Garden Festival an Outstanding Success
 

 

The sixth annual Fáile na mBláth has been hailed an outstanding success by the organisers. With 55 separate events to choose from over the three days the festival attracted several thousand visitors to the town park including a large number of Irish and overseas visitors. The festival was officially opened by the outgoing Mayor Cllr. Gillian Wharton-Slattery who had a busy weekend presenting prizes and hosting events. On Friday afternoon she greeted the senior citizens for the Grand Hotel Seniors Party, later she officiated at the opening of the Tralee-Westlake Schools Art exchange in Siamsa Tire and was back in the park later that evening for the Kerry Choral Union Concert. While the expected heavy rain was never too far away the festival remained largely untouched by the weather.

There was a large turnout at lunchtime on Saturday for the Band of the First Southern Brigade from Cork under Captain Brian Prendergast and amateur gardeners from around the county attended the gardening clinic given by Gerry Daly. Margaret Groves from Ballyseedy was the overall winner of the Flower Arranging Competition organised by the Tralee Flower and Garden Club. There were a large number of entries in the children’s art competition and in the fancy dress which proved a bit hit. The dog show on Saturday afternoon attracted the largest crowd where Ciss O’connor had the difficult task of selecting the winners. The Organic Cook Up planned for the Community garden was transferred to the Café in the Ashe Hall and large numbers sampled the delicious dishes of organic food prepared by Gretta O’Rourke and her volunteers. The Mayor’s Concert on Saturday night was followed by presentations of Civic Awards to members of the community who have given outstanding service to the town including FÁS na Mumhan cycling winner Seán Lacey, Patsy Barrett of Tidy Tralee, The Kerry Fire service and long serving FÁS Manager Joe Dunne who was joined by former FÁS colleagues for the occasion.

Early risers on Sunday were treated to a feast of nature poetry by Tommy Frank O’connor and members of the Tralee Poetry while Don Nolan’s tour of the park was as popular as it has been in previous years. The 12 noon mass in St. John’s was moved to the park and the grand finale on Sunday afternoon saw the best of Munster’s pipers and drummers compete in the South of Ireland Pipe Band competition.