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Wishing all our readers a happy and peaceful New Year!
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January
‘Homelessness is not caused by asylum seekers or immigrants,’ say Barraduff sisters FIVE sisters have set up a petition as a reaction to the recent protest at Linden House in Killarney. The protest, which took place in December as the first of 55 male asylum seekers moved into the former guesthouse on New Road, saw picketers call for solutions to the homelessness crisis. Concerns were also raised about an absence of con-
sultation between the Department of Justice and the community on the decision as to the use of Linden House. Augustine, Mala, Martina, Julianna and Ava O’Donoghue, originally from Barraduff, said they found the image of the protest “very disturbing” and felt it targeted “a vulnerable group living in Killarney”.
Ava and Martina O’Donoghue with their petition.
Busy times for New Year dad
Joanie and Declan Moore with Hannah and Logan.
A BIG welcome to the first baby to be born in the county this year. Hannah Moore from Killarney entered the world at 8.19am on New Year’s Day at University Hospital Kerry. The baby girl, who weighed 5.14 pounds, is the second child of Joanie and Declan Moore and is a little sister to Logan and Shannon. It was a very busy time for the entire family, as Declan was best man at his brother Billy Moore’s wedding on New Year’s Eve and
was on hand to lend his support as Billy and his bride Triona Raymond, Tralee, exchanged vows and later celebrated at a reception at the Killarney Oaks Hotel. “Declan’s wife Joanie went into labour early on New Year’s Eve (the morning of the wedding) so he had to be in two places at once!” Billy told Killarney Advertiser. “Declan managed to be in Tralee that morning and also managed to make it out for wedding photos.”
Glenflesk duo ring in New Year on top of the world A REAL NEW YEAR’S inspiration story saw two pals literally on top of the world as they got set to ring in the New Year. Niall Dennehy and Pat Sheehan reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro early yesterday, New Year’s Eve, a day ahead of their schedule. And as they scaled Africa’s highest mountain, the dynamic duo showed what a difference a year can make. In October 2016, Niall was just about able to walk one
lap around Barraduff Community Field. He has accomplished all of this with the help of his friend and fellow Glenflesk native Pat Sheehan, a health and fitness instructor. Niall, a farmer, began his exercise regime by walking around the local community field but as his fitness rapidly improved he set more and more goals. “Farming had taken over my life but gradually I started to learn to prioritise my health and fitness,” said Niall.
Stolen property returned to musician Liam
Liam O’Connor with Garda Finbarr Donovan.
INTERNATIONALLY renowned Killarney musician Liam O’Connor was yesterday reunited with thousands of euro worth of property stolen from his home. Following the burglary on gardaí conducted an investigation which led to the recovery of laptops, cash, jewellery, watches and electronic items including a games console.
The robbery occurred between 8pm and 9pm on January 3 when the house was unoccupied. “All of the property was recovered in the Muckross Road area,” Superintendent Flor Murphy told Killarney Advertiser. “Two people have since appeared before a special court in Killarney on Sunday in relation to the matter.” Liam, a gifted accordionist, thanked Killarney Gardaí, and all the detectives involved in the investigation.
3 Million staff accommodation project at The Hotel Europe Killarney Hotels announced plans for four new state of the art two-stories staff accommodation blocks at the five star Europe Hotel and Resort containing 10 bedrooms in each block with living quarters, terraces and extensive planting to enhance the surroundings also including a gym, WiFi, laundry facilities, parking, bicycle storage and extensive common areas. The accommodation blocks are in addition to the
already existing staff accommodation facility for 70 employees at the hotel. Attracting staff from all over the world, The Europe Hotel & Resort is the jewel in the Killarney Hotels crown. The 3 million construction will commence next month with an opening planned for August 2018. The 187-bedroom hotel has gained a reputation over the past almost 60 years of sublime service, fantastic food and a staff that constantly thinks of the welfare of each and every hotel guest.
Artists drawing of Europe Hotel & Resort plan.
Rock road carpark gets the green light
Our artist’s vision for a proposed state-of-the-art car park at Lewis Road.
A controversial new plan to build a car park on the Rock Road has been given the green light by town planners. The site, which is located above the grounds of the Mercy Convent (on the left as you exit town), will provide 84 car and 27 bus parking spaces. Early criticism has centred around the location of the proposed car park with some stating their belief that it’s simply too far from the
centre of town. Others have voiced concerns about the increased traffic that will inevitably hit the area, especially considering that it is already a part of the town that experiences significant congestion at certain times of the day. The issue of insufficient parking facilities in Killarney town is one that has been highlighted at the Killarney Advertiser have highlighted in the past, and a number of our proposed solutions were greeted warmly by locals.
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February Changes expected as Gleneagle Group secures €30m refinancing deal The popular Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney is set for significant redevelopment after owners secured a €30 million refinancing deal. The Gleneagle Group, which is owned by the O’Donoghue family, says the new funds will allow for refurbishments and upgrades to all of their properties, including the well-known Gleneagle, Brehon and Scotts hotels.
Outlining the new developments, Patrick O’Donoghue, CEO of the Gleneagle Group, said the company had gone through a “financial refinancing with another funder”. “The principal funder is Ulster Bank with whom we have a banking relationship through one of our associated hotels,” he said.
Gleneagle secures €30m deal.
Killarney remembers legendary clubman John Kelly
The late John Kelly.
The town of Killarney was united in grief this past week following the untimely passing of popular Spa native John Kelly. A devoted family man and a stalwart of numerous associations and clubs, it was John’s incredible dedication and loyalty that set him apart as a truly remarkable man. In 1966, he was part of the first ever Spa team to win an O’Donoghue Cup and his great love for the GAA never waned over the years. The former club Chair-
man also served as PRO for over 40 years and gave great service to the East Kerry Board, acting as Chairman, PRO and, most recently, as President. The Kerry seniors also benefitted from his fierce commitment as he worked as a masseuse for Páidí ó Sé’s team between 1997 and 2004. John was passionate about rowing and pitch and putt and remained active within the Killarney Regatta, Workmen’s Rowing Club and Deerpark Club throughout his life.
Walk for Nathan raises €41k for Pieta House Last year’s local Darkness Into Light event was one of the most successful yet and there were smiles all around at the Porterhouse as the organisers presented a cheque for €41,607 to Pieta House. Inspirational Killarney parents Marie and Denis O’Carroll, who tragically lost their 14-year-old son Nathan to suicide in 2007, have been running the Darkness Into Light event with their family for a number of years and were delighted with how the walk went.
“The numbers were up again last year,” Denis said. “It was the only Darkness Into Light in Kerry that was up on 2016’s figures. This year it will be all online registration but it will be the very same format. It’s on May 12 and if you register before May 6, a t-shirt will be sent out to you.” Denis says organising the walk has been good for the O’Carrolls and other families who have had similar experiences.
€41k raised for Pieta House.
