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Up to 200 job losses at Kerry companies

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By Michelle Crean

Up to 200 jobs have become the victim of COVID-19 fallout with job losses in Killarney, Killorglin and further afield in the county.

News was announced this week that 87 jobs are to go in Jam Café, which has an outlet in Old Market Lane in the town, Kenmare and Cork, while Killorglin company FEXCO is to cut its workforce in Ireland by at least 150 people, with many of the job losses believed to be hit locally.

​​​​​​​It’s understood that staff are also being asked to take a 15 percent cut under a voluntary redundancy scheme by the foreign exchange and global finance company.

Kerry Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Cahill this week expressed his deep disappointment and sadness for FEXCO and its employees following the announcement.

“Employment in FEXCO Killorglin is the life blood of the economy of all of Mid-Kerry and beyond,” he said.

“Families up and down this county are depending on receiving their income from FEXCO and this news will come as a hammer blow. Where I live, everybody knows somebody who works there and many, including myself, have relatives employed there.”
He added that the McCarthy family have been fantastic employers for many years and their loyalty to the area has been unwavering.

“Their contribution to the local economy is unparalleled and I know they will continue in a similar fashion for many years to come, but for now, this is more bad news for this area already devastated by the close down of our Tourism Industry through restrictions necessary because of COVID-19. Hopefully, FEXCO can offer an acceptable redundancy package that will suit enough employees to fill this unwelcome quota. It is more important than ever now, that the IDA and Enterprise Ireland concentrate efforts on creating employment in Mid and South Kerry so that our young people may have a future where they were born and reared.”

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Musical Society announces ‘Sister Act’ as 2027 production

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Killarney Musical Society has announced that its 2027 musical production will be the comedy Sister Act.

The show will run at the Gleneagle Arena from Tuesday, March 2nd to Thursday, March 4th, 2027.

Based on the film, the musical tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer placed in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a crime. While there, she helps transform the parish choir.


Society Chairperson Derek O’Leary expressed excitement about the selection. “It is a show that combines humour, heart, spectacular music and an inspiring story, making it a perfect fit for Killarney Musical Society and our audiences,”

O’Leary said. He also confirmed that award-winning director Oliver Hurley and musical director Jimmy Brockie will return for the production.


The society, which draws performers, musicians, and backstage volunteers from across Kerry and neighbouring counties, will release details regarding auditions and production updates in the coming months.

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Killarney retains top ten position in national litter rankings

Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The […]

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Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The town was officially deemed to be ‘Cleaner than European Norms’.

The accompanying report by An Taisce praised Killarney for delivering a solid performance, noting that there were no heavily littered sites found within the town boundaries.
Several local areas received top marks for maintenance and presentation. Main Street was highlighted as exceptionally well-presented, while Park Road, Muckross Road, and the Knockreer Playground and environs were also singled out for praise. The report noted that the playground area was in very good order across all elements.
However, the inspectors did highlight some areas for improvement. The JYSK site showed slight progress compared to the previous survey but remained classified as moderately littered. The report warned that care must be taken to prevent the location from deteriorating further.
On a national level, IBAL representative Conor Horgan noted that entering the peak tourist season, the country has fewer littered areas than at any time in the past 25 years.
Despite the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the survey highlighted a national rise in specific waste items. Plastic bottles were found in 19% of all surveyed sites across the country, and drinks cans were present in 22%. The prevalence of coffee cups also reached its highest level since 2023, alongside an increase in cigarette butt litter.

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