News
