DESPITE concerns raised by elected members of Killarney Municipal District Council and the town’s main business organisation, Bird’s Euroshow is today setting up its funfair in the town centre Fair Field car park.
The Bird family has long-standing rights to use the traditional market and fair area where is has been providing summertime amusements since 1937.
Kerry County Council was notified by the Bird family that they intended to operate in the car park as usual this year and, following discussions with the local authority, the funfair is currently moving on to the site.
The council has pointed out that the operation of funfairs is permitted under the current public health restrictions.
It will result in 110 town centre car parking spaces being lost until August and efforts are now being made to source alternative parking facilities for locals and the influx of home holiday visitors expected in the coming weeks.
Areas that have been mentioned include the field on the Port Road side of St Mary’s Cathedral, the grounds of St Finan’s Hospital and the outside field on the Lewis Road side of Fitzgerald Stadium.
Parking facilities have been significantly reduced in the town as a result of the Safe Streets project implemented by Kerry County Council in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and in an effort to keep pedestrians safe.
Bird’s Euroshow also sought to set up in Killarney last summer but agreed not to due to the pandemic.
The funfair did set up in Tralee in 2020 despite strong objections from local Sinn Fein councillors who voiced concerns about large numbers of young people gathering in one location.
Euroshow director Don Bird said at the time that all Euroshow staff had completed Covid-19 related training, all regulations were being complied with and a response plan had been prepared.
The company had also received a letter of comfort from their insurers with indemnity for the council.
Don Bird’s grandparents first brought the funfair to Killarney in 1937 and the 75th anniversary of the family’s association with the town was formally recognised by the council in Killarney with a civic reception afforded by the now defunct Killarney Town Council.
