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Killarney pitches its efforts into Rugby World Cup challenge

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A PACKED attendance gathered to hear IRFU official Olly Hodges outline Ireland’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup at a briefing in Killarney last Tuesday evening.

And Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium is among Ireland’s top contenders, or would rank at present at around number seven of the twelve venues shortlisted to host matches if Ireland was selected to host the event.

The open business meeting, organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, saw Mr Hodges, who is the bid manager for the Rugby World Cup in 2023, detail the current status of the bid and what inclusion as a venue could mean for Killarney, including the enormous publicity and marketing opportunities it would guarantee.

Mr Hodges has been working closely on the project with the Chamber as well as Kerry County Council, the Kerry County Board and the Fitzgerald Stadium Committee.
There is no room for complacency, the gathering heard, with Ireland facing stiff competition from the other contenders, South Africa and France – both of which have previously held Rugby World Cup and other global sporting events.

There are currently 12 potential Irish venues, and if Ireland is successful, then the number of towns may be reduced to between 8 and 10, according to Mr Hodges.

Mr Hodges added that Fitzgerald Stadium would potentially rank among the top nine Irish venues which would mean up to five matches being played in Fitzgerald Stadium with a capacity crowd of 35,000 fans at each game. “The challenge for Killarney is to dispel the perception that it is too small, that a town of just 14,000 people can’t host four matches at 35,000 capacity,” he said.


Above: Tom O'Leary, Kerry GAA, Conor Hennigan, Project Co-Ordinator, Paul O'Neill, President, Killarey Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Olly Hodges, IRFU, bid manager, and Charlie O'Sullivan, Kerry County Council. PICTURE: DON MACMONAGLE

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Centenary exhibition to chart early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry

. The exhibition, which runs from March 10 to March 31, explores the foundational years of the political party within the county between 1926 and 1933. The exhibition details how […]

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The exhibition, which runs from March 10 to March 31, explores the foundational years of the political party within the county between 1926 and 1933.

The exhibition details how the party established itself in a county where Civil War divisions were particularly deep-seated. It covers the transition of local figures from revolutionary activities to parliamentary politics and the intense election battles of the late 1920s. Visitors will be able to view documents and archives that illustrate how the party built its organisation across South Kerry in its first decade.

As part of the event, local historian and author Dr. Owen O’Shea will give a public lecture at the library on Thursday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. His talk will focus on the foundation of the party and the “bullets to ballots” transition in Kerry politics. The exhibition is free to attend and will be open during the library’s scheduled operating hours throughout the month of March.
The project is the result of extensive research funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The grant was awarded under the Commemorations Bursary Scheme for 2025-2026 and managed by the Royal Irish Academy. This scheme supports local research that helps the public better understand the political and social evolution of Ireland following the Civil War.

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St Brendan’s College travel to London

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5th year students from St Brendan’s College went to London on their English school trip.

They enjoyed a production of ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Prince of Wales theatre.

The following morning was spent touring Tate Modern before attending a tour and a brilliant interactive workshop in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre focusing on their Leaving Certificate single text “Othello”.

The focus of the workshop centred on the performative elements of the play in relation to themes and character development. 

All students performed with great theatrical verve. 

A brilliant experience for all before attending an acclaimed production of the play in the Theatre Royal.

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