Save The Green Archives - traleetoday.ie

Micheál and Haulie Kerins on the new bench at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

THE Town Park always looks its best when the sun shines, so it was apt that an organisation which has done so much to preserve the town’s most precious asset had fine weather to celebrate a milestone in its history.

The Save The Green committee was formed 50 years ago and members of the group were present for a ceremony at the old oak tree just inside the entrance to the Town Park yesterday evening for a ceremony to mark the anniversary.

Longtime member Tommy Collins was MC for the occasion and he recalled some of the major events in the organisation’s history and that of the Town Park.

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The focus especially fell on a “musical protest” held in 1973, when members organised a concert by the oak tree to protest against plans by the Council to construct a road through the Park, a proposal which would be unthinkable today.

The campaign extended from 1969 to 1973, with the concert organised and a trailer acted as a stage for many musicians from the town to perform upon.

Roisin Kerins and Lily Tangney at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

DJ Curtin was one of those performers and his friend Eddie Jennings spoke on his behalf, telling those present how much the famed singer loves the town and how DJ’s mother used to walk the Park five times a day.

The plans for the road were later rescinded thanks to the efforts of Save The Green and the people of the town.

There were other plans in 1979 to construct buildings in Foster’s Field, now known as Pearse Park, but these were also thwarted by the group and it was preserved for the wonderful space it is today and dedicated to the 1916 Rising patriot.

In recent years, they also collected over 10,000 signatures in a petition to halt plans for a road to be constructed at the back of Ivy Terrace (Neil Armstrong Way) and that proposal was also abandoned.

Jim Griffin making a presentation to Brendan and Lorna Enright at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Tommy recalled prominent members and champions of the Town Park, including Billy Mullins and Maeve O’Donnell, while also paying tribute to Con McCarthy and the husband and wife duo of Brendan and Lorna Enright who maintained the beauty of the Park so diligently for decades.

Eddie Reardon making a presentation to Con McCarthy at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Music at the event came from Tommy Collins’ daughter Aoife O’Donoghue, Mary Hogan, Tralee piper Denis O’Reilly and members of Ceoltóirí Choiste An Óir and Blennerville Scór group.

A lovely new bench, donated by the group, was also unveiled by Lily Tangney, Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane and Róisín Kerins. The ceremony ended with Aoife O’Donoghue singing Amhrán na bhFiann.

It shudders to think what would have happened to the Town Park if it wasn’t for the efforts of this group throughout the years. Scroll down for photos…

In front; Gail and Lily Tangney, Lesley McCartney. Back; Blathnaid McCarthy, Robert Tangney and Evelyn Tangney at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

The audience at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

The musicians at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Tommy Collins speaking at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Aoife O’Donoghue singing at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Jim Finucane and Lily Tangney at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Eddie Riordan planting a Kerry flag at the Save The Green 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

Aoife Collins (second left) accepts the Most Colourful entry from Frank Hartnett of the St Patrick's Day Parade Committee on behalf of the Save The Green group. Also included are Johnnie Wall (Committee Chairperson), Tommy Collins of Save The Green, and Danny Leane, Sean Lyons and Michael Gaffney of the Parade Committee. Photo by Dermot Crean — Aoife Collins (second left) accepts the Most Colourful entry from Frank Hartnett of the St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee on behalf of the Save The Green group. Also included are Johnnie Wall (Committee Chairperson), Tommy Collins of Save The Green, and Danny Leane, Sean Lyons and Michael Gaffney of the Parade Committee. Photo by Dermot Crean

THE St Patrick’s Day Parade Prize winners received their awards at a ceremony at the Abbey Inn on Tuesday afternoon.

The committee of Frank Hartnett, Michael Gaffney, Danny Leane, Sean Lyons and Johnnie Wall had a tough task in selecting from the dozens of entries this year.

Committee Chairman said this year was the biggest and best year of the parade yet and commended everyone who took part.

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But they had to pick winners and the Most Entertaining award went to the Kingdom Wheelblasters, an Irish wheelchair affiliated sports club for children and teenagers with a physical disability.

The children had a hoop set up and were shooting baskets while taking part in the parade.

The Most Topical prize went to Tidy Tralee Together who had a float complete with Castle, Thatched Cottage and Modern Bungalow to symbolise Tralee’s 800th anniversary.

The Most Colourful entry went to Tommy Collins and the Save The Green group who symbolised the 1916 Centenary with uniforms and a bugler playing the last post in front of the stage during the parade.

Well done to all and we’re sure next year will draw an even better standard of entries. Scroll down for photos…