10,000 flock to town’s cultural festival as bumper turnout yields €5.5m

THE country’s premier Irish cultural festival, Oireachtas na Samhna, which came to a close in Killarney yesterday, will return to the Co Kerry town next year.

Upwards of 10,000 people attended the five-day event for Irish speakers, filling hotels and guesthouse and bringing a €5.5 million off-season bonanza to Killarney.

An Oireachtas spokesperson said the festival was a huge success, with lots of impromptu music sessions as well as competitions.