THE organisers of the 2019 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Tralee have announced that not one, but two people will act as Grand Marshals for this year’s national holiday celebration in Kerry’s Capital town.
60 years of the Rose of Tralee International Festival in 2019 will be recognised through the participation of the event’s Executive Chair, Anthony O’Gara, who will be joined by 8-year-old Ryan Kelliher, a young muscular dystrophy patient from Tralee.
The Chairperson of the Tralee St Patrick’s Day Parade Organising Team, Johnnie Wall, said: “The Rose of Tralee International Festival is the most important tourism event in the county. It’s on our doorstep and should be acknowledged and appreciated for the economic benefits it brings to Tralee every August.”
Anthony will be joined in the parade by young Tralee boy Ryan Kelliher, who has Muscular Dystrophy. Ryan attends Scoil Eoin in Balloonagh, he loves science and soldiers and he’s due to make his First Holy Communion in May.
Janene Kelleher said her son is very excited about being in the St Patrick’s Day Parade: “Ryan has been beaming from ear-to-ear since being invited to take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Tralee. He has been Aa wheelchair user since he was five and he now finds it difficult to participate in certain activities with his friends. Ryan spends lots of time in hospital over the course of the year and it means so much to him to be included in activities such as this. It can be disappointing when he can’t do some of the things his friends can do, but he never complains, and he tries twice as hard to achieve his goals.”
This year’s parade will start at John Joe Sheehy Road and will continue through Boherbee, Castle Street onto The Mall and finishing in The Square.
A number of road closures will be in place from 10.30am on the morning of the parade and motorists and pedestrians are requested to follow the guidance of the volunteer stewards.
Entry forms are now available from Kerry County Council Offices in Rathass and Princes Quay and from the Tralee St Patrick’s Day Parade Facebook Page.
All groups/individuals wishing to participate in the St Patrick’s Day Community Parade, must complete and return the entry form as soon as possible to St Patrick’s Day Parade, c/o Kerry County Council, Tralee Municipal District, Princes Quay, Tralee or email to johnniewall@eircom.net.
Once all the applications have been received, each participant will be given a slot number and the numbers will be displayed along the assembly area at the starting line.
Kerry County Council, through the Community Support Fund, is the main sponsor of the Tralee St Patrick’s Day Parade.
For more information, contact Johnnie Wall on 087 2335846.
