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NCTs to resume in Killarney – but taxis still in limbo

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NCT CRISIS: Local taxi driver David O'Sullivan had to travel to Skibbereen to renew his NCT. Photo by Sean Moriarty

 

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By Sean Moriarty

Taxi drivers in Killarney have been forced travel as far as Skibbereen in West Cork to ensure their National Car Test (NCT) is in order.

Last week the NCT service announced that it was suspending the underbody inspection of cars due to a fault with the lift that it is used for such inspections.

The Killarney NCT centre was one of 47 centres nationwide that was effected by the issue.

Taxi drivers, especially those who need to renew their public carriage licence, must have a full and valid test certificate. The partial cert currently offered by NCT centres will not be accepted by the National Transport Authority, the Government agency that manages taxi regulations – meaning without a valid NCT – they’ll be off the road.

Private motorists were advised to present their cars as per their scheduled appointment and that every part of the test except the underbody section would be completed. Once the situation is resolved drivers can return to an NCT centre and complete the test.

While it is illegal to drive an unroadworthy car, Killarney Gardai said they would take a “common sense approach” to motorists who did not have the correct cert as a result of the lift issues.

Some NCT centres have reopened fully since last week’s controversy – Killarney’s test centre will recommence underbody testing “within the next week” according to a statement issued by the Road Safety Authority of Ireland.

The Skibbereen test centre was one of the first to offer full tests since last week’s nationwide lift failures.

“Seven or eight of us had to go to Skibbereen,” Killarney-based taxi driver David O’Sullivan told the Killarney Advertiser. “It’s four or five hours round trip so it is half a day’s wages but these things happen, our cars suffer wear and tear and these lifts are up and down every day too.”

 

 

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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