The St Patrick’s Day Parade in Tralee this year has adopted the theme of ‘Let’s go the Green Way’ which will promote the upcoming completion of the Greenway from Tralee to Fenit while bringing awareness to sustainability and green initiatives. The parade will see close on fifty organisations, clubs, groups and businesses from the Tralee area take part. A digital online programme of events will be launched in the coming days which highlight key events and activities that will be taking place from the 17th to the 20th of March in the town.

It was a bittersweet moment for Mayor of Tralee, Cllr. Johnnie Wall at the press launch for Tralee’s St. Patrick’ Day Festival Parade on Monday: “It’s been two years since we stood here for the 2020 Press launch, joking and laughing and looking forward to what was going to be my role as Grand Marshal for the Parade following many years as coordinator. A few hours later the parade was cancelled and the rest, as they say, is history”.

Cllr. Wall went on the say: “I know I speak on behalf of all my fellow councillors and people of Tralee when I can officially offer an invite to Kerry members of the Little Blue Heroes organisation to be our Grand Marshals for the 2022 Parade. These are our honorary Gardaí who are coordinated locally by the fantastic team at the Garda station in Tralee.”

Initiatives for the 2022 Parade will see Street Spectacle facilitator, Caoimhe Dunn present a Free Festival Hat Making Workshop at the Wetlands Centre on Saturday, 5th March, supported by Creative Ireland through Kerry County Council, and all Schools, Clubs and organisations are encouraged to register -https://forms.gle/mGwGN6GZHL2zFwPc6

Another first for Tralee will be an initiative to support Tralee’s quest to become an Autism Friendly Town. With some great work already being achieved in this regard, the Parade will create a ‘Sensory Street’ – a 100 meter section from Moyderwell School to Upper Castle Street where the Parade participants will shine bright with their lights but dim down with their sound. This area will be zoned for those individuals with sensory processing challenges along with their families to enjoy the parade in a supportive environment. https://www.facebook.com/TraleeAutismFriendly/

The organising committee are also putting out a call to all local Business Owners and Managers to help the capital town roll out the Green Carpet by volunteering their time during the Parade to show both the public and the hundreds of people participating that their local businesses also support this Civic Parade.

The annual parade will depart from John Joe Sheehy Road and travel through Boherbee, Castle Street and down the Mall finishing at Bridge Street. Street Closures and Traffic restrictions will be in place from early morning. The town will host events pre and post parade such as street entertainment, amusements, Daredevil Circus and more.

Tralee’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is funded by the Community Support Fund and is an initiative of Kerry County Council Tralee Municipal District and Tralee Chamber Alliance with support from the business community of the town.