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New Kerry Mayor says position will be “all-inclusive and wide reaching”

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NEW MAYOR: Cllr Niall Kelleher this week spoke to the Killarney Advertiser and said that he's honoured to be elected Mayor of Kerry. Photo: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus

 

By Michelle Crean

Killarney Councillor Niall Kelleher this week said that it’s a huge honour to have been elected Mayor of Kerry.

The 33-year-old, who lives in Headford was elected as Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, just weeks into his second term as an elected representative for Fianna Fail.

He is the 64th person to occupy the chairperson’s role since the Council was established in 1899 and says over the next 12 months’ he plans to not only focus on countywide issues but prioritise Killarney’s biggest problems including parking and traffic, business rates amongst others.

On being elected as Mayor, he said it’s “a great honour”.

“It’s something a lot of people don’t get in a lifetime,” Cllr Kelleher told the Killarney Advertiser this week. “In politics, you can be lucky, but you also get what you put into it. I intend to leave my own footprint on the role of Mayor of Kerry.”

Speaking about the local election and the results he received he said he was very proud.

“Personally, I’m exceptionally proud of my result.”

As Mayor of Kerry, he plans to focus on many things, including Greenways, business rates, which he says are draconian, and employment.

However, particularly in the Killarney area, he says he will focus on parking and traffic issues in the town, Aras Padraig car park, and said decisions need to made regarding the Pretty Polly site.

“One of the biggest things I want to see completed in the short term is Lewis Road Junction,” he said.

“The Mission Road and Muckross Road traffic needs to be prioritised and we need our new outer relief road. This is something that has to be an objective of this Council term. There’s a plan there already. There’s no excuse in coming up with the route and getting it from national Government to get it built.”

A new roundabout at Deerpark also needs to be achieved during the lifetime of this Government, he added.

“With Pretty Polly, I believe there’s six expressions of interest into it. There needs to be decisions made. We have to be daring to take challenges.”

The Rathmore native said that he will also be focusing on his home village particularly it’s redevelopment.

“That’s something I’m looking forward to seeing in the next few months,” Kelleher, who has been Chairman of the Kerry Joint Policing Committee and Chairman of the Local Community Development Committee, said.

The father of three, who is married to Linda, thanked the people of Killarney for their support. “I thank the people of the Killarney Electoral Area who supported me in such great numbers on May 24 which puts me in this position.”

 

 

 

 

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Killarney Coffee Shop ranked among Europe’s best

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Killarney Coffee Shop ranked among Europe’s best


Boardwalk Coffee Killarney secures 48th place in prestigious European awards


There is great excitement in Killarney this week as Boardwalk Coffee Killarney has officially been ranked 48th Best Coffee Shop in Europe for 2026, following the prestigious Europe’s 100 Best Coffee Shops Gala held in Brussels.
In a competition where over 5,300 coffee shops across Europe were evaluated, the Killarney outlet secured an outstanding place among the continent’s elite, putting both Killarney and Kerry firmly on the international coffee map.
The achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that Boardwalk Coffee Killarney is the only coffee shop in Munster to make the Top 100 list and is one of only nine coffee shops in Ireland to be recognised.
Adding to the success story, the Killarney branch only opened its doors in April 2025, making this international recognition all the more extraordinary in such a short space of time.
At the centre of the achievement is Jason Murphy, manager of the Killarney branch, who was recently named among the Top 12 Baristas in Ireland — recognition of his skill, dedication and passion for the craft.
Jason’s leadership, together with the strength of the wider Boardwalk Coffee team, has played a major role in securing the prestigious European ranking.
Located in the heart of Killarney, one of Ireland’s leading tourist destinations, Boardwalk Coffee has quickly built a strong reputation for premium coffee, excellent service and a warm welcome for both locals and visitors alike.
Speaking after the announcement in Brussels, Boardwalk Coffee founder Ger Flanagan praised the Killarney team for their commitment and professionalism.
He paid special tribute to Jason Murphy and Vadym Zvarch, Head Roaster at Boardwalk Coffee, for helping build the brand’s growing reputation for quality.
The achievement has also been warmly welcomed by civic leaders, with Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, describing it as a major Irish success story and congratulating the entire team.
To be ranked 48th in Europe, and to be the only Munster coffee shop to achieve the honour, is a major milestone not only for Boardwalk Coffee, but for Killarney, Kerry and Irish hospitality.
It is another strong example of how Irish independent coffee culture continues to gain recognition on the world stage.

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Ardshanavooley residents attend Community Text Alerts information evening

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Residents of Ardshanavooley and members of An Garda Síochána gathered at the Killarney Pastoral Centre on Rock Road recently for a community information evening to launch a new Community Text Alerts initiative.

The event focused on encouraging local people to get involved in making their area a safer place to live, work and visit.

The programme aims to strengthen links between residents and Gardaí by sharing important safety information and alerts quickly within the community.

During the evening, attendees heard practical advice on crime prevention, including home security, protecting vehicles and property, and raising awareness around scams and fraud.

Information was also provided on how the programme works, the benefits for residents, and the importance of neighbours working together.

Attendees were given the opportunity to register their interest, sign up to the system and volunteer for future community safety initiatives.

Cllr Martin Grady welcomed the new programme and said he was delighted to see it being rolled out, with hopes that it will now expand to other areas.


“The initiative would be particularly beneficial for those who are not active on social media, ensuring that nobody is left out when important community information is being shared,” Cllr Grady said.

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