Year in Review - March - City comes alive with the sound of music for the 11th Kilkenny Tradfest

Tradfest is one of the social highlights on the calendar in Kilkenny and this year’s festival boasted a stellar lineup of live entertainment.

Headline acts included Hothouse Flowers, Clare Sands, the legendary Shaskeen, John Spillane, Breaking Trad and the recently emerging Aran Islands star, Pádraig Jack. The Muscraí Gaeltacht was also well-represented by award-winning singers Nell Ní Chróinín and international star Iarla Ó Lionáird as well as the world-renowned Kilfenora Céilí Bands.

Meanwhile there was an explosion of colour and community spirit on the streets of Kilkenny for the parade on St Patrick’s Day.

The parade made its way through the narrow streets of the city, passing Kilkenny Castle, the City Hall and travelling along the city’s Medieval Mile, before finishing in the Market Yard. As well as the dozens of community, cultural sporting and artistic groups, the parade was led by Grand Marshall, Kilkenny hurling legend and best-selling author, Ritchie Power. There was also a special appearance by Stephen Mulrooney, fresh from his newfound stardom as singer on the Late Late Toy Show and singing at Ireland’s recent rugby internationals against Italy and Wales.

In March the then Mayor of Kilkenny urged other men to be vigilant about his health as he reveled his recent prostate scare.

The Fianna Fáil councillor underwent keyhole surgery at Dublin’s Mater Hospital and has made a good recovery.

“We are all living fast lives now and maybe we don’t have time to get checked out but if you get a car you would get it serviced and I would appeal for men to get a medical once a year and let them (the doctors) tell you,” he said.

In other news the ‘longest ever imported’ wind turbines docked at Belview Port in Kilkenny in March. The port describes their importation as ‘a record breaking’ cargo project for Ireland, with each blade measuring eighty metres in length. Two roundabouts in South Kilkenny were adapted to facilitate the transport of these mammoth blades. The blades were transported by road to their destination in County Offaly. Port of Waterford CEO, David Sinnott said that the port was chosen as ‘it is the only port in Ireland capable of handling these long components.”