Circus sets up at hotel site after locals complain

A CIRCUS controversially moved from a public viewing area outside Killarney, on Monday, found a new pitch yesterday.

Circus Vegas set up its big top, instead, in the Gleneagle Hotel complex, about a mile from the town centre.

The circus, including a long convoy of trucks and caravans, had taken over a popular viewing area, at Aghadoe, during the weekend, leading to protests from hoteliers and local residents.

The viewing area, which commands spectacular views of Killarney’s lakes and mountains, is owned by Fáilte Ireland and is directly across the road from the five-star Aghadoe Heights Hotel.

According to Fiona Buckley, of Fáilte Ireland, the circus had no permission to go onto the viewing area, which is the first stop for coaches touring the Ring of Kerry.

Circus Vegas manager John Edwards yesterday said they thought they were moving into a farmer’s field.

“A local man got the field and we went into it. This was organised three, or four, weeks before we came to Kerry,” he said.

He also said he was disappointed at the outcry by some locals in the Aghadoe area, adding that a number of performances had to be cancelled and posters and other material reprinted.

Up to 100 disappointed children turned up for the performances yesterday, it is believed.

Mr Edwards said he had not realised this was considered one of the prime viewing points in Kerry.

“There were some lovely people but some of the residents were very rude,” Mr Edwards told Radio Kerry.

Mr Edwards said his circus had not been to Killarney for seven years because of the difficulty of getting a site.