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Mindful Teens at Killarney Community College
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Last Tuesday, the Transition Year students at Killarney Community College participated in a Mindful Teens workshop with Psychotherapist Harriet McGuigan. She worked with the TY students showing them new ways that they could support themselves to help keep some balance in their lives. Teenagers nowadays need support – sometimes they are distracting themselves through substance misuse, cyber bullying, online pornography, online gambling or self-harm to name but a few. Oftentimes they are doing this because they are trying to cope in their world and manage their lives.
Inspired by the Maya Angelou quote, “When we know better, we can do better,” Harriet created and runs the Mindful Teens Programme to inspire and plant a seed in the teenagers she comes into contact with. During the day they listened and often related to Harriet’s story, they worked in small groups and they got to practice and try out the art of different meditations. The group then chatted together about the challenges and what they enjoyed about taking some time out in a more supportive way. According to Harriet: “A lot of the teens opened up pretty quickly, sharing their concerns and challenges as teenagers growing up in Kerry. Hot topics discussed were: support in relation to safe use of social media, maintaining relationships and how to manage anxiety.”
“It was a great start to our TY school term,” said TY co-ordinator Kerri McCarth. “By introducing mindfulness to our students it equips them with strategies to deal with stressful situations. Nowadays students lead such busy lives and sometimes they nearly forget to breathe so by taking the time to meditate proved very worthwhile for them.”
Some of the teens had never meditated before Tuesday and were shocked to have successfully done so for 25 minutes. Some begged Harriet for more… One girl reported that the things she had been anxious about previously had completely disappeared.
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.
Killarney hotels achieve top global rankings in Readers’ Choice Awards
Killarney hotels achieve top global rankings in Readers’ Choice Awards Two leading Killarney hotels are celebrating major international accolades following...
Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s
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