Tourism provides €410m per year and supports 3,100 jobs, report finds
Paul O’Neill (President, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce) with Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin.
Killarney’s contribution to the tourism industry nationally has been confirmed in a report launched this week by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin which reveals an overall economic impact of €410 million generated locally by holidaymakers. Launched at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel on the outskirts of Killarney, the Killarney Tourism Economic Impact Review (TEIR One) report, compiled by strategic research
consultants W2 Consulting, predicts growth of 30 percent for tourism in Killarney between now and 2025. The review, commissioned by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, involved an examination of the economic contribution of tourism, attitudes of visitors to the town and areas for consideration to promote further tourism growth. The timeframe for the tourism industry research was August to October 2017, with all data supplied based on 2016 performance indicators.
Advertiser couch makes national news The Killarney Advertiser couch made waves nationally this past week following a very special edition of the Chatroom. Our intrepid interviewer Kieran Healy braved the elements and hauled the famous couch up Carrauntoohil for a chat with Maureen Hegarty and Piaras Kelly, organisers of the inaugural Killarney Mountain Festival which takes place on March 9, 10 and 11. Local legend Geoffrey O’Connor and his new gleaming
tractor carried the couch and its passengers up through the snow-capped Reeks and photographer extraordinaire Valerie O’Sullivan captured some incredible photos of the curious scenes. Those photos were subsequently shared on our Facebook page and picked up by the national media with the Irish Examiner and the Irish Times both publishing the amazing shots. “The morning of the interview, Piaras from kerryclimbing.ie said conditions on the mountains were perfect,” Kieran explained.
Killarney Advertiser couch makes national news.
Glenflesk flood victims may be relocated
Flooding at Glenflesk.
Owners of Glenflesk homes that were flooded during the winter of 2015 or spring of 2016 may be considered for the Voluntary Home Relocation Remedial Works Scheme. The Government announced details of this voluntary, once-off humanitarian scheme for homeowners last April. Homes that were damaged by floods will be eligible, but only if they’re at a significant risk of similar damage from
flooding again, cannot be protected by other possible flood protection or mitigation measures, and cannot obtain flood insurance. As things stand, the only application in Kerry is in Glenflesk where, as our pictures show, flooding is a major concern. Thanks largely to recommendations from politicians Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran and Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, Kerry County Council are working on a draft design for new flood defences, locals have been informed.
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March
Killarney Hotels are ready to do business in New York Six Irish tourism companies, including Killarney Hotels, are attending SMU (Successful Meetings University) International, which takes place this week in New York. The three-day event attracts around 100 top American MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) professionals, all on the lookout for exciting and unique business tourism destinations. “Events like SMU
International are an important platform to continue to build awareness of the island of Ireland and our worldclass business tourism offering. Business tourism is the most lucrative form of tourism, with visitors travelling to Ireland for business purposes spending about 2.5 times more than the average holidaymaker,” said Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America.
Johanna Platt and David Cronin of Killarney Hotels with Marie McKown.
Happy 45th Birthday to the Killarney Advertiser
The Killarney Advertiser’s first home at Monteagle, Woodlawn.
Happy Birthday to us! The Killarney Advertiser is 45 this week. The visionary Danny Casey, father of current Director Cormac, set the wheels in motion in March 1973, making the Killarney Advertiser the second oldest magazine of its kind in the country (by a few weeks) and the oldest that’s still in the hands of the original family owners. As a forward-thinking man himself, I’m sure Danny would approve of the Advertiser’s current com-
mitment to embracing new forms of media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as coming up with innovative new video projects like The Chatroom. As the most popular Killarney-based publication in circulation, the Killarney Advertiser plays an important role in informing and connecting the people of the town and for the thousands of expatriates who check it out online every week, it provides an important link to home.
61 new houses for Killarney “a step in the right direction” There was big breaking news in Killarney yesterday evening as it was revealed that a proposal for the provision of 61 units for social housing at Derreen/Ballydribeen has been approved. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government confirmed that the units will be provided for Clúid Housing Association in partnership with and supported by Kerry County Council.
Kerry County Council’s Director of Corporate Services and Housing, Martin O’Donoghue, informed councillors that the development has been given the green light and will now proceed to the next stage, i.e. the final stages of the procurement process. It’s hoped that the units, which will be allocated to persons on Kerry County Council’s ever-growing housing list, will be delivered by Quarter 4 2019.
Mayor of Killarney - Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District - Cllr Niall Kelleher (FF) .
Louise still in coma in Spain
Louise Lynch
The entire community has been urged to band together and support the family of a 21-year-old Killarney woman who is currently in a coma in Spain. Louise Lynch from Radrinagh, Spa was involved in a horrific car accident near La Albuera, Badajoz on February 24. Two weeks later, she is still in intensive care suffering from serious internal, cranial and abdominal injuries as well as many fractured bones. Her
condition is described as being critical. The incident, which involved three vehicles and eight people, has also left two others, including Louise’s friend, in hospital. One passenger was tragically killed. Shortly after the accident, Louise’s family flew out to Spain to be by her side in the Infanta Christina Hospital in Badajoz.
Plunkett Street to close at 7pm nightly Last August’s move to pedestrianise Plunkett Street proved popular with locals and tourists alike and the practice is set to return over the coming months, it has been revealed. A new plan for the quaint, one-way street, which was confirmed at a council meeting on Wednesday, will see it shut to traffic permanently from 7pm to 7am from April 19. It will also be pedestrianised on a trial basis between
11am and 7pm from March 31 to April 9, May 11 to May 21 and again from June 29 to September 3. Speaking to the Advertiser yesterday, Mayor Niall Kelleher said the move, which was put forward by John Joe Culloty and seconded by Michael Gleeson, passed by a majority 7-1. “The night-time pedestrianisation is an exceptionally positive move that will benefit the people and the town of Killarney,” he said.
Plunkett Street.
Fears over slow progress on danger junctions
By pass aerial 4: Both junctions are visible here.
Two of the town’s most dangerous junctions appear to be set for significant overhauls but locals have expressed their dismay that the potentially life-saving changes are taking so long to implement. The foot of Madam’s Hill has long been acknowledged as an accident and traffic black spot and observers believe the positioning of a 100km/h signpost BEFORE
the junction on the way out of town represents a major, and possibly deadly, planning flaw. Cllr Maura Healy-Rae told the Advertiser that she has asked that the speed limit be extended out beyond the junction, which would then give people a greater chance of exiting and accessing it. The council are currently awaiting a ‘speed review’ which will determine the appropriate course of action.
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April
Active Retired Give It a Go Try your hand at a range of new activities this June at ‘Give It a Go’, which takes place at The Gleneagle Hotel from June 11-14. Organised by Active Retirement Ireland and The Gleneagle Hotel, ‘Give It a Go’ is an action-packed break which gives people the opportunity to try out a range of activities while also enjoying a holiday in beautiful
Killarney. Active Retirement Ireland President Kay Murphy said, “It’s great to be involved with the ‘Give It a Go’ festival again this year, as it showcases what Active Retirement is all about - fun, friendship and trying new things. The Gleneagle, in beautiful Killarney, is a great place to visit, and this event is sure to be a lot of fun for everyone who is young of heart.”
