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KDYS aim for second quality youth centre award

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AWARD RENEWAL: Gordana Berjan (Executive Director of the European Youth Centre Budapest and the Council of Europe Quality Label Programme) pictured with Killarney Municipal District Mayor Cllr Michael Gleeson at the KDYS eurÓg Centre, Killarney on Tuesday. Also in photo from left are: Fr Ger Godley, Kevin Murphy (KDYS), Tim O'Donoghue (KDYS), Gemma O'Brien (KDYS) and Rose O'Connor, (KDYS). Photo: Don MacMonagle

 

On Tuesday KDYS eurÓg Centre, Killarney hosted the Council of Europe as part of a formal assessment for the awarding of the COE Quality Label for Youth Centres.

 

Gordana Berjan, Executive Director of the European Youth Centre Budapest and the Council of Europe Quality Label programme, was in Kerry to represent their expert team.

 

Killarney Municipal District Mayor, Cllr Michael Gleeson, was on hand to formally welcome the Council of Europe to Killarney.

 

The eurÓg Centre is seeking renewal of this award after becoming the only Centre in Ireland to achieve this status three years ago. If successful, KDYS will hold the Quality Label for a further five years.

 

The Centre has just completed the development of an onsite accommodation facility with a capacity to host groups of up to 49 people. This will enhance the expansion of the programme offerings which have Human Right Education at their foundation and support ongoing engagement with COE to enhance learning and development opportunities for both young people and youth workers.

 

These new programmes have already seen groups of Kerry young people travel to various parts of Europe exploring very relevant issues with their peers from different countries. One such example is the Kerry Comhairle Na nÓg group under Kerry County Council coordinated by KDYS. A delegation attended the European Youth Event in Strasbourg earlier this year. They presented their learning from this event to Kerry County Council members at KDYS eurÓg on Tuesday.

 

In addition, the Kerry Comhairle group recently completed a survey on facilities for young people in Kerry, and the group also presented their findings at the event.

“This is a very appropriate moment for this survey to be unveiled as the Council of Europe were present to give an input into the role of Youth Centres in Europe,” Tim O’Donoghue, KDYS eurÓg Director, said.

Kerry County Councillors and officials were present to hear and give their feedback also.

 

The assessment of eurÓg took place from Monday, October 28 through to Wednesday 30.

“The Kerry Comhairle Na nÓg event featured prominently as part of this process. Most importantly young people from all over Kerry had the opportunity to engage with Kerry County Council, the Council of Europe and KDYS to have their views heard and to directly receive a response in relation to what actions are in place to support Kerry’s youth.”

 

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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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