Championships in 1954 is to be erected in the town centre.
Mission Road and the footpaths in the area will be closed from 9.45am to 11.15am this Friday, between St Mary’s Cathedral Junction and Beech Road junction, to facilitate works to install the sculpture.
Wherever the international ploughing gathering is held, it is established tradition for the host venue to erect a cairn of peace to mark the event but, for a variety of reasons, that didn’t happen in Killarney 65 years ago after ploughing experts from throughout the world gathered to compete at the venue in Gortroe, Fossa.
But now, thanks to the initiative of the Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club the cairn has finally being commissioned.
Club official Tom Leslie enlisted the support of ploughing enthusiast Cllr Brendan Cronin, who secured agreement from the Killarney Municipal District Council to provide a suitable site for the development on Mission Road, close to the entrance to Killarney National Park at King’s Bridge and directly opposite the cathedral.
Kerry County Council engineers Kieran O’Halloran and Breda Mulryan had suggested four possible locations and National Ploughing Association organisers, Anna May McHugh and her daughter, Anna Marie, were invited to Killarney to visit the four sites and to nominate their preferred option.
Mrs McHugh, who was secretary of the National Ploughing Association when the world championships were held in Killarney in 1954, said she was absolutely thrilled that the cairn of peace is being commissioned and she looks forward to returning to town for the unveiling ceremony.
In keeping with tradition, a piece of rock or stone from all the countries that participated in the world event will form part of the cairn which will be floodlit at night. The sculpture will also feature the World Ploughing and national ploughing event logos.
© KillarneyToday.com is the 24/7 online news service provided by O’Mahony Media
Advertise to boost your business: Over 300,000 views every month. Over 20,000 followers on Facebook. Call 087-2229761
