Maureen Hegarty, Jason Clifford, Chairman, Cllr Maura Healy Rae, Mayor of Killarney and parade judges Keith O’Brolachain, and Annette O’Brien
Clodagh Irwin Owens, Teresa Irwin and Emir Irwin O’Shea, Irwin School of Irish Dancing, winners of the best activity group award, with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Killarney Legion GAA Club, winners of the John ‘Killer’ O’Callaghan memorial award for best sporting entry. Included are Tim O’Donoghue, Brita and Aoibheann Hegarty, Alex Maguire, Denise Fogarty and David Randles, Killarney Legion Chairman, with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council. Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and StPatrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
David and Susan Randles, Dromhall Hotel, winner of the best greened building award with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Harry O’Neill presents the Michael Courtney Memorial Perpetual award for best interpretation of theme to Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club members Caoimhe Brosnan and Niamh Foley. Also included are Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Teresa Irwin presents the Peter Irwin Memorial Perpetual Award for best marching group/cultural arts to Scoil an Chroí Naofa (Barraduff National School). Also included are Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Legacy Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club, winners of the grand marshal shield for best youth group with David Rea, judge, Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney, Cathal Walshe and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Raheen National School, winners of the best school and most entertaining awards. Included are Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney, St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford, Joan and Eugene Bowler.
Lorraine O’Sullivan, Killarney Water Rescue, who were the best voluntary group award winners, with with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Officer Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Jack Patrick Healy, Killarney’s own Liberace, from the Killarney Grand Hotel, winner of the best new entry award, with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Cpuncil, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney, St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford, Norma O’Donoghue and Tim Gleeson
Killarney Triathlon Club, winner of the Best Sports Club award, front from left, Mary and Kate O’Donoghue, Sarah Quirke, Linda Mannix and Tina O’Donoghue. Back, from left, Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Jacinta Buckley, Ciara Kane, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney, Caitriona Shanahan, Vedran Korotaj and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Ciaran Lynch, Gleneagle Concert Band, best musical entry award winner, with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St.Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
Killarney Scorchers Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club, winners of the best children’s group, with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
An entry featuring the combined talents of the MACademy School of Performing Arts and The Art House Studio has scooped the overall prize in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.
Their hugely colourful and imaginative celebration brought the town to life as the gala pageant, with 65 entries, wound its way through the streets on the national feast day.
Anne O’Keeffe presents the Seán O’Keeffe Memorial Perpetual Award for best overall entry to Tracy Sexton, The Art House Studio and Lily MacMonagle Shannon, The MACademy School of Performing Arts, at the St Patrick’s Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in the International Hotel on Wednesday night. Also included are Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council, MC Michelle Rosney, St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford and Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney. Pictures: Eamonn Keogh
The awards ceremony was held on Wednesday night in the International Hotel in Killarney and there was a rousing cheer when the overall winner was announced.
Festival Chairman, Jason Clifford, said this year’s parade was a great community celebration that attracted huge crowds with people gathering at the barriers for up to two hours before the parade got underway.
The festival, organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce in association with Kerry County Council and Fáilte Ireland, had a theme of Echoes of Killarney’s Present which is part of a trilogy that featured the town’s past last year and will focus on the future in 2026.
Garda Gillian O’Donoghue and Little Blue Hero Jack accepting the most original entry award from with Declan Murphy, Killarney Municipal District Council. Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney and St Patrick’s Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford
The other award winners were:
Best Original: Garda Little Blue Heroes Most Stylish: Dance ball by Alina Maslak Best Sporting:Killarney Legion GAA Club Best Interpretation of Theme: Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club
St Patrick’s Festival Killarney committee members Paul Sherry, Maureen Hegarty, Thys Vogels, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Mayor of Killarney, Jason Clifford, Chairman, and Jonathan Aber
Best School:Raheen Most Entertaining:Raheen Best Voluntary Group:Killarney Water Rescue Search and Recovery Team Best Musical Group:Gleneagle Concert Band Best Children’s Group: Scorchers Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club Best Youth Group:Legacy Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club Best New Group:Killarney’s Liberace/The Grand Best Sports Club: Killarney Triathlon Club Best Marching Group: Scoil an Croi Naofa, Barraduff Best Activity: Irwin School of Irish Dancing Best Greened Building:Dromhall Hotel
Advertisers: Reach an unrivalled readership of several thousand people every day. Call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
Advertisers: Reach an unrivalled readership of several thousand people every day. Call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
