Killarney to celebrate Independence Day in style

American-style razzmatazz, the likes of which has never been seen in Kerry before, will ensure Killarney is a riot of colour and excitement for this year’s eagerly awaited 4th July celebrations.

This will be the landmark 10th year of the festival which will be more spectacular than ever before and the proof of that can be found in the incredibly packed and exciting programme of events lined up. Festival Chairman, Diarmuid Leen, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Events Manager Katy Jacobi and their dedicated committee of volunteers have organised a wonderful celebration to mark Independence Day which, this year, will see great entertainment and funfilled activities not only on Tuesday, July 4 but also on Monday, July 3. An open invitation has been extended to everyone to celebrate America’s big holiday in Killarney which is a town with a very close association with the US for generations.

The great celebrations will include a gala and colourful parade through the streets, open air concerts and music sessions, an outdoor screening of a movie classic, a bumper street party and so much more.

Monday Night Opening

The festival will get off to a rocking start on Monday, July 3 when hugely popular local band Truly Diverse will perform at an open air concert at Killarney House and Gardens from 9.00pm to 9.45pm and that will be followed at 10.00pm by an open air screening of the smash hit movie Mamma Mia with the audience invited to singalong to all the favourite ABBA hits.

The gates of Killarney House and Gardens will open from 8.30pm and tickets for the free admission event, which are in huge demand, are available from Eventbrite.

The Independence Day festivities on July 4 will get underway, appropriately, with the traditional raising of the American flag at the town hall with the Mayor of Killarney and the President of Killarney

Chamber of Tourism and Commerce presiding at 3.00pm.

The ceremony will be followed by a musical performance by the Three O’s who will deliver a string of finger-clicking classics at Kenmare Place from 3.15pm with all the old favourites from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Elvis Presley on the playlist.

Main Street, Killarney will take on a distinctive downtown Manhattan vibe all afternoon with the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam forming a perfect backdrop and selfie props as patrons can enjoy the atmosphere with an interactive drum show while street entertainers, balloon artists and face painters will be roaming the streets.

The local sheriff has been tipped off to expect an influx of colourful cowboys on the Tuesday afternoon but he expects them to be on their best behaviour as they join in the fabulous Independence Day party.

American Football

Brass bands will be performing on the streets from 6.00pm, a lively DJ will get the street party going from 6.45pm and at 7.00pm will be the great highlight of the Killarney’s 4th of July celebrations with a big parade winding its way through the streets.

It will feature spectacular floats, marching bands, cheerleaders, Disney characters, leather-clad motorcyclists on their dream machines and colourful flag bearers and it really is a visual feast that should not be missed.

The parade will be led by visiting American footballers all the way from Georgia Tech and in attendance will be their star kicker, Castleisland native David Shanahan, a former Kerry minor footballer. And the celebrations won’t end there as a Beat on the Street, with DJ Brendan Fuller, will keep partygoers on their toes as Killarney soaks up the unique atmosphere of Ireland’s greatest 4th July festival.

The celebrations are organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce with the support of Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and with the generosity of sponsors Heineken, Killarney Park Hotel, Great Southern Hotel Killarney, O’Donoghue Ring Collection, GMIB, Reidy’s, The Grand and others. Anybody over the age of 18 available to volunteer at the festival, assisting with stewarding and marshalling duties, is asked to contact the 4th of July committee on 087-6437596.

At the launch of the Killarney 4th of July Festival were , Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, Bridget O'Keeffe (Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive), Diarmuid Leen (Chairman of the Killarney 4th of July Festival), Matthew Farrell (Killarney Municipal District Officer), Katy Jacobi (Killarney Chamber Events Manager) and Dermot Healy ((Killarney Chamber Events Committee Chairman) with Alicia Heapes and Katelyn Nolan (Killarney Scorchers Cheerleaders) , Sean Pierce and Mark Looney. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

On the evening of Wednesday June 21, staff and students of West End House School of Arts Killarney gathered in their black box Studio for an inhouse student showcase.

In attendance on the night were School founder Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, who came home to Killarney for the inaugural student showcase in memory of late Director, Donie Courtney. Donie’s wife Adeline O’Brien, and children Jonah and Líla Courtney were also in attendance on the night, as were Michael's parents Josef & Adele Fassbender.

With performances from students in their teens to their seventies, the night displayed the range of creative opportunity available to the town at this Arts School.