Pilates instructor Emer Coffey putting the Active Retirement through their paces at the launch of ‘Give It a Go’.
Town mourns victims of Gap of Dunloe tragedy
Gardaí observe the scene of the accident in The Gap of Dunloe Killarney.
The town of Killarney is in a state of shock this week following a tragic accident at the Gap of Dunloe which claimed the lives of two North American tourists. Rosalynd Joy Few (64) and Normand Larose (62) were killed when the jaunting car in which they were travelling fell from the road into a 20-foot ravine. The jarvey was not seriously injured but is said to be traumatised by the
incident. Arizona native Rosalyn and her Canadian partner Normand were in Killarney with family. The party of six, which included Rosalyn’s daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, were travelling up the Gap together on separate traps, although it is believed that the other family members did not witness the accident.
Locals remember popular publican Tadhg Tributes have poured in this week following the sad passing of popular Killarney publican Tadhg Corkery. Tadhg ran the well-liked Corkery’s Bar on High Street with his wife Joan for over forty years before passing the reins to his children, Jerome, Mary and Tadhg, in 2009. He had taken over from his own father back in 1967. Corkery’s, which has been a Killarney institution since 1946, was recently taken over by Alan Breen, John
O’Sullivan and Kieran O’Leary. Tadhg died peacefully following a short illness on Monday, surrounded by family in University Hospital Kerry. He is sadly missed by his wife and three children, granddaughter Ciara, daughter-in-law Aoife, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces, grand nephews, grand nieces, relatives in Kerry and Canada and many friends.
The late Tadhg Corkery.
Microtrack secures crucial grant aid
Killarney Community microtrack has secured LEADER funding
There was some good news for the proposed Killarney Community Microtrack this past week as the committee behind the project secured LEADER grant aid that will hopefully allow the long-slated development to finally go ahead. Speaking on behalf of the committee, Jeremiah Griffin said that Mayor Niall Kelleher’s announcement had “lifted the hopes of the community group”. “In time, this project will be seen as one of the most innova-
tive community recreational projects in the country,” he added. “The community group has been granted €110,000 having applied through the South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP). The group has raised €105,000 privately so far through a combination of fundraiser events and through private donations. With just over two thirds of the money raised so far, the project group hopes to start the construction towards the end of June.”
Locals rejoice as problem roads finally fixed There was cause for celebration in Killarney this week as the council confirmed that the problem roads by the Hahah would finally be repaired, after a prolonged period of inaction on the issue. The state of the surfaces on East Avenue Road, the Hahah, and the start of Mission Road have long been a major cause of concern for motorists in the town. The potholes and bumps were inconvenient and
potentially dangerous, not to mind unsightly, so news of the resurfacing has been greeted with widespread acclaim. Works were strategically scheduled to take place overnight on Wednesday, Thursday and tonight to limit the inconvenience to locals and tourists alike. As our pictures show, the road outside the Plaza and Town Hall and up Main Street as far as the junction with Plunkett Street have also been revamped.
Council plans to repair Killarney Roads.
Sem boys take to stage with Liam and Christy
Christy Dignam.
Over 100 talented young music lovers took to the stage for the annual St Brendan’s College concert last week - with a little help from world famous Killarney musician Liam O’Connor and Aslan frontman Christy Dignam. This was the fifth instalment of the intimate gig, which takes place yearly in the school chapel, and the audience were treated to quite a show as Christy, Liam and the students
belted out the classics. Christy serenaded the crowd with his versions of Ave Maria, The Green Fields of France and, of course, Aslan’s 1993 smash hit, Crazy World. Irish rugby legend Mick Galwey also made an appearance as a special guest speaker on the night and he also showed his musical prowess with a fine rendition of The Contender.
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Killarney mourns loss of one of its most talented sons 1951 was a momentous year for Killarney basketball. Local historians recall that the very first game of basketball took place in November of that year in the old Killarney Town Hall featuring the likes of Eamon O’Donoghue, Ben Campion, Johnny Culloty and Paddy Culligan. September 1951 was also a very significant month that year as it marked the birth of Paudie O’Connor, a basketball player who went on to revolutionise the game in Ireland and set exceedingly high standards for everybody else to follow.
The son of Dan and Mai O’Connor, Paudie grew up at No. 1 O’Sullivan’s Place, Killarney. Former neighbour and friend Weeshie Fogarty recalls an interesting story about the small green area in the neighbourhood with one timber telegraph pole in the centre where Paudie and his brothers Séamie, Mike and Benny erected a hoop on the pole. Paudie climbed on top of his brother Séamie’s shoulders and attached the hoop to the pole and it was there that he honed and polished his amazing shooting and scoring skills.
The three O’Connor brothers who played together on the Kerry senior basketball team.
The Dunloe Hotel & Gardens re-opens after €18m renovation
Tánaiste Simon Coveney officially re-opens Dunloe Hotel and Gardens.
The five-star Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, located close to one of Ireland’s most iconic tourist destinations, the Gap of Dunloe, officially opened its doors last Friday after undergoing a stunning 18-month renovation of the restaurant, bar, reception, lobby and lounge spaces as well as the enhancement of the gardens and car park. A substantial €18million investment by the hotel’s owners, the Liebherr family, has brought new life to the hotel, enhancing its long-standing relationship
with the beautiful surroundings and maximising the property’s unrivalled views of the Gap of Dunloe. The Liebherr family has been at the forefront of tourism and manufacturing industries in Killarney and the surrounding areas for over 60 years, employing 1,000 people across the country. Tánaiste Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, joined Dr Isolde Liebherr to celebrate and welcome the reopening of this magnificent five-star hotel.
Inspirational Ian comes home to Killarney After spending nine long months in hospital, Killarney teenager Ian O’Connell has returned to his hometown to the delight of all his friends, family and the community in general. Ian suffered serious injuries to his neck and spine when he fell from his bicycle in the National Park last August. The freak accident has left the brave youngster in a wheelchair but he worked relentlessly during his stay in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún
Laoghaire. Now the 16-year-old Pinewood native will continue his road to recovery back home in Killarney. Ian’s courage in the face of such adversity has been remarkable. I chatted with him before he came down for St Patrick’s Day and I couldn’t speak highly enough of his attitude. He was upbeat about his situation and remained determined to keep working hard, no matter what. We should all strive to be more like Ian.
Killarney Park music video a viral hit
Killarney Park video a viral hit.
