Are you coming home?
The Kerry Homecoming Festival launch was held on Saturday, June 8th last at a reception held in the Ireland Tent at the GAA Northern Community Games in Manchester. The Consul General of Ireland | North England, Sarah Mangan welcomed the Cathaoirleach of Kerry, Cllr Jim Finucane who extended a broad invitation to the UK diaspora and in particular to those in Manchester, which is accessible directly from Kerry Airport, to celebrate the best of Kerry this Samhain / Halloween 2024.
The launch was also attended by retired Kerry Gaelic Footballer Donnchadh Walsh and Louise Galvin who held a number of skills sessions with underage teams throughout the day.
Global Gaelic Games Social Festival Details
Kerry Homecoming Festival extends over a two-week period from October 18th to November 1st, 2024 and is a joint initiative of Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Programme features the Global Gaelic Games Social Festival, in Killarney on October 18th and 19th. This truly unique celebration will bring together Gaelic Football enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to take part in non-competitive 9-a-side Gaelic games that emphasize inclusiveness and integration. The weekend promises a vibrant atmosphere of music, delicious food, and lively entertainment from bands and DJs all designed to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Another highlight will be a number of Samhain-themed spectacle events designed to terrify and delight in equal measure as performers and carousers roam raucously around the towns and villages of Kerry!
Other programme highlights include genealogy talks and archive tours, heritage talks and walks, Clan gatherings, storytelling, mask-making and Jack-O-Lantern making workshops, as well as a business networking event involving the members of the Kerry Ambassador Programme. All of the existing seasonal Kerry festivals will also be joining in the fun, including the Patrick O'Keeffe Music Festival in Castleisland, the Kerry International Film Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary and Oireachtas na Samhna, both taking place in Killarney, as well as Tralee’s annual National Circus Festival and The Tralee Half Marathon.
Kerry Homecoming Festival at Halloween has been designed in collaboration with existing festivals and specially curated events, with a focus on heritage, culture, food, and business in County Kerry.
