News
History comes full circle in Killarney
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A KEY part of the historically and culturally significant Yeats Family Collection has found its way to Killarney thanks to KC Print.
It has been a case of from one family-owned printing company to another as KC Print, sister company of Killarney Advertiser, took delivery on Tuesday of a sought-after lot of printing blocks that went under the hammer at Sotheby’s, London, last month along with the rest of the collection.
A century-old box landed at the Upper Lissivigeen offices, full to the brim with 30 printing blocks, including The Circus by Jack B Yeats, a metal-plate printing block on wood. The printing blocks cover a wide range of dates from 1919.
They originated at a private family-owned business, Cuala Press, which was set up in 1908 by Elizabeth Yeats and her brother, the poet William Butler Yeats.
Established almost a century later, KC Print is another young printing company so the printing blocks could not have found a better home. “It is wonderful to have these items back in Ireland and we are very proud of their retention in their home country,” said KC Print founder and managing director Cormac Casey.
KC Print’s financial controller Patrick Rowe said: “When I first heard about the auction of the Yeats family Collection I had a look through the online catalogue, more out of curiosity than anything else. I eventually came across Lot 200 (the collection of printing blocks from Jack B Yeats and Cuala Press) and we decided that KC Print would be the perfect home. After registering on the Sotheby's site I was able to access live video and audio streaming of their London auction rooms. I had never bid in an auction before and so was slightly unnerved by the knowledge that each mouse-click represented dramatic increments! Fortunately the other bidder dropped out before I reached our upper-limit and the printing blocks were ours.”
A keen historian, KC Print’s creative director Damien Switzer has already been busy curating the treasure trove which includes blocks by other artists as well as Jack B Yeats. Damien said: “Since their arrival I have discovered some of the pieces are blocks from other very accomplished artists…. to be revealed soon!”
Meanwhile, Killarney will also be welcoming home another part of the collection, as a portrait by John Butler Yeats returns to Muckross House after 145 years. This painting was acquired by the State at the same auction.
Above: Pictured at KC Print after opening the box of printing blocks from the Yeats Family Collection are Damien Switzer, Evan Casey, Noelle Casey and Patrick Rowe.
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers join national campaign to cut PRSI and safeguard local jobs
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
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