Festival celebrating Irish culture under way

One of the country’s premier Irish cultural festivals, which is expected to attract up to 10,000 visitors by the weekend, is under way in Killarney.

The Oireachtas na Gaeilge festival, based in the INEC, Gleneagle Hotel, will give a €4m off-season boost to the tourist town.

The event, which celebrates the native language, music, song and dance, was last held in the Co Kerry town in 2011 and is due to return in 2014, due mainly to the suitability of the venue and availability of accommodation in the area.