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Colin O’Donoghue makes rallying history in Belgium

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4 years ago

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BELGIAN WINNERS: Colin and Kieran O'Donoghue celebrate winning the Escort Rally Special in Belgium on Sunday.

Colin O’Donoghue drove himself into the record books at the weekend as he became the first son of a winning rally driver and Killarney and District Motor Club (KDMC) member to win an event.

Colin scored the biggest win of his career after he and his co-driver Kieran O’Donoghue won the Escort Rally Special in Belgium on Sunday.

It was the first overseas event, as a driver, for the former winner of the modified section of the Killarney Historic Rally.

His father Kevin won the Kerry Winter Rally in 2006 making the O’Donoghues the first father and son from KDMC to win events outright.

Colin and several other Irish drivers decided to enter the rally, based at the famous Chimay motor-racing circuit near the French border, due to uncertainty on the resumption of the sport in Ireland.

“It was a class experience,” said Colin. “I will have to go back and defend the title. It was a lot more-bumpier than I expected, the roads were very like roads on the Galway Summer Rally.”

His run was not without problems, a broken gear selector, a readout board fell off and landed near the peddles, and a broken right rear shock absorber were just some of his tribulations.

Field results were confusing too and with two stages left to run he wasn’t sure if it was himself or Belgian rival Pieter-Jan Maeyaert who was leading the event.

“One website said he was leading, another said we had 22 seconds advantage with just one stage to run, the results were slow uploading,” added Colin. “We went into the last two stages, and went as hard as we could, even with the broken shock and came out 28 seconds up.”

He was co-driven by Kieran O’Donoghue, the Glenflesk man is no relation, but is well-known for his skills behind the wheel of a Honda Civic on local Junior rallies.

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Cahill seeks funding assurance for Innovation Centre

Kerry TD Michael Cahill says he is pushing to ensure the Killarney Innovation Centre secures the funding it needs for its planned expansion. Deputy Cahill raised the issue in a […]

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19 hours ago

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1 December 2025

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Kerry TD Michael Cahill says he is pushing to ensure the Killarney Innovation Centre secures the funding it needs for its planned expansion.

Deputy Cahill raised the issue in a recent Parliamentary Question to Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke. The centre has applied to the Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme under Enterprise Ireland to support future projects.
Minister Burke told Deputy Cahill that the centre’s application will receive “appropriate consideration” and confirmed that Enterprise Ireland will assist the organisation in shaping proposals that match the aims of the scheme.
Deputy Cahill said the support would give the Killarney Innovation Centre “a first run to the ball” in identifying suitable projects that can attract national funding. He added that the centre has received strong Government backing for more than 30 years.
The Minister also noted that three other Kerry projects are progressing under the same national scheme, including a €1 million allocation for the AI Navigator Programme at the RDI Hub in Killorglin, which is designed to help small businesses adapt to artificial intelligence.

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Focus Ireland submits planning application for 67 apartments

Focus Housing Association CLG, the housing arm of Focus Ireland,has submitted an application to Kerry County Council for amendments to its previously approved 67-unit residential development at Woodlands Industrial Estate, […]

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20 hours ago

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1 December 2025

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Focus Housing Association CLG, the housing arm of Focus Ireland,has submitted an application to Kerry County Council for amendments to its previously approved 67-unit residential development at Woodlands Industrial Estate, Killarney Bypass Road.

The original permission was granted under Kerry County Council reference 21/205.
The new application, maintains the total number of residential units at 67, but outlines several significant internal and external reconfigurations. The overall height and number of storeys for the development will remain unchanged from the scheme initially permitted.
The proposed modifications include a reconfiguration of the basement to incorporate water and attenuation tanks, a lift pit, and an ESB substation. Changes are also outlined for the ground floor, with modifications to the bicycle parking area, which will increase the total number of spaces to 136, and alterations to the bin area.
The plans detail a reduction in car parking spaces from the originally approved 80 down to 74, which will still include four accessible spaces. A substantial decrease is also proposed for the communal open space, which will drop from 719 square metres to 375 square metres due to the removal of a planned roof terrace.
Internal layouts and circulation routes on each floor will be altered, with the final unit mix proposed as 33 one-bedroom and 34 two-bedroom apartments. The changes will result in an increase in the total gross floor area of approximately 871.5 square metres.
Focus Housing Association is seeking permission for the temporary removal and subsequent rebuilding of an existing retaining wall adjacent to the N22 Bypass Road. The wall will be rebuilt to match its existing height and material finish.

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