Ó Muircheartaigh the star of the show in Kerry
The octogenarian, who waved regally to thousands of spectators lining the streets, travelled at the head of the parade in a traditional horse-drawn wagonette with Killarney deputy mayor Sean Counihan.
“Golf past, present and future” was the theme of the day’s activities, which highlighted the hosting of the 2011 Irish Open Golf Championship in Killarney in late summer.
An FCA colour party led the Killarney parade, followed by the Gleneagle Brass and Reed Band and up to 40 floats and marching groups, including the American Legion, made up of former US servicemen.
The three TDS for Kerry South, Brendan Griffin (FG), Tom Fleming and Michael Healy-Rae (Independents), were on reviewing duties for the day.
The Healy-Raes had the biggest family representation with recently-retired TD Jackie and his son, Danny, a member of Kerry County Council, also present.
Radio Kerry’s Weeshie Fogarty was MC for the day and for the first time, the parade was broadcast live around the globe at killarneytv.ie.
Thousands of people also packed into Tralee where up to 60 groups and floats took part in the parade.
Local community activist Teddy Moynihan, who has given a lifetime of voluntary service to a variety of causes, was Grand Marshal.
Popular Tralee band 2 Day Nation, singer Michael Gaffney and other artists provided entertainment
Dingle residents had an early wake-up call when the local fife and drum band maintained a time-honoured tradition by parading around the town at 6am.
The band claimed to be one of the first groups nationwide to take to the streets and the official Dingle parade followed later in the day.
Crowds also turned out for parades in Castleisland, Listowel, Glenbeigh, Castlegregory, Cahirciveen, Milltown, Ballybunion, Lixnaw, Ballyduff, Causeway, Abbeydorney. and Sneem
The Causeway parade featured a 44ft-long Chinese dragon made by Eileen O’Connor with the help of Causeway Comprehensive School.
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