Festivities Continue through Weekend at Féile na mBláth

 

Tralee Pipe and Drum Winners

Crowds thronged to Tralee Town Park on Saturday and Sunday for the Féile na mBláth summer festival.  There was something from everybody on Saturday – novelties and entertainment for the young and not-so-young with the Fanzini Brothers,  a Pet’s Corner, flower arranging with Mary Coughlan and the Tralee Flower Club, park tours with Don Nolan and Frank King, Native Argentinean Music with Condori, composting and organic gardening tips.

Mayor Terry O’Brien officially opened the new Community Garden, the brainchild of Gretta O’Roarke.  Over 20 volunteers had joined Gretta from early morning preparing for the Mayor’s visit.  Later that afternoon, the festival hosted its first Pet and Dog show which attracted over a 100 canine entries. It was a wonderful success and a tribute to Ciss O’Connor who had proposed the initiative. On Saturday evening,  the Kerry Group Marquee hosted the Mayor’s Concert featuring the Kerry Choral Union, Condori, and Fanzini Brothers in aid of  Cystic Fibrosis Research.

Early risers on Sunday were treated to poetry recitals in the Garden of the Senses by Frank O’Connor and members of the Tralee Poetry Circle.  Frank and colleagues Noel, Matt and Sharon read from their recently published anthology while Killarney poet Niamh Gillen recited a poem entitled “The Mountain” by her late father.

 The 12 noon Mass at nearby St. John’s was transferred out of doors to the park where the Dean of Kerry Fr. Sean Hanafin was the main celebrant. The Dean congratulated  all those involved  in organising the Mass, the Garden Festival and the Town Council for their care of the park.

On Sunday afternoon the best of Munster Pipe Bands arrived in Tralee for the grand finale of the festival. They came from Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry to compete for the pipe and drum awards.  The event was organised by the Munster Branch of the Irish Pipe Band Association and hosted by the Tralee Pipe and Drum Band.

Flower Arranging Winners

Mayor Officially Opens Community Garden

Face Painting in aid of Cystic Fibrosis

Fanzini Brothers Entertain

Dog & Pet Competition

Onlookers at Dog and Pet Show

Composting

Kerry Choral Union

Poetry Recital in Garden of the Senses

Mass in Park

Mass in Park

St. John's Gregorian Choir

Tralee Pipers on Parade

Pipers Assembled in The Square for Prize Giving

Tralee Pipe and Drum Band

A moment of relaxation in the Rose Garden