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Hard-working Triona shortlisted for practice nurse of the year
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There was cause for celebration at Killarney Medical Centre recently as the work of a dedicated and talented nurse was recognised at national level. Popular practice nurse Triona Casey, who hails from Kilcummin, has been shortlisted for Practice Nurse Of The Year at the prestigious GPBuddy National GP Awards which take place in Dublin next Friday.
The GPBuddy National GP Awards honour the tireless efforts of those working on the ground to improve the lives of patients all over the country. The awards, which are now in their third year, were introduced to acknowledge general practitioners and healthcare professionals for their dedication, commitment and innovative contributions to community-based healthcare in Ireland.
Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, Dr Michael Moloney of Killarney Medical Centre said Triona would be a very worthy recipient of the Practice Nurse of the Year Award. “We’re delighted and very proud that Triona is one of the three to be shortlisted, but we’re not at all surprised,” he said. “She’s a hard-worker, she’s enthusiastic and she’s extremely well qualified. She’s very well respected amongst all the staff, her peers and, most importantly, her patients.
“She has her own independent patient base and she’s qualified in many areas of medicine including chronic disease management, as well as this Triona has recently finished her nurse prescribing training which allows her to prescribe for her patients. It’s a great achievement to be considered for such a major award.”
Triona recieved her degree in Galway before spending seven years in Tralee General. She joined the team at Killarney Medical Centre in 2014 and she has been a practice nurse for 14 years in total.
“It’s a nice to be appreciated and to have the backing of your employers,” Triona said. “My role has been expanding and to have the encouragement of Dr Moloney and Dr O’Doherty is huge. I love my job so coming into work is very easy. It’s like a family here and everyone helps each other. It’s a very up-and-coming practice."
Triona is clearly passionate about her job and she explained that her interest in medicine initially came from caring for a family member.
“I got into nursing when my aunt’s little boy was diagnosed with cancer. We used to help her in the house when he was sick and that was my first taste of looking after people. There’s nothing else I’d do, to be honest. I love looking after people and if there’s something I can do to make someone’s day a bit easier, that’s the reward for me.”
The GPBuddy National GP Awards take place next Friday in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Triona will be joined at the ceremony by her husband Damien with whom she has three children, Ben, Robbie and Nessa. Her mother, Mary, will also be in attendance, as will Damien’s mom, extended family and colleagues from Killarney Medical Centre.
Killarney hotels achieve top global rankings in Readers’ Choice Awards
Two leading Killarney hotels are celebrating major international accolades following the publication of the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Killarney Royal Townhouse was named the No. 2 Hotel in Ireland in the US edition of the global awards, securing top placement among the country’s finest properties based entirely on votes cast by international travellers.
Pat McGrath, General Manager of Killarney Royal Townhouse, expressed his pride in the achievement:
“We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as the No. 2 Hotel in Ireland in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. To receive this recognition directly from travellers makes it particularly special, and we are immensely proud of our team, whose genuine care, warm welcome and attention to detail shape the guest experience every day.”
Meanwhile, sister property The Killarney Park achieved a double success in this year’s voting, earning inclusion across both Atlantic editions of the prestigious travel guide. The family-owned venue was ranked No. 8 in the US Readers’ Choice Awards and No. 5 in the UK Readers’ Choice Awards.
The annual awards represent one of the travel industry’s longest-running honors, with almost 800,000 readers submitting votes to rate their favorite global travel experiences.
Marcus Treacy, Managing Director of The Killarney Park, welcomed the dual honors:
“Recognition such as this means a great deal to us because it comes directly from the people who have spent their time with us. As a family-owned hotel, knowing that what we have created here in Killarney continues to resonate with guests travelling from around the world is something we are enormously proud of.”
The strong showing by both local venues underlines Killarney’s standing as a world-class hospitality hub for international visitors.
Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s
World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.
The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.
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