Tralee Takes Centre Stage at  Höchster Schloßfest in Germany

The outgoing Mayor Cllr. Ted Fitzgerald joined the Mayor of Frankfurt Frau Petra Roth and other German dignitaries  over the weekend for the official opening of the Höchster Schloßfest (June 13-July 13) at the impressive Bolongaro Palace Gardens in Höchst. Tralee was chosen by the organisers last year as its international partner for the 2009 summer festival.  Holiday Tralee, supported by Tralee Town Council, and  in conjunction with Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland SW are mounting a major tourism promotional campaign around the high profile event.  Mayor Roth had  special words of welcome for her Irish counterpart and the entire venue was decked out in the Irish national colours.  Thomas Meder, chairman of the organising committee, thanked Tralee and Ireland for its active participation in the festival which will see Siamsa Tíre and other groups perform at the event during the coming weeks. The German Rose contestant will also be selected at the festival. An “Irland Pavilion” has been erected at the festival site which is staffed by German speaking Holiday Tralee guides and a new website www.urlaubtralee.de has been launched to coincide with the promotion. Mayor Fitzgerald expressed his thanks to Frankfurt and Höchst for their warm welcome and hoped it was the start of an enduring friendship between Tralee and Frankfurt.