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Killarney students enjoy Barcelona trip

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TRIP ABROAD: Killarney Community College senior students visited the famous Sagrada Familia Church in Gaudis as part of their school tour to Barcelona.

 

By Rebecca O’Callaghan

 

Students and teachers took a break from the Killarney rain and cloudy skies – and instead opted for a trip to sunny Barcelona.

35 students and four teachers from Killarney Community College flew from Shannon last week for four days of culture and of course sunshine!

The group, who were greeted with blues skies, sunshine and a temperature of 23 degrees, headed straight to Porto Ventura, where they rode rollercoasters, had fun and made memories.

When they weren’t sleeping, they were out and about having fun taking in sightseeing trips, bike tours, Nou Camp and even an impromptu swim in the Mediterranean sea.

 

With the Catalan protests going on one would think they would stay in the hotel all day on the Monday, but in fact it seemed they managed to do even more, explained teacher Brian O’Reilly.

“After deciding not to get involved in the Catalan protests we got a spectacular cable car ride to the top of Montserrat where we ambled around the monastery and enjoyed breathtaking views that would almost rival Ladies View,” he said.

“Afterwards it was off Gaudi's Park Guell and we managed to spend time at the world famous Sagrada Familia Church. It truly was an awesome sight. Two hours of retail therapy later and we headed back to the hotel to pack, go bowling and somehow managed to dance the evening away at the hotel disco.”

They finished off their tour with two hours at a high ropes park filled with obstacles and zip wires. Their bus trip from Shannon to Killarney was said to be the quietest journey where they reflected on all the fun they had and all the things they learnt, he added.

“Our students’ behaviour and attitude towards a different culture, history, language and city was a credit to the school and their parents. Their enthusiasm and good humour was infectious and made our lives very easy.”

 

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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