Green and gold parades raise the temperature

AS THERMOMETERS DROPPED, KERRY’S ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADES BROUGHT WARMTH TO THE STREETS

DESPITE the ‘big freeze’ making its unwanted return, thousands of Kerry people attended some impressive St Patrick’s Day parades.

The harsh weather and wet forecast only meant extra green hats and scarves for the people of Kerry as thousands of St Patrick’s Day fans braved the weather to celebrate the day.

The parades this year celebrated everything synonymous with Ireland and Kerry, from the lack of bread during storm Emma to the anticipated Grand Slam of the day. Even US presidetnt Donald Trump was involved.

For many towns the parades were a celebration of their local clubs and teams and they came out in all their glory to join their local parades.

Killarney put its best food forward in keeping with this year’s theme ‘Killarney Is Looking Good’ and it was certainly looking resplendent as colourful and fun floats made their way through the town.

And there was a huge welcome for Ian O’Connell from Spa who came home from the Dun Laoghaire Rehab Centre for the weekend following his accident earlier this year.

The teenager was seriously injured in a biking accident in Killarney last August and his friends joined him on the special parade.

Meanwhile, in Sneem, the Parish as usual provided plenty of laughs, the highlight of which was the wedding between a priest and a nun and also a float with shopping essentials in case of a ‘bREaD Alert’.

Glenbeigh also went down the humorous route by welcoming both North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump as they walked side-by-side sipping pints of Guinness during the parade. The two really did their best to get the crowd involved and even kissed a few babies.

While some celebrated their more seasoned parades, Duagh celebrated their first ever St Patrick’s Day Parade this year, a fundraiser for the Parish.

The county capital Tralee was a sea of green while nearby Castleisland was greeted by huge crowds cheering and sporting tricolours with many singing the National Anthem as they walked. There were similar celbrations in towns and villages such as Killorglin, Milltown, Castlemaine, Kilflynn and Listowel.

Indeed, the whole county was beaming with pride throughout the day as they celebrated their town’s culture.

Photo by Christy Riordan Colin O’Brien, wolfhound; Hugh Horgan as St Patrick and Holly Wollett, wolfhound in the Cahersiveen St Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.

WELCOME HOME IAN: KILLARNEY’S Ian O’Connell made a welcome return to his home town for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.The popular Spa teenager made his first trip home since his freak cycling accident last summer.And he was greeted with huge cheers as he made his way around the town.His friends joined him for the big day and Ian returned to Dublin to continue rehabilitation this week.