We need something to look forward to: Tralee Food Fest down but not out

THE Tralee Food Festival – which was due to be held over the May Bank Holiday weekend – has been postponed, but the organisers are adamant that the event will go ahead at some point later this year.

“In these uncertain times, while we do the right thing for the good of our community, we look forward with optimism to re-awakening Tralee from its slumber. While many events and festivals have already been cancelled for 2020, the committee of Tralee Food Festival (TFF) are steadfast that the town needs something to look forward to,” said a statement from the TFF team.

“Small businesses, in particular hotels, local shops, pubs, restaurants and local food producers, all need our support now more than ever.

So much opportunity has already passed them: missed celebrations, missed events, missed festivals – the entire season has been put on hold, but we cannot entirely abandon the year.

“These small businesses will need a kick-start when the time is right to re-open again. They will need all our support to lift them and save their businesses. Our community will come out of it’s cocoon, our healthcare and frontline friends will need to unwind, and our town will need to applaud,” they said.

“We are not cancelling our festival; we are just putting our plans ‘on ice’. When the time is right, when sanctions are lifted and collectively the nation is allowed to meet again, whenever that may be in 2020, we will host the Tralee Food Festival, and we want this to be part of a greater celebration, a Tralee Day.”