Facilities, Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland

German Visitors Will Add Sparkle to St. Patrick Festivities

Tralee’s 2009 St. Patrick’s Festival will have a distinctly German flavour with a marching band and 100 visitors travelling from Frankfurt specially for the occasion. These together with local bands will participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, according committee chairman Cllr. Johnnie Wall.

For the first time in a number of years there will be a St. Patrick’s Eve Concert (Monday, March 16 at 8pm), directed by Oliver Hurley, in Siamsa Tíre Theatre. This will feature the Schlossgarde Band from Germany (pictured above), Siamsa Tíre, Kerry Choral Union, Tralee Pipe Band, Rinceoirí na Ríochta and other local artists. Booking can be made through the Theatre Box Office (Tel: 066 7123055).

Earlier on Monday afternoon (1.30pm) in Siamsa Tíre, the Mayor of Tralee Cllr. Ted Fitzgerald and the German Ambassador to Ireland HE Christian Pauls will jointly launch the Tralee & Frankfurt-Höchst Cultural Partnership which will see a serious of bilateral exchanges between the Kerry capital and Frankfurt-Höchst. Tralee has been chosen by Frankfurt as its international partner for the annual Höchster Schlossfest 2009 (June 13-July13).

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be the centrepiece of a two day celebration featuring some seven bands, 45 voluntary, local state and community organisations, Army, and floats taking part. The Grand Marshall for the Parade will be Margaret Dwyer of the Rose of Tralee fame. The Guest of Honour will be the German Ambassador HE Christian Pauls. After the parade Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will entertain in The Square. The annual KADE multicultural celebration will also take that afternoon in the Brandon Conference Centre.

A large German media team is also expected in Tralee for the weekend. The media familiarisation visit to Tralee and surrounding areas is being organised by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, and is part of a major tourism promotional campaign in the Hesse region supported by the state agencies and Holiday Tralee.

Fiona Buckley, General Manager of Fáilte Ireland South West, has welcomed the development:

“This partnership will provide a valuable opportunity to showcase the Tralee area as a tourism destination for the German market. The local trade are currently arranging special promotional packages for the event to help promote and encourage German visitors to choose Ireland as a holiday destination.”

Daily direct flights with Ryanair from Hahn Airport to Kerry makes Tralee and the wider south-west region within 4 hours travel time from Frankfurt.

Click [here] to view the Tralee St. Patrick's Festival Programme.