The Mayor of Tralee Cllr. Ted Fitzgerald and the German Ambassador to Ireland  HE Christian Pauls  have officially launched the Tralee & Frankfurt-Höchst Cultural Partnership which will see a series of cultural exchanges between Tralee and Frankfurt in Germany over the coming months.   A wide cross-section of Tralee's local state, business, community, education and tourism interests attended the launched as did members of the Veringsring Höchst, Tralee's German partners.  A large German media corps, hosted by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, led by Monika Woerman of Tourism Ireland Frankfurt accompanied the group. 

Among the proposed bi-lateral exchanges outlined were: 

Tralee Participation in the Hochster Schlossfest (Castle Festival) 2009 in Frankfurt from June 13-July 13 next including: 

• German Rose selection at the Schlossfest for the 50^th Anniversary Festival in Tralee later in August.

• Siamsa Tíre, National Folk Theatre of Ireland performances in Frankfurt-Höchst

• Tralee Artists’ Participation in the Höchst Art Market

• Tralee Pipe Band

• Spailpín Irish Traditional Music Group

• Irish Food Fair

• Irland Pavilion at Schlossfest with Tourism Ireland

 Further Exchanges in Planning

Link between Mounthawk Mercy Secondary School, Tralee and Friedrich-Dessauer-Gymnasium, Franbkfurt am Main ( represented at launch by Mr. John O'Roarke and Dr. Walter Piroth). 

Christmas Organ Recitals in Justinuskirche in Höchst by John Jones, Organist, St. John’s Church, Tralee and in St. John’s by Rolf Henry Kunz.

Participation by Höchst group in Tralee Christmas Market

Temporary exhibitions hosted by Kerry County Museum and Historisched Museum (Höchster Porzellan Museum) Frankfurt.

A major tourism drive to attract visitors from Germany to Tralee and SW Ireland  supported by Holiday Tralee, Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland  during 2009.

Earlier Ambassador Pauls was accorded a civic reception by the Mayor at Tralee Town Hall.  The Schlossgarde Marching Band was among the highlight the St. Patrick's Eve Concert and, the following morning,  at the largest Tralee St. Patrick's Day Parades seen for many years in Tralee.  Fr. Sean Hanafin, PP, Dean of Kerry, celebrated a mutliligual St. Patrick's Day Mass for the group with readings in Irish, English and German.