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Mass to remember those lost in the War of Independence

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To remember the past and the sacrifices made by the ordinary people of Ireland, a Mass of Commemoration for all those who died during the War of Independence will take place tomorrow (Sunday).

All are welcome to attend the service in Kilcummin Parish Church at 11.30am, followed by a short ceremony nearby at the Mass Rock in Rathanane, which is being organised by Kilcummin Historical Group.

"As we draw near the end of 2021 let us take the time to reflect on the War of Independence," Conor Doolan, one of the organisers and author of ‘Kilcummin Folk, Land and Liberty: A Local History’, told the Killarney Advertiser.

After the 1916 rebellion a swell of nationalist sentiment swept across the nation and as early 1917 Sinn Féin clubs appeared in Kilcummin. Due to the size of the parish it is divided into eastern and western jurisdictions, he added.

"Around this time the Irish tricolour was raised at Anabla National School, a great act of defiance at the time. Pipe and Drum bands were popular and the Anabla Volunteers organised their own band and are cited as accompanying political demonstrations in Killarney town."

1919 Onwards

Likewise, Old IRA Company’s representing Kilcummin in the west and Anabla to the east were established, he explained.

"The same can be said for the two Cumann na mBan branches in the parish. Marguerite Fleming from Milleen went on to be a significant national figure in Cumann na mBan but her contribution to Irish freedom has been largely forgotten. By 1919 the British Army had commandeered the Great Southern Hotel thus transforming it into a barracks. It was predominantly occupied by the East Lancashire Regiment, Manchester Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers. Prior to that of course, the Royal Irish Constabulary were housed in a castle-like structure that stood where the Áras Phádraig is located today. New RIC recruits known as the ‘Black and Tans’ and ‘the Auxies’ arrived in 1920 wreaking havoc across the country."

Forgotten

Volunteer Patrick McCarthy from College Street Killarney was accidentally wounded and died while on active service in Kilcummin.

"It's also worth mentioning that Killarney man Sean O’Leary of Ballydribeen was a volunteer in the Tipperary IRA. Unarmed, O’Leary was killed by ‘the Auxies’ near Moneygall. What most people refer to as Flesk Bridge is in fact the ‘McCarthy-O’Leary’ Bridge, renamed by Kerry County Council in 1968. Two young English soldiers named Private Motley and Private Steer were killed near Anabla before the Truce in 1921. They were repatriated to Lancashire in 1927."

Hannah Carey was the last person killed in the Irish War of Independence. On July 11, 1921 The RIC & Black and Tans were firing indiscriminately as they drove down College Street. Carey was struck by a stray bullet. She was going about her day's work at the Imperial Hotel, now known as the Killarney Towers Hotel.

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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