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Trail of destruction is “extremely distressing” – Chamber President

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5 years ago

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Anybody with information that may help identify what or who caused the fire in Killarney National Park is being urged to report the matter to the authorities immediately.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President, Niall Kelleher, made the appeal this afternoon saying that the "appalling scenes" in Killarney National Park over the weekend have left "a dreadful trail of destruction" and has caused "real upset in Killarney".
"First-hand reports from those involved in fighting the fires, and photographic coverage and video footage showing large sections of our iconic Killarney park ablaze, have been difficult to digest and the whole episode is extremely distressing," he said.
"Killarney National Park is the jewel in Ireland’s tourism crown and the impact the fires have had, causing extensive damage to approximately one third of the park, scorching the land and decimating wildlife, including rare and important habitats and species, has been met with shock and dismay by everybody."
Overall, it is estimated that several thousand acres of the park was burned and it is impossible for anybody that loves Killarney National Park to try to come to terms with such sheer and utter ecological wreckage, he added.
"A number of ancient woodlands were severely damaged and will take a long number of years to recover but at least the magnificent wood at Tomies was protected, thanks to the phenomenal efforts of the emergency service and volunteers. In addition to putting our park and adjoining properties and households at risk, the fires also placed a huge and unnecessary burden on the emergency services who have been the true heroes throughout a very long and difficult weekend. No words of mine can adequately sum up the bravery and dedication of the Kerry Fire Service, the National Parks and Wildlife personnel, Kerry County Council crews, Killarney Water Rescue, Search and Recovery Unit, Killarney Meitheal volunteers, the Air Corps, private helicopter operators and all others who played their part in fighting the inferno," he said.
DEDICATED
"That they had to leave their homes and families in the midst of a pandemic shows just dedicated they are and how much they love and want to protect our wonderful park. Their commitment was extraordinary, they toiled to the point of exhaustion and we thank them for their bravery and dedication."
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce believes that it is imperative now for a full investigation to be launched into the cause of this devastating incident, not only to attempt to discover who was responsible for the carnage but to identify ways to lessen the chances of it ever happening again.
"Whether it was a carelessly discarded match, the remnants of a barbecue or bonfire or a deliberate act of vandalism that sparked the blaze, it appears it was entirely irresponsible and reckless and it shows a disregard not only for nature but for human life. Chamber would urge anybody with any information that may help identify what or who caused the fire to report the matter, without delay, to the authorities.
It should also be remembered that Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 prohibits the cutting, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from March 1 to August 31. That law is there for a reason and it must be adhered to. As custodians of Killarney National Park, it is incumbent on all of us to work together to find solutions to avoid this happening in the future and, in the meantime, the long-term recovery of our wonderful national park must be the priority.
"Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce welcomes proposals to double the number of rangers in our National Parks and, of course, given the importance and value of Killarney National Park to the country and to the world, it is not unreasonable to expect that the majority will be based here."
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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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4 hours ago

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14 April 2026

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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1 day ago

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13 April 2026

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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