Staff and management at the five-star Killarney Park Hotel have shown their musical side in a brilliant new marketing video which was released earlier this week. The light-hearted and expertly shot mini-movie shows employees from various departments miming to ‘Be Our Guest’ from Disney’s iconic ‘Beauty and the Beast’ showing off all the world-famous
hotel has to offer. It has already been viewed over 23,000 times on Facebook alone. The video, which was devised by Ciara Treacy and produced by Adrian McCarthy of Grand View Media, was premiered at the Fáilte Ireland #WOWSummit2018 at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin where General Manager, Niamh O’Shea was a keynote speaker.
Officials “hopeful” but royal visit still unconfirmed Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are coming to Ireland in mid-June but officials in the know have re-stated the fact that any potential trip to Killarney is still up in the air. The couple will fly into Cork and it is believed they will also travel to Kerry. Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser yesterday, President of the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Paul O’Neill said he was “hopeful” of a royal visit but there was nothing con-
firmed. If the Prince of Wales does visit our town with Camilla, he will be following in the footsteps of his great-greatgreat-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who visited Heaven’s Reflex in 18.
Prince Charles.
Service dog Bosco is the Horgan family’s new best friend
Fionn Horgan.
When Shane and Deirdre Horgan suspected that their youngest son, Fionn, might be autistic, they put their name on a waiting list for a service dog. Two years later, My Canine Companion gave them Bosco, an exceptionally talented Goldendoodle who has quickly become a much-loved member of the family. Their new furry friend is getting on great with Fionn (6) and his older brother Brian (8) and
Shane says Bosco has already made a big difference. “Thankfully Fionn is mild on the spectrum but what we’ve noticed now is that whenever he’s crying or having a bit of a moment, Bosco will go over and sit down next to him. If we’re in town, Fionn might get a little over-sensitive to noise and things like that and he’ll start rubbing Bosco’s tail. It kind of distracts him from whatever’s going on.
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June 4-year-old Liam raises funds for KDYS 4-year-old Liam Leahy from Kilcummin in Killarney has really gone the extra mile (or kilometre) to help all young people from Kerry. So far he has raised €125 for #teamKDYS in the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle. Liam is asking for more support as he wants to raise over €400! Liam, with a little help from his dad Patrick, who is a wellknown jarvey in Killarney, signed up to support #teamK-
DYS but he needs to wait a few more years until he can cycle the Ring. That didn’t stop the amazing young man from helping out. Mr Tim O Donoghue (CEO) said: “We were quite simply blown away when we heard about Liam’s efforts and we are so grateful to him and Patrick for their wonderful support. Despite all the challenges facing young people today, KDYS is committed to Building Futures for all young people in Kerry.
4-year-old Liam Leahy helped raise funds for KDYS.
New plans for New Street, Finan’s, Áras and car parks unveiled
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President Paul O’Neill at the Áras Phádraig.
The Killarney Municipal District has unveiled a draft local area plan for the next six years and there are some interesting developments on the cards for the likes of New Street, St Finan’s and the Áras Phádraig. There are also plans in place to tackle the traffic and parking issues plaguing the town. The plan has set out 20 objectives in total in the categories of Residential Development, Opportunity
Sites/Regeneration, Arts, Heritage and Culture, and Roads/Infrastructure. A period of pre draft public consultation ran from December 8, 2016 to January 26, 2017 during which the public were invited to make submissions/observations. It is hoped to facilitate the development of 685 residential units within the settlement boundary, and particular mention is made to New Street which has been identified as an area where residential regeneration is necessary.
Locals hail classy, new-look Laurels The people of Killarney were forced to do a double take when walking and driving through the centre of town this week after the front of the iconic Laurels Pub underwent a significant makeover. The old white, green and red colour scheme has been replaced with a stylish grey and gold look and the end result has been hailed as a major success by suitably impressed locals.
“It’s a big change,” says Kate O’Leary, proprietor of the famous old bar. “We’ve had the same colours for the best part of 20 years. I was looking at changing them but I couldn’t make a decision so I went to these interior designers. They picked out colours for me and at first I was like, ‘oh, I don’t know about that…’ but then I said, ‘they know what they’re talking about,’ and I took a leap of faith.”
Kate O’Leary pictured outside the new look Laurels.
200 jobs could be lost at Liebherr
Liebherr, Killarney.
The town of Killarney was in a state of shock this week as news broke that over 200 jobs could be lost at the town’s biggest employer, Liebherr crane factory in Fossa. SIPTU says it is has been told that at least 27 workers are losing their jobs almost immediately and another 60 may be let go in July. Further cutbacks are expected in August when another 128 employees could be let go. The firm currently employs more than 800 people.
SIPTU Organiser Joe Kelly said: “Our members are shocked and disappointed at the confirmation by the management of Liebherr of the extent of potential job losses at the plant over the coming weeks and months. SIPTU representatives were informed yesterday of the scale of potential job losses with 27 workers to be let go at the end of June, up to 60 in July and possibly 128 in August.”
Loreto ‘Tick Kit’ kids are Community Champions This week the enterprsing pupils at Loreto National School won the Community Champions Award for their Tick Kit project at the Junior Entrepreneur Project Showcase Day in the RDS in Dublin. “Winning a national prize is a huge achievement and this is a proud day for Loreto,” said Principal Mary O’Sullivan. “Great credit is due to 5th and 6th class and their teacher Mr Looney for all their hard work with the Junior Entrepreneur Programme. The whole process
was a wonderful experience for the children in how to develop a business, empowering young people to turn ideas into reality.” The idea originated when 6th class pupil Ali O’Donoghue was bitten by a tick and discovered what little information was available to treat tick bites. She and her classmates researched the topic and came up with the idea of the Tick Kit.
Loreto pupils won a National Award this week.
The Aghadoe Heights is ‘China Ready’
Michelle O’Leary (Marketing Executive, Aghadoe), Dr Tony Lenehan (Executive Director COTRI), Niall Coffey (GM, Aghadoe), Niamh O’Shea (IHF Kerry Chairperson) and Trish Covarr (Director of Sales, Aghadoe).
The renowned five-star Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa in Killarney is the first hotel in Kerry to achieve China Ready accreditation, awarded by the Chinese Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI). This guarantees a very special Kerry welcome to our Chinese visitors and guests. With the introduction of 1,700 airline seats per week, flying directly to Dublin from Beijing and Hong Kong, Irish hotels need to be prepared for a large increase in
leisure business from this region. “Understanding our Chinese guests cultural needs is absolutely pivotal to their overall experience of Ireland,” said General Manger, Niall Coffey. Colleagues at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa completed specialist training modules that covered areas such as Chinese tourist profiles, communication and language, sales and marketing, product and service needs as well as information on the background of Chinese tourists coming to Ireland.
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July
Burst water main causes extensive damage There were incredible scenes in Killarney on Sunday as a burst pipe caused a massive amount of damage in the Deerpark area of the town. Onlookers were left dumbfounded when a water main from Sheheree to Coolcorcoran burst near the Park Road not far from Aldi and Tesco supermarkets. The road above the pipe collapsed and water gushed
overflowed above the surface as roughly 200 residents were left stranded. Reports suggested that 10,000 people were left without water as a result of the incident but supplies have since been restored. As our pictures show, extensive emergency works were required to remedy the situation on Sunday night and the massive crater has been refilled and the road repaired.
