Killarney

By Michelle Crean
<h3>It was noisy and colourful &#8211; but it was also lots of fun &#8211; as little members of the Garda force lit the town up blue on Wednesday afternoon.</h3>
The VIPs got a chance to tag along with their big blue heroes with a special Parade of the Nations from the Gleneagle Hotel down Main Street and through High Street up to Cleeny Roundabout and back to Gleneagle via Port Road and Mission Road with local Gardai and veteran police officers from 29 countries who are in Killarney as part of the Blue Knights International Convention.
It was all part of a special event the Blue Knights organised in association with An Garda Síochána and children&#8217;s charity Little Blue Heroes who make youngsters undergoing health issues honorary Gardai and treat them to specially sized uniforms and days out.
Some of the local children involved included Frankie O&#8217;Sullivan from Killarney town who is in remission following a battle with Leukaemia, Alexis O&#8217;Mahony from Woodlawn who suffers from Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (PDHD), and Alannah Foley from Killorglin who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, as well as other young members of the force from across the county.
And special guest was comedian Pat Shortt who helped get the parade going at the Gleneagle.
&#8220;Pat Shortt detailed, or gave instructions to, the children, then we put all the children and their families into the seven patrol cars and on the seven motorbikes fitted with car seats,&#8221; Garda Gillian Mac Eoin told the Killarney Advertiser.
&#8220;We made lots of noise in the parade and the kids absolutely loved it, they were doing the sirens through town. We think the Gardai enjoyed the parade more than the kids!&#8221;
Back at the hotel Alannah, Frankie and Sean Kearney from Ardfert were thrilled to be presented with fully electric kids mini Garda bikes.
&#8220;Seeing them on their bikes was the highlight of the day for me!&#8221;
One special Little Blue Hero Kate Lehane from Ballycasheen was in Dublin and unfortunately couldn&#8217;t attend on the day.
Photos: Michelle Crean

Little Garda heroes light up the town

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