Big crowds, good craic and lots to think about

AND so that’s it for another year.

The 59th Rose of Tralee festival –which seemed to creep up on the town almost unnoticed this year – has been and gone and its time, unfortunately, for everybody to get back to reality.

But lets not be too miserable. It proved to be a great five days and while there was relatively little fanfare about the festival in the immediate run up to the event once it all kicked off it turned out to be terrific few days.

There were up and downs of course, but I think once again those ‘ups’ more than made up for any ‘downs’.

The crowds – while well below the heights of the festival’s heyday – were on a par with recent years and the streets were pleasantly buzzing with activity and had a enjoyable atmosphere all week.

The weekend was about as busy as one would expect though the size of the crowd that turned up for the excellent Oasis cover band in the Square on Friday was particularly impressive.

Another notable gig was the – annoyingly short – performance by local band Oracle on Denny Street on Sunday evening.

There was a huge crowd on the street to enjoy the popular local trio and the only gripe among those who went along was that the talented musicians couldn’t play for a lot longer.

Perhaps a lengthier gig in the Square next year might be an idea worth considering?

The Oktoberfest event in the Dome was also a good and welcome new addition to the festival’s entertainment line up.

Given how quickly it sold out it clearly showed that people in Tralee are still happy to pay for quality night time entertainment during the festival.

The sell-out success of Oktoberfest coupled with the recent, brilliant – and also completely sold out – ‘Revival’ concert with Aslan and Ash in Listowel should give the organisers of next year’s street entertainment something to think about.

The family aspect of the Festival is great (and very well done) but, I wonder, could more be done for those who’d like see the return of a little more traditional late night festival revelry.

People are clearly willing to pay if the events and music actually appeal to them.

Many publicans and stall traders also had some fairly understandable gripes about how many people Oktoberfest drew from the town centre on what would usually be the busiest night of the festival.

There’s probably not much that could be done to stage the event – which proved massively popular with Tralee locals – and keep the publicans happy.

However their concerns are valid and given the support many of them give to the festival they deserve to be listened to.

One negative that many people noticed and remarked upon was the small number of stalls on the streets.

There appeared to be far, far fewer than in recent years and it unfortunately left the streets feeling a little empty at times.

Several stall traders that we spoke to said the high cost of pitches had put many of their stall operating friends from the festival circuit off.

One positive they – and many others – noted was the addition of the small band marquee on The Mall. A small but genius addition that really added to the atmosphere on The Mall.

It sums up how a simple – and I presume fairly cheap – idea can make a big difference.

Mayor of Kerry, Norma Foley with her niece Ella Costello and friend Grace O’Connel meets the Roses Kimberly Corser (Texas), Rachel Cusack (Cavan Rose), Jolene McLaughlin (New Zealand) and Kirsten Mate Maher (Waterford Rose) in Tralee Wetlands on Friday.

Jennifer Byrne, the 2017 Rose of Tralee, meets the staff of Baile Mhuire in Balloonagh, Tralee on Wednesday.

Jennifer Byrne, the 2017 Rose of Tralee called into Recovery Haven, Haigs Tce in Tralee on Thursday. Greeting Jennifer were Phil Stack, Marian Barnes, Marisa Reidy, Liz Mannix, Colette Leask and Christina McAuliffe.

The Houlihan family from Tralee pictured enjoying the Rose of Tralee music in The Square on Friday.

Phot Aileen Bonner Bonner, Micha Saturday.