Kerry County Council staff working on restoring the water supply and repairing a giant crater.
Employment boost as Fexco creates 175 new jobs
Chief Executive Denis McCarthy, Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon and founder of Fexco, Brian McCarthy.
There was a major boost for local employment this week as Irish-international fintech company Fexco announced a significant expansion of its operations headquartered in Killorglin, creating 175 new jobs over three years. The jobs form part of Fexco’s expansion strategy reinforcing the south west’s position as the driving force of Ireland’s fintech industry. The announcement was made in Killorglin on Tuesday by Julie Sinnamon, CEO
of Enterprise Ireland, together with Fexco CEO Denis McCarthy and Fexco Chairman Brian McCarthy. The development is supported by the government through Enterprise Ireland’s R&D Fund. Recognised as one of the world’s original and longest-established fintech players, Fexco has developed an innovative suite of payments and foreign exchange products and solutions including Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), Multi Currency Pricing (MCP), Tax Free Shopping and Retail FX.
Ian O’Connell: ‘My dad is a warrior’ Ian O’Connell was at the Ring of Kerry finish line to greet his father on Saturday and the heroic Killarney youngster was quick to hail dad Mike “a warrior” for completing the 175km challenge. In a statement on his Facebook page, Ian said that seeing his dad finish the Ring was a special feeling and one he won’t forget. “After taking on the challenge to try the cycle I told my
dad every day he will complete it because it is all in the head,” the teenager said. “After sticking by me through thick and thin after my accident I can proudly say my dad is a warrior and I love him.” Ian was paralysed from the shoulders down when he fell from his bike in the National Park last August. Since his accident, the brave Killarney native has inspired people the length and breadth of the country with his motto “If you can’t stand up, stand out”.
Ian O’Connell and his father Mike at the Ring of Kerry finish line.
Multi-faith ceremony marks opening of new graveyard
Venerable Archdeacon Simon Lumby, Church of Ireland, Fr Niall Howard, CC St Mary’s Cathedral and Imam Mohammed Saeed, Islamic Cultural Centre of Killarney.
A new graveyard to provide for burials in the greater Killarney area was opened on Wednesday morning. The facility, at Knockeendubh on the outskirts of the town, will provide approximately 2,300 burial spaces or plots. The opening of the graveyard on Wednesday morning was attended by the Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, Cllr John Sheahan and the
elected members of the Killarney Municipal District as well as the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD and Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell. A multi-faith ceremony also took place to mark the opening. Burial plots are now available to those of all faiths and none.
Killarney’s hospital beds could take pressure off UHK SIPTU has asked the government to alleviate the overcrowding problem at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee by transferring patients to Killarney. The trade union’s Branch Organiser for Kerry Hospitals, Donie Doody, says there are unused beds in Killarney and these spaces should be utilised to take pressure off of Kerry’s largest hospital. Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, Mr Doody said there should be more “coordination” between Kerry’s
hospitals. “At present there are 30 vacant beds in Killarney Community Hospitals. Why are these beds being left vacant when 20 miles away, in University Hospital Kerry, patients are waiting on trolleys for days at a time? It’s a ludicrous situation. Why is it being allowed to happen? Why is there no policy in place to rectify the situation? Why can patients waiting for the fair deal scheme not be transferred to these vacant beds?
SIPTU asks government to send UHR patients to Killarney hospital.
Locals spellbound by incredible flash gig
Plunkett Street was rocking on Tuesday night when a surprise gig erupted right in the middle of the street. After appearing as special guest at both Aslan’s Iveagh Garden shows in Dublin last week, local accordion maestro Liam O’Connor invited his good friend Christy Dignam and his family down to Killarney musicians Kieran Healy and Liam O’Connor Killarney for a few days. After spending most of Tuesday taking in the splenentertaining the huge crowd
dour of Killarney on the lakes and at the Traditional Farms in Muckross, Liam and Christy came up with a unique idea, a flash mob gig on the pedestrianised Plunkett Street that night at 9.30pm! When the music kicked off, crowds weren’t long gathering outside The Porterhouse with Liam in full flow backed by his son Oisín and daughter Saoirse.
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August Fears for local economy as Liebherr staff put on three-day week Staff at the Liebherr Container Crane factory in Fossa have been put on three-day weeks amid concerns that cutbacks at one of the south west’s biggest employers could have a knock-on effect on the economy of the region. The reduced week is expected to be in place from Monday, September 3 until the end of the year. Employees learned of
the news last week before their annual two-week break. The measure has been put in place to save jobs at the company; 27 people had already been let go and there were fears that a further 180 could be sacked. The majority of staff will be affected by the move, including office and manufacturing staff. A small number of employees have been transferred to other Liebherr factories in Southampton and Germany.
Liebherr staff have been put on a three day week.
Caretaker supports Killarney Advertiser McShain campaign
Caretaker Harry O’Donoghue outside Killarney House.
The caretaker who has looked after Killarney House & Gardens since 1986 and knew the McShains personally has thrown his weight behind the Killarney Advertiser’s McShain Campaign, insisting that the generous American couple should have been honoured years ago. Harry O’Donoghue started working for John and Mary McShain as a 22-year-old in 1986, shortly after the pair permanently relocated to the Killarney holiday home they had owned since 1959. Before
that they would spend six months of the year here in Killarney and six months in Arizona. With regards to the Killarney Advertiser’s campaign, Harry says there was ample opportunity to memorialise the McShains in the past but the council, for whatever reason, failed to act. “Years ago when the council got the land for Mission Road off the McShains, I pleaded with them to name it the McShain Road,” the popular caretaker explains.
Residents take to Facebook to bemoan traffic and parking problems Angry locals have taken to social media to vent their frustrations over Killarney’s ongoing traffic and parking problems. Commenting on last week’s article (‘Has Killarney’s traffic problem reached breaking point?’) on the Killarney Advertiser Facebook page, fuming motorists expressed their dismay at the current situation, with some branding it a “nightmare”. Congestion seems to have reached new levels this summer as residents and visitors alike are finding themselves
stuck in long lines of traffic approaching and leaving all sides of the town. As we mentioned last week (and numerous times before that), the recent TEIR 1 tourism report highlighted parking and traffic as major concerns for tourists and business owners alike. The report also predicted a 30 percent increase in tourism over the next seven years. Parking and infrastructure in general will clearly have to be addressed if this growth is to be sustained.
It’s time for Michael Healy-Rae to talk
Michael Healy-Rae to publish a new book.
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has written a book of recollections about his life and growing up in Kerry. Time to Talk: Stories from the heart of Ireland will be published by the end of October, Mr Healy-Rae said. “I can’t say too much about it but it is a book of stories that I wrote about growing up and different things like that. It is not a political book,” Mr Healy-Rae added.
Among other things, it’s believed that Michael will reveal the biggest regret of his life, a story he has shared previously in a TV interview with comedian Tommy Tiernan. The cover of the book features a wonderful photograph of Deputy Healy-Rae by popular Killarney photographer Valerie O’Sullivan. The book will be hitting shelves at the end of October but is already available to pre-order from Easons and Amazon.
Historic Rally secures three-year sponsorship deal with Rentokil The Killarney Historic Stages Rally takes place on the weekend of Friday, November 30 to Saturday, December 1 and is included as counting rounds of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, The Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship and The Plasticbags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship. The event is expected to attract over 150 crews from all over Ireland, the UK and Europe. Rentokil Initial has been sponsoring the Killarney Historic
Stages Rally since 2013 and this new deal will ensure the financial security of Ireland’s only event to cater solely for historic rally cars. Rentokil Initial are the world’s leading commercial pest control and hygiene service providers, employing over 36,000 people throughout 70 countries worldwide. The Irish company’s Managing Director Michael O’Mahoney announced the renewal of its sponsorship of the Killarney Historic Stages Rally in a deal that will run for the next three years.
Rentokil to continue sponsorship deal.
Rent Crisis - 13 long-term rentals vs 300 on Airbnb
Crippling rent crisis in Killarney.
As revealed in last week’s Killarney Advertiser, we are currently in the midst of a crippling rental crisis the likes of which have never been seen in Killarney. Locals and migrants alike are struggling to find suitable accommodation and there appears to be no solution in sight. Rents nationally are significantly higher than they were at the height of the boom and they continue to climb. In Kerry, this quarter showed an 8.9 percent increase on the same period
last year. Incredibly, there are currently just 13 properties available for rent in the Killarney area on Daft.ie (and some of those listed are miles from the town itself). On Airbnb, meanwhile, there are over 300 listings in Killarney. It is virtually impossible to find somewhere to rent long term in the Killarney area. Worryingly, many local businesses now say that they have jobs available but they can’t attract employees because there’s nowhere to house them.
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Town engineer: No short-term solution to traffic crisis Killarney’s Town Engineer, John Ahern, has stated in no uncertain terms that there is no short-term solution to the town’s crippling traffic problem. The situation at Port Road and Mission Road has been particularly dire but Mr Ahern said the only way of solving that issue was by building an outer link road onto the Muckross Road. “Until that is de-
livered you’re always going to have congestion,” he said. “Anything we do in town in just chipping away at the edges.” During the recession, the government shelved plans for a new Killarney bypass for at least 10-12 years, which means locals and visitors could be set for another decade or more of traffic issues.
John Ahern, Killarney Municipal District Area Engineer.
New apartments to meet “very, very small portion” of town’s housing needs
Six new apartments planned.
A derelict building which has been described as an “eyesore” by locals is to be demolished and replaced with six modern apartment units, it has been confirmed. The site, which is located just inside the entrance to Pinewood estate, has been vacant for a number of years and councillors voted unanimously in favour
of proceeding with the development at a meeting of Killarney Municipal District this week. The site will consist of four 1-bed/2-person units and two 2-bed/4-person units ranging from 49 to 66 square metres. Seven regular parking spaces and one disabled space will be provided. Works are to commence in March 2019.
Katie & Mike are Modelling In Recovery We were delighted to welcome Mike Buckley and Katie Cremin into The Chatroom to talk about a very special upcoming fashion show. Models in Recovery Fashion Show is on in the INEC this coming Wednesday, (September 19) and features 26 models from Killarney and the surrounding areas who are recovering from cancer. Mike and Katie are two of the models and they chatted about the event, told us a
bit about their story and also told the very worthy cause the event will be benefiting: Kerry Hospice. The last time Mike Buckley took to the INEC stage it was to do The Full Monty with the rest of the Dr Crokes 1992 All-Ireland-winning side but this time, Mike tells us, he’ll be keeping the clothes on! You can catch this episode of The Chatroom right now on our website www.killarneyadvertiser.ie or on our Facebook page.
Mike Buckley and Katie Cremin chat to Kieran Healy.
Storm Ali fights its way through Killarney
A branch blocks a lane of traffic on the Cork Road.
It may not have reached the destructive levels of the infamous Ophelia but Storm Ali swept through Killarney this week leaving plenty of fallen branches in its wake. As our pictures show, many local roads were left partially blocked as trees were battered by the storm. One unlucky motorist who parked outside the Golden Gates near the town centre returned to find their back windscreen completely smashed by a fallen branch. Fortunately, no
one was injured in the incident. Elsewhere, Storm Ali caused far more severe destruction. A Swiss woman in Co Galway died after the caravan in which she was sleeping was blown off a cliff, while in Newry, Co Down a man in his 20s was killed after being hit by a tree. The National Ploughing Championships were shut down on Wednesday as the storm brought winds of almost 100km/h to Tullamore.
Chamber slams council over “unacceptable” delays In a surprise move, the businessmen and women of Killarney have penned a hard-hitting letter to voice their dismay at the council’s handling of the town’s lingering traffic crisis. The Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, which represents 200 local businesses, say that delays in implementing a proper traffic management system are “unacceptable”, while also expressing fears that Killarney’s brand will be damaged if the local authority doesn’t take immediate action.
As has been consistently highlighted in the pages of the Killarney Advertiser, heavy traffic congestion has been an issue in the town for years but the situation reached an all-time low this past summer, with many locals insisting that it was the worst they had ever seen. Those sentiments have now been echoed by the Chamber, who describe the current situation as “unprecedented”. They also state that little or no progress has been made on the short-term solutions suggested in the Killarney Traffic Management Plan, which was published in 2016.
Killarney traffic issues continue.
Work begins on Armagh House
A former guesthouse located close to the town centre has been demolished to make way for a new housing development. Armagh House, which used to stand on the main Park Road near McDonald’s, was knocked on Wednesday and a new building with six one-bed apartments will be erected in its place. Armagh House has been knocked to make way for The prominent bungalow had been vacant for a numapartments.
ber of years, much to the consternation of locals who considered it an eyesore on one of the main roads into Killarney. The redevelopment project is being managed by Clúid, a not-for-profit charity which provides affordable homes to people in need. It is believed that homeless people may be housed at the site, which is scheduled for completion in 2020.
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October Roaming deer cause two separate accidents Roaming deer caused two road traffic accidents in Killarney this past week with the motorists involved in both incidents fortunate not to sustain significant injuries. The first collision happened last Saturday morning when a woman from Beaufort hit a deer on her way to work in Killarney. The incident occurred near Liebherr in Fossa. The driver was uninjured but shaken by the accident.
Another similar collision took place on the Cork Road near Minish early Monday morning. The deer was killed in the accident but thankfully the motorist avoided injury. News of the accidents comes just a week after a significant cull of red deer was announced in Killarney National Park. The Department of Culture and Heritage has confirmed that 120 deer have been culled since the start of the year. The shootings were carried out by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff.
Deer causing traffic accidents in Killarney.
Kerry mourns victims of fishing tragedy
Valentia Lifeboat and members of the Irish Coast Guard search for the boat.
The people of Kerry were in a state of shock this past week following a tragic fishing accident which claimed the lives of three men. The bodies of Jurjis Burcves, Anatolijs Teivens and Valerijs Klimentjevs were retrieved from the sea near Coonanna Harbour in Cahersiveen at around 7.30pm on Sunday. It is believed that they had set off from the harbour at 8.20am that morning. The
trio, who were all Latvian nationals, kept a boat at Coonanna and fished on a weekly basis. It is not yet known how the men came into difficulty but investigators believe a freak wave may have caused the small vessel to capsize. All three were wearing a lifejacket. Jurjis Burcves (30), who was married, had resided in Killarney for a number of years and was an employee at KWD Recycling.
Town celebrates €250k lotto win! One lucky lottery winner scooped €250,000 on the Lotto Plus draw on Saturday night. The lucky winner bought the ticket in the popular Eagers Newsagents and Toy Shop. The ticket was sold last Wednesday and owner Pat Duggan is hoping that it was a local person that won. “It’s nice to see one of our customers get a big win for Killarney.
It’s our first big win and we are looking forward to a few more, ” said owner Pat Duggan. The popular news agents is located on High Street and has been with the Lotto since it was first launched. The winning Lotto Plus 2 numbers 3, 6, 19, 21, 35 and 43, bonus number 11. Pictured Bridie Murphy, Elaine O’Connor and Owner Pat Duggan.
40 years of Irish Rallying celebrated in Killarney
Dan O’Leary (3rd from left) was joined by (from l to r) Austin McHale, Rory Kennedy, and Andrew Nesbitt.
Killarney and District Motor Club played host to the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Award Dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel last Saturday night. Each year this prestigious event is rotated between the participating clubs and this year was a special year for both the Killarney & District Motor Club and the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship as they both celebrated their 40th anniversary.
To coincide with honouring the 2018 championship winners, past winners were also honoured. This was a momentous gathering of motorsport greats for whom countless rally fans lined the ditches of Ireland for so many years, providing spectacular memories by demonstrating heroic skills in legendary cars in pursuit of that ultimate prize.
A tribute to my husband John Broderick by Sandra Broderick To everyone who knew and loved my husband John, I am looking for your support to help others who struggle to deal with hopelessness and depression in their everyday lives. After a long battle with depression, I lost the most fantastic husband and father to my beautiful little girl on 28th August last. The week of the 20th October is Pieta House’ charity week and I need your help to raise much deserving funds for such a worthy cause. My little girl Grace and I have set up a tribute page in John’s mem-
ory on the Pieta House website and in the past few weeks it has raised over €14,000. John was a fantastic person who always put everyone else before himself and was such a kind, caring, generous person. In his marathon running days he raised thousands of euros for the Irish Cancer Society. He also made regular trips to Cork to the Irish Blood Transfusion Services clinic to donate blood platelets which are life-saving for newborn babies, cancer treatment and bone marrow transplants.
The late Jogn Broderick pictured with wife Sandra and daughter Grace.
Staggering sculpture unveiled and lit up
A wonderfully creative sculpture of a red stag leaping into the air has been officially unveiled at the busy Port Road-New Road junction. Talented tree sculptor Will Fogarty from Ballyhoura, Co. Limerick was commissioned to create the piece. The sculpture has already won the hearts of locals, Noel Grimes (Killarney Deer Society), Master Tree Carver many of whom have been left in awe at the attention Will Fogarty (Fear na Coillte) and Mayor John Sheahan un- to detail and level of skill required to carry out such veil the new sculpture.
a task. The feat is made all the more remarkable when one considers that the sculpture was carved entirely from an existing tree which had been dying for the past decade or so. The rotting Spanish chestnut tree had Phytophthora ink disease and the council decided to have it removed. Town Engineer John Ahern intervened, however, and suggested making it into a sculpture.
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November Over €30k raised in John’s memory Family, friends and well-wishers gathered in the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Saturday for a coffee morning in memory of the late John Broderick. Popular Killarney man John, who tragically took his own life earlier this year, was fondly remembered at the event while much-needed funds were also raised for suicide prevention charity Pieta House. Over €10,300 was raised at the coffee morning and a
further €7,000 was collected at a similar event at Fexco in Killorglin, the workplace of John’s wife, Sandra. When online donations and cheques are taken into account, a phenomenal €32,600 has been raised for John’s Pieta House tribute page in just seven weeks. Saturday’s gathering was made all the more poignant by the fact that John and Sandra celebrated their wedding at the same venue just six short years ago.
John’s father Denis, his wife Sandra, his mother Joan and his daughter Grace Broderick with Dr Crokes footballers Fionn Fitzgerald, Johnny Buckley and Daithí Casey.
Killarney boys storm the internet with Irish music video
Students video goes viral.
Young Killarney students have made the Irish language cool again - as their music video stormed across the internet this week – with almost 350,000 views. The boys, Transition Year students from St Brendan’s College Killarney - The Sem, were amazed at the hugely positive reaction – as their version of British Grime artist Stormzy’s ‘Shut Up’ went viral. Filmed at the school just before the midterm break
- the boys took on the style of Stormzy’s own video – which received 81 million views on YouTube earlier this year. The rapper also won Best Grime Act at the 2014 and 2015 MOBO Awards and was named as an artist to look out for in the BBC’s influential Sound of 2015 list. Now all they’re hoping for is that the top music rapper will see it and get in touch, music teacher Niamh O’Connell explained.
Official opening of new Kerry Central Regional Water Treatment Plant One of the largest water treatment plants in the country - a €30 million water treatment plant in Lough Guitane - was officially opened on Monday. The new facility will ensure safe drinking water for half the Kerry population, including Killarney, Tralee, Castleisland and Castlemaine, as well as 1.2m tourists to the county. The new Kerry Central Regional Water Treatment Plant, which provides 51 million litres of water a day,
has a hydroelectric power turbine for the intake of water, state-of-the-art water filtration, disinfection, chlorination and fluoridation capability; as well as capacity to store 15 million litres of treated water - the equivalent of six Olympic sized swimming pools. As a result of the upgrade and investment by Irish Water, it was confirmed last week the Kerry Central Regional Water Supply Scheme has been removed from EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) or ‘at risk’ water supplies.
Minister Brendan Griffin and Mayor of Kerry Norma Foley at official opening of new water treatment plant.
Joshua plans a second record breaking climb
Joshua Davison pictured with his mother Lyndsey.
A little six-year-old Killarney boy - who is believed to have set a world record for climbing North Africa’s highest mountain - now plans to climb Kilimanjaro next year! Joshua Davison (6) from Countess Road, scaled the 4,000 metre climb of Mount Toubkal in Morocco, with his mom Lyndsey Clarke and her partner Lucky Flynn, on November 9.
And he’s believed to be the youngest child ever to complete the summit. “He is really a natural,” his mom Lyndsey, an avid climber, told the Killarney Advertiser. “It’s a really good achievement and he loved it. We just said we’d see how it went - but he surprised us. He’s very fast - a speedy little fella and he loved the experience. He’s really keen to do more and has his sights set on Kilimanjaro next year.”
Killarney legend Weeshie laid to rest Prominent figures from the world of sports, media and politics joined mourners in Killarney on Wednesday morning to say a poignant farewell to one of the town’s favourite sons. The name of legendary broadcaster Weeshie Fogarty was synonymous with the town of Killarney and his death on Sunday has left a dark cloud over the town and its citizens. Hundreds of people converged on O’Shea’s Funeral Home to pay their respects on Tues-
day evening and hundreds more flocked to the church for the Funeral Mass on Wednesday morning. When Kerry won the All-Ireland in 1997, an emotional Weeshie famously said the scenes in Croke Park were so beautiful that it was “like standing in Aghadoe and looking out on the lakes of Killarney”. It was only fitting, therefore, that he was ultimately laid to rest in Aghadoe Cemetery where his headstone overlooks the town and the lakes he loved so well.
Fr Niall Howard and fellow priests pictured at the funeral Mass of GAA broadcaster Weeshie Fogarty.
Late Late Toy Show “a dream come true” for Killarney boy It’s probably one of the most watched TV programmes of the year – and one local boy is set to appear Friday - on the Late Late Toy Show. 11-year-old Micheal O’Brien, who is visually impaired, is excited that he will be part of a seven minute book review segment on the hit RTE One show. The youngster, son of Michael and Noreen from Michael O’Brien and pupils at St Oliver’s National Woodside, has dreamed of being on the show since school.
he was in Junior Infants – and said this week that “it’s a dream come true”. He told the Killarney Advertiser that he isn’t nervous but “was gobsmacked” when he got the call asking him to appear alongside presenter Ryan Tubridy. Staff at St Oliver’s School, where Michael is a fourth class pupil, applied for the youngster to take part in what is the biggest Irish television show of the year.
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December Wheelchair users say more needs to be done for greater accessibility Although they welcomed the launch of a new strategy aimed at making Killarney a leading accessible tourism destination - they say a lot of work still needs to be done. Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, two wheelchair users who have both resided in Kerry Cheshire Home on St Margaret’s Road for over 20 years, acknowl-
edged that progress has been made but insisted that the situation in Killarney is far from ideal. “I’m not knocking Killarney or the services here, we’re getting better,” Aileen O’Sullivan, who has been in Killarney for 23 years, said. “But we’ve a very long way to go yet.
Wheelchair users Bridget O’Gorman, Aileen O’Sullivan and Bernard James with Séamus O’Sullivan, Mary O’Shea (Secretary of Killarney Access Group) and Breda Dwyer (Chairperson).
Killarney company secures rights to Sean Penn film
Mad Hannans is a film by acclaimed producer Martin Shore.
There was big news for Killarney media company OC Productions this week as they secured the international distribution rights for the award-winning film ‘Mad Hannans’. OC will team up with Tralee’s Brian Hurley of Big Handsome Media for the venture, which will see the critically-acclaimed movie appear on television and online broadcasters, as well as at the European Content Markets.
It has been a notable year for director and OC Productions founder Damian O’Callaghan; his highly anticipated film ‘Tradition’, which was shot entirely in the Killarney area, premiered at the Kerry Film Festival in October. The premiere, which was held at Cinema Killarney, was attended by renowned young Irish actors Barry Keoghan, and Saoirse Ronan, whose father Paul appeared in the film.
Dermot to retire after 40 years at Killarney Autos Radio personality and country music legend Dermot Moriarty has announced that he will be retiring from his job at Killarney Autos after 40 years of service. Friday, December 14 will be a poignant day at Killarney Autos as Dermot will officially retire. Dermot has been an integral member of the sales department at the popular car dealership for four decades, having first joined team on April 24, 1978.
“I’ve had many great years at Killarney Autos,” he said. “There are some people who have been buying cars off me for 30 years and have never bought off anyone else. I’ve enjoyed every single bit of it and I’ve met wonderful people along the way. “Billy Daly and his brother Jimmy, their father the late Senator Jackie Daly, and Michael O’Shea, who was an accountant here when I came in; those people were so good to me when I was starting off here.
Killarney garda wins national award for road safety initiative Sergeant Dermot O’Connell accepts the Emergency Services Award from RSA Chairperson Liz O’Donnell.
A sergeant at Killarney Garda Station was this week honoured with a national award for his dedication to road safety. On Wednesday, Sergeant Dermot O’Connell, sergeant-in-charge at the station, received the accolade from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) for his fun and interactive road safety campaign ‘Operation
Páistí’, developed to make it easier for parents and children to understand the safest way to restrain children in cars. The award was presented to Sergeant O’Connell by RSA Chairperson Liz O’Donnell at the 11th annual ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards at Croke Park.
Killarney woman stunned to receive medal from Pope Francis A Killarney woman is still getting over the shock of being bestowed with one of the highest honours of the Catholic Church – a medal from the Pope. 77-year-old Bridie Cronin from Woodlawn was left stunned when presented with the Benemerenti medal - an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for dedicated service to the Catholic Church.
Bridie, a retired school teacher who spent 27 years in St Oliver’s NS, implemented the first Safeguarding Children policies to the Diocese of Kerry, helping every parish train and draw up their own safe practices when working with children. She was also instrumental in compiling the ‘Diocese of Kerry Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church’, which was sent out to 53 parishes in Kerry.
Bridie Cronin from Woodlawn, Killarney has been honoured by the Pope.
Rena creates Killarney’s 45th Christmas crib
For 45 years one Killarney woman has been the inspiration behind a much-loved popular local attraction – St Mary’s Cathedral Christmas crib. Local children and adults alike are intrigued by the now local annual tradition -and they have one woman in particular to thank – Rena Kennelly. And this week, Rena told the Killarney Advertiser the reBishop of Kerry Dr Ray Browne blessing the traditional markable history of the town’s favourite nativity scene. crib at St Mary’s Cathedral Killarney.
“I remember Fr O’Keeffe was below in 1974 and I asked him if he had a crib,” Rena said. “He said, ‘Oh, we have of course’ - but all they had was an altar with tiny little archways, and they had a donkey and Mary and Joseph with a red light in front. So, I said I’d make one. “I made the figures out of plaster and they were there for a good few years. Then Fr Gearóid Walsh came and he said he’d buy proper figures for it.”