€100k funding to launch new Kerry festival

FUNDING of €100,000 has been announced for Kerry to help attract members of the Kerry diaspora to the county after the Coronavirus crisis.

The funding – which was announced last week by Tourism Minister Brendan Griffin – will be used to organise a monthlong county wide festival in October 2021 as part of the Wild Atlantic Way Global Irish Festival Series that has been running on a pilot basis since 2018.

Kerry and Mayo will now join Limerick and Donegal as venues for the festival series, which is designed to help counties tap into their international diaspora.

In Kerry the event – overseen by Kerry County Council – will be known as ‘An Turas Mór –

The Journey Home festival’.

It will include a month-long heritage programme involving a range of events all designed in collaboration with existing festivals in Kerry, such as the Rose of Tralee, which has an extensive overseas network.

The festival will also include a series of participative GAA events throughout October 2021.

Chief Executive Kerry County Council Moira Murrell said the event will provide a much-needed boost to the county.

“Kerry is pleased to be part of the Global Irish Festival Series and will work with the Rose of Tralee network, the GAA and other groups to attract members of the Kerry diaspora back to the county for a showcase festival in October 2021,” Ms Murrell said.

“The fostering of linkages with the extended Kerry family overseas is a key goal of the Council, and it will help drive tourism and economic growth in these challenging times,” she added. Minister Griffin said the festival will help Kerry deepen and strengthen its international connections.

“This is a hugely difficult and anxious time for the tourism industry, but it is important that we look ahead. The Global Irish Festival Series will enable the local community in Kerry to build on their diaspora networks and deepen connections around the world that will help to generate tourism activity next year,” he said.