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New tour to explore Kerry druids, folklore and mythological figures

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FOLK TOURS: Author Luke Eastwood is behind a new tour that explores sites linked with Kerry folklore.

 

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By Sean Moriarty

A new weekly coach tour that will explore mythological locations in Kerry will start in Killarney this coming Friday.

The tour, based on a book called ‘Kerry Folk Tales’ by Dingle-based author, Luke Eastwood, will visit locations like Scotia’s Grave and Dún an Óir, sites fully connected with Kerry folklore but rarely visited by traditional coach tours.

The tour, which departs from Killarney Tourist Office every Friday from March until late autumn will visit places like Ross Castle and the Lakes of Killarney before heading west.

“There is a story of a hidden village, like the Atlantis of Ireland beneath the lakes,” Luke told the Killarney Advertiser. “There is a well at the bottom of the lakes, it’s a love story-tragedy of sorts, about a maiden who was so besotted with a visiting warrior she forgot to put the cover on the well and flooded the whole place and that is where the lakes came from.”

The tour ventures west to Scotia’s Grave near Tralee, the final reputed resting place of a daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh. The tour also visits Dún an Óir, the site of battle between British Crown forces and an army of Irish, Spanish and Italian Catholics in 1580 and Rathinanne Castle, a stone tower built in the 15th or 16th century but the site also includes a ringfort dating from the seventh century.

The trip also includes a meet and greet with author Eastwood and a free copy of the book.

Bookings can be made via: www.kerryfolktours.com.

 

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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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