Civic Welcome for Palatine Group

The Deputy Mayor of Tralee Cllr. Mairead Fernane has accorded a civic welcome to the Palatine Association to mark the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the Palatines in Ireland. Descendants of the Palatine families who settled in Ireland and German visitors from the Palatinate were greeted by the D/Mayor at the Town Hall on September 8. During their stay they also visited the Kerry County Museum and Blennerville Windmill with local organiser Christy Switzer.

The Palatines were forced to emigrate from the Lower German Palatinate, following religious persecution in the early 18th century.  In September 1709, almost 3000 Palatine Protestants were relocated to rural Ireland, with a roughly equivalent number being transported to New York and North Carolina. Over the following three years, more than two thirds of the Irish Palatine settlers left Ireland and returned to England and Germany.   Those who settled in Ireland brought new advanced agricultural practices with them as well as their distinct culture.  Families who settled in Blennerhassett estate around Tralee included the Gleasures, Switzers, Fitzelles, Benner, Hoffman and Lowes whose ancestors have contributed very positively to the political, cultural and economic life of the town and county.

D/Mayor Cllr. Mairead Fernane with local organiser Christy Switzer and Lorna and Freida Shire from W. Limerick.