Kerry wants Irish people in Britain to celebrate Samhain in the Kingdom
Kerry is appealing to Irish people in Britain to come to the county to celebrate Halloween this autumn. Two flagship events are aimed especially at Irish people living in Manchester and Scotland as well as across Britain. ‘The Kingdom’ will host Homecoming Kerry at Halloween and the Global Gaelic Games Social Festival. Homecoming Kerry at Halloween will take place between 18 October and 4 November.
It has been designed to fit in with in existing festivals and specially curated events. The focus will be on heritage, culture, food, and business in the county as well as Clan Gatherings. The two week-long programme promises spectacle events in several major towns and villages across the county. There will be Samhain-themed spectacle events as performers and carousers roam the county’s towns and villages.
There will be genealogy talks, archive tours, heritage lectures and walks, Clan gatherings, storytelling, mask-making and Jack-O-Lantern making workshops. Established seasonal festivals will join in the celebrations including the Patrick O’Keeffe Music Festival in Castleisland, and Killarney’s Kerry International Film Festival and Oireachtas na Samhna, as well as Tralee’s annual National Circus Festival and The Tralee Half Marathon.
It is part of a broader programme to encourage people to relocate to Kerry to live and work there and will include a business networking event with members of the Kerry Ambassador Programme. On 18-19 October the county is calling on GAA fans in Britain to come to Killarney for its first ever Global Gaelic Games Social Festival. The organisers say it will be “an unforgettable weekend of fun, friendship, and festivities”.
The events were launched recently at the GAA Northern Community Games in Manchester at which Ireland’s Consul General of Ireland for the North of England Sarah Mangan welcomed the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Jim Finucane. Cllr Finucane invited the UK diaspora – especially those in Manchester – to come to Kerry for Halloween and enjoy the best of what the county has to offer.
The launch event was attended by retired Kerry footballers Donnchadh Walsh and Louise Galvin. The Global Gaelic Games Social Festival, non-competitive nine-a-side Gaelic games will emphasise inclusiveness and integration.
Organisers said: “Whether you’re a social player in a club or with a group of friends, a retired seasoned player, or simply looking for an incredible weekend filled with excitement, this is the event you won’t want to miss.” The event will include non-competitive nine-a-side Gaelic games for ‘Mums & Gals, Dads, and Lads’ to show off their skills and make connections.
The weekend – aimed at clubs across Britain – will feature food, bands and DJs. From the opening ceremonies to the after – The events are part of The Global Irish Festivals Series a joint initiative between Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs to attract the Irish abroad Ireland to “celebrate Irish culture and heritage, uncover shared histories and forge new, lasting connections”. Mayo plans to hold similar events.
They want to help local communities build upon diaspora networks, deepen connections around the world and attract more visitors.
Details are available on the Discover Kerry website
