Tralee to Link Up Live with Sister City of Westlake, Ohio for Bicentenary Greetings

Tralee will link up by satellite this New Year's Eve (Friday night) with its US sister town of Westlake, Ohio to mark the  beginning of the US town’s bicentenary celebrations.  A 2-way video link will be created between the festivities in Tralee's Meadowlands Hotel and Westlake’s Crocker Park.   Tralee Town Clerk Michael Scannell said that Westlake had requested the linkup as part of their bicentenary celebrations and Tralee Town Council were pleased to accede. The 30 minute broadcast from Tralee, which includes the New Year countdown, will be compered by John Drummey with video production facilities provided by the FAS TV Training Unit in Monavalley, directed by Brian Nolan.  The broadcast will feature greetings from Mayor Arthur J. Spring and current Rose of Tralee, Clare Kambamettu, live entertainment from The Classics, and North Kerry traditional group The Bog Deal Ramblers as well as a short promotional video on Tralee and County Kerry. The US broadcast will feature greetings from Mayor Clough of Westlake and other local dignitaries.  Excerpts from the programme will be carried live by the FOX TV network  in Ohio.  The broadcast begins at 11.15pm (Irish time) and continues, back and forth,  until after midnight. Recorded highlights will be uploaded later to YouTube and the www.tralee.ie website.