News
Musician Liam O’Connor back and busier than ever
By Sean Moriarty
Local musician Liam O’Connor has gone from zero to hero following the lifting on the ban on live music as a result of pandemic restrictions.
On Saturday he played his first gig in over 18 months, next Friday he will release a new single, and before that he will play a special gig in London.
Liam and his family played at the Kerry County Council organised ‘ANSEO’ concert in North Kerry that was run to coincide with the Listowel Harvest Festival last weekend.
It was his first live show since he played at St Brendan’s College, Killarney when he shared the stage with special guest, former Irish rugby coach, Joe Schmidt. That event took place on March 11, 2020, the night before the country entered its first COVID-19 lockdown.
The ‘ANSEO’ series of concerts signalled the return of live music in Kerry and the O’Connor family shared the stage with other local musicians like Tim O’Shea and his Afro Trad Ireland group.
“People were delighted, they were mad for it, they were obviously missing it,” Liam told the Killarney Advertiser. “But they are not letting go just yet, they are still a bit hesitant.”
This Sunday Liam heads to London were he will help Dan Tim O’Sullivan steer sheep over Southwark Bridge (see page 36 for more on this story).
To cap an exceptionally busy period for the local accordion player, he has joined forces with Moya Brennan of Clannad fame. Brennan and O’Connor will release a new single – ‘Strong in Numbers’ on Friday next, October 1.
They previously performed together at a concert in the Friary in 2017.
“It was such a positive experience for all of us we just had to repeat it,” he added. “So not only have we done this recording of ‘Strong in Numbers’ but we are planning to do the Friary again later this year. After that, I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
Meanwhile, the ‘ANSEO’ series visits Killarney on Sunday night.
The Fair Hill car park will host two shows featuring: The Gleneagle Concert Band; Pauline Scanlon with Mick Galvin; The Small Hours; The Rising; Cathal Flaherty and Truly Diverse.
TFI Anseo demand-responsive transport pilot extended
The National Transport Authority (NTA) and TFI Local Link Kerry have announced an extension of the TFI Anseo pilot service in Killarney following a successful first year of operation.
Funded through the Climate Action Fund as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, the demand-responsive bus service has supported over 82,000 passenger journeys since launching on August 11, 2025. The extension will allow the service to continue operating while a final evaluation report is compiled for December 2026.
The pilot allows passengers to book flexible trips for work, healthcare appointments, shopping, and social visits across the Killarney area.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien welcomed the extension, stating:
“I am very pleased to see the TFI Anseo pilot service being extended following its highly successful first year. The sheer number of passenger journeys recorded shows that the local community have embraced this innovative service, which truly puts the passenger at the heart of the journey. Extending the pilot allows us to continue learning how to provide practical transport solutions that encourage sustainable and inclusive travel.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, noted that local feedback from business owners and residents demonstrates a strong vote of confidence in demand-responsive transport for rural communities.
NTA CEO Anne Shaw confirmed the pilot has operated within budget while providing key insights into future rural public transport. Over the autumn months, the NTA will conduct customer satisfaction surveys to gather further feedback from local passengers.
RTÉ News appoints new Cork and Kerry reporter
RTÉ News has announced that Barry Gallagher will take up the role of regional news journalist for Cork, Kerry, and the wider Southern region starting this August.
Gallagher will work alongside RTÉ News’ Southern Editor Paschal Sheehy, reporting across television, radio, online, and social media platforms. He succeeds veteran broadcaster Jennie O’Sullivan, who retired in May following a 25-year reporting career with RTÉ in the region.
Gallagher joined RTÉ in 2023 as a presenter for news2day before moving on to report across flagship programs, including the Six One News, Nine O’Clock News, and Morning Ireland. His coverage has spanned major national stories, including the 2024 Olympic Games, All-Ireland Hurling Finals, and Storm Chandra.
Originally from Gartan, County Donegal, Gallagher studied journalism at D
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