A land of unicorns, fairies and fantasy at Kilflynn festival

WILLIAM Butler Yeats once asked an old woman if she believed in fairies, to which the woman replied: “No. But they are there”.

It feels a bit like that in Kilflynn this time every year as hundreds of children converge on the village to let their imaginations run riot amid the colour and creation that offers a glimpse of a magical world away from TV and iPhones.

It all kicked off on Saturday night when the parade made its way through the village in what turned into a ‘ who’s who’ of fairytale characters.

The ancient map was then revealed indicting where fairy homesteads were dotted along the riverbank and it’s this idea of twinning the outdoors with imagination that makes the Kilflynn Fairy Festival such a hit with children and parents.

The weekend skies may have been cloudy, but the power of the fairies ensured the rain held off just long enough until Sunday’s focus had switched to the tiny fairy hamlets, arts and crafts stalls, unicorns, knights and princesses and May pole dancing as meadows were converted into scenes of imaginative charm.

There was even speculation that Ted - the giant teddy bear who guards entry to the village - would not be there, but a few bales of winter silage later and the giant bear didn’t disappoint!

“It was just a fantastic and magical time from beginning to end. There was a constant flow of people and everything went off lovely and calm. The fairy trail started with all the kids being sprinkled with fairy dust and it’s now just a huge event,” said Maria O’Regan, PRO of the Kilflynn Enchanted Fairy Festival.

But the festival’s success is thanks to the 150 or so volunteers who put their shoulder to the wheel ensuring that visitors to Kilflynn left with a treasure-trove of memories.

“It’s really the community spirt that makes

it all happen and through word of mouth the crowds seem to be getting bigger every year. The success of the parade and fairy trail together have been phenomenal and the children love it, which is the main thing,” Maria added.

“It’s really the community spirit that makes it all happen and through word of mouth the crowds have been getting bigger.”

Photo Domnick Walsh Fairy good festival... Kilflynn hosted its annual fairy festival on Sunday and the small people certainly didn’t disappoint as kids of all ages enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon.

All photos by Domnick Walsh Clodagh Kidney, Carley-Jane Moriarty , Mia Loughlin, Sophie Cronin and Willow Moriarty from Tralee, all dressed up for the Kilflynn Fairy Festival which drew huge crowds on Sunday.

Armani Kareem from Tralee talks to a special fairy at the festival.

Aoibheann and Aipalony Duncan from Tralee

Baby Samantha Hurly and Seoidin Sheehy, Tralee

Hannah Byrne and Bridget Quill, Kilflynn

Shauna and her Dad JP McElligott from Kilflynn

Tom Power from Kanturk and Jayden Kareem from Tralee .

Sophie Cronin, Kilflynn

Iza O’Connor and Amelie O’Sullivan Kensilla, Tralee.

Fairies on the double