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Launching the Tralee St Patricks Day Parade were, from left. Sean Lyons, Michael Gaffney, Johnnie Wall, Frank Hartnett, Danny Leane and John Drummey. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
THE 2016 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Tralee will be the most celebrated in the town’s history as the theme will be based around Tralee 800 – a celebration of the birthday of Kerry’s county capital.
The Grand Marshall this year will be Special Olympics Gold Medal Winner, Brendan O’Connell, from Tralee.
“We’re hoping that people taking part this year will do something that involves something that happened in Tralee over the last 800 years,” said Chairman of the Tralee St Patrick’s Day Organising Committee, Johnnie Wall.
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Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the parade and local community groups and organisations, as well as clubs, schools and businesses are invited to take part in what is always a fantastic day of celebration and entertainment.
“This year is a historic year in Tralee for a number of reasons – it’s our 800th anniversary, it’s the centenary of the 1916 Rising and our Rose of Tralee International Festival is being extended from five to seven days,” said Johnnie.
“In looking forward to welcoming back everyone who took part in last year’s showpiece, we hope to welcome some new participants. We are delighted to feature Brendan O’Connell as our Grand Marshall. He has, along with all the local Special Olympians, represented his town, county and country with dignity and pride,” he said.
The parade will get underway at 12pm sharp on Thursday, March 17 and will travel from John Joe Sheehy Road through Boherbee, onto Castle Street before finishing on Denny Street.
Each participant will be given a slot number once all applications are received and the numbers will be displayed along the assembly area at the starting line on John Joe Sheehy Road.
Prizes will be awarded in a number of categories on the day – Most Colourful, Most Entertaining and Most Topical/Current.
The entertainment will continue in The Square throughout the afternoon with a Céilí and Traditional Music with Eileen Daly and Mike O’Shea followed by more live until late afternoon.
Johnnie Wall thanked Kerry County Council, Tralee Chamber Alliance, the St Patrick’s Day Committee, Publicans and the Volunteers who play a major role in ensuring that the spectators and participants will have a memorable day.
St Patrick’s Day Application forms are available from: Tralee Chamber Alliance, 18 Denny Street, Tralee as well as www.Tralee.ie, Tralee Town Hall, The Abbey Inn and the new Tralee St Patrick’s Day Facebook Page.
The completed forms must be returned by Friday 4th March to either:
· Tralee Chamber Alliance, 18 Denny Street, Tralee or
· Kerry County Council Tralee Municipal District, Princes Quay, Tralee (former Tralee Town Council) or
· Email johnniewall@eircom.net
For more information, contact Johnnie Wall on 087 2335846.
