VIP Spotted Early Christmas Shopping in Main Street!

22 October 2008

To bring a cheer to the town after all the budget cutbacks and increased taxes, Santa Claus made a surprise visit to Main Street, Killarney.  His visit coincided with a Christmas in Killarney Public Meeting which was organised to update all interested parties on the 4th Christmas in Killarney Festival, which is fast approaching.

John Healy & Tom Randles, who are now in their second year as joint Chairmen of the Festival unveiled the exciting plans for 2008, which sees the return of the very popular Christmas Markets on Main Street; Munster's Biggest Free Santa's Lodge and the return of Liam Lawton to St Mary's Cathedral, which was one of the highlights of last year's festival and attracted an audience from all over Munster.

Details of the fun filled programme of events and activities for this year's festival were revealed to a packed to capacity audience at Mac's of Main Street who were hosts for the event.  Guest of Honour, and making his debut for the Season, was Mr Santa Claus.  Also Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce President Donnacha Galvin  attended along with many local people from the community and Killarney businesses.

Many new events and activities were announced including a Fashion and Dining Event at the Malton Hotel on Monday 3rd November to celebrate the best of Killarney Fashion.  The event is being organised, in association with RSVP Magazine to help offset the cost of this year's festival.  Attendees can look forward to a style talk from Celia Holman Lee, a sumptuous five course meal, exhibition & Spa-Zone, the very best fashion on the catwalk plus lots more. Tom Randles stated as he announced this new activity "The Christmas in Killarney Fashion Show will be a wonderful night with a full banquet, high class fashion show, entertainment and lots of fun, but it is also a way for us to generate additional funds to maintain the high standards that the Christmas in Killarney Festival has achieved in previous years."  

In total 19 Killarney Shops are participating in this Fashion Show with a Christmas Twist.  Tickets for this fundraising event are €80 each, including 5 course banquet and wine and are available by calling 087-2300484. 

Other new activities include the "Xmas Factor" Christmas Karaoke Competition, "Miss Christmas in Killarney" in aid of Cystic Fibrosis, Kerry Branch and an Indoor Golf Classic in the International Hotel.  The INEC yet again hosts events to suit all tastes - from Daniel O'Donnell to Shane Ward and from Shane McGowan to My High School Musical.

John Healy went on to thank everyone that has been working so hard on this year's festival "Tom and I are working closely with a fabulous team of people who have come up with some brilliant new ideas for events and activities that will make this year's Festival the best yet.  We would like to especially thank Killarney Town Council and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.   Everyone has been beavering away for months now and we look forward over the coming weeks to making more announcements on the events and activities, increasing the activities for kids and families making it an even more special Christmas in Killarney - something we all deserve after the miserable Summer we have had."

After some questions and positive feedback relating to the previous 3 years, Christmas songs, Mulled Wine and Mince Pies were enjoyed by all.  Any passers by on Main Street, not knowing of the event, must have thought that Christmas had genuinely come early! For further information on Christmas in Killarney visit  www.christmasinkillarney.com, where visitors can get up to the minute details of events and activities and learn more on how to re-discover the Magic of Christmas.