GET READY TO EMBRACE YOUR INNER CÚPLA FOCAL AND EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN TRALEE
Tralee Chamber in partnership with Kerry County Council are gearing up for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This highly anticipated event, which has been a beloved tradition in Tralee for decades, will once again showcase the best of rich Irish culture and community spirit. This year’s theme “Cúpla Focal” aims to honour and celebrate the Irish language and is expected to attract thousands of spectators to the streets of Tralee. Community Garda Mary Gardiner has been announced as this years Grand Marshal.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the St. Patrick’s Day Parade back to Tralee this year”, said Colette O’Connor, Tralee Chamber CEO. “Following on from the success of our ‘Tralee ‘The Christmas Kingdom’ events, we are delighted to have Oliver Hurley and Ken Murphy onboard again as parade directors and it’s amazing to see a whole host of Tralee businesses, clubs, volunteer groups, bands and more getting involved in this year’s parade. It really does bring the entire community together and showcases our Irish heritage to visitors from around the world.”
This year’s parade promises to be a visual feast for all in attendance. Spectators can expect to see a colourful display of floats, vibrant marching bands, dancers and traditional Irish music and entertainment. Organisers have also engaged with the street theatre spectacle company Artastic from Kildare for this year’s parade. Artastic are renowned for their wonderful visual creations, many of which feature in the Dublin St Patrick’s Day Parade each year.
Speaking ahead of the celebrations, Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy said “Tralee’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is a day to celebrate our heritage and our history. This year’s parade is presented by the wonderful and varied communities who make up our town and we encourage all sports clubs, societies, groups and businesses to join in our National Day of Celebration.”
Oliver Hurley of Oliver Hurley Productions said “The Parade will be a reminder of how the Irish language still resonates with all of us. The parade will showcase words and phrases ‘as Gaeilge’ that are used by many of us today. Throughout the parade, large colourful signage in the shape of speech bubbles, will link phrases like, “Slainte”, “Céad Míle Fáilte”, “Ciarraí Abú”, “An bhfuil cad agam”,
In addition to the parade, there will be a host of other events and activities taking place throughout the day in Tralee. The town will come alive with music, dancing, food, and fun, creating a lively and festive atmosphere that’s sure to delight locals and visitors alike.
The Tralee St. Patricks Day Parade 2023 will kick off at 12:00pm noon from the John Joe Sheehy Road and wind its way through the heart of the town. A number of road closures will be in place from 10.30am on the morning of the parade and motorists and pedestrians are requested to follow the guidance of the volunteer stewards.
Tralee Chamber and Kerry County Council encourage spectators to line the streets and would like to thank all the participants, volunteer, and sponsors who make the parade possible. We look forward to a safe and enjoyable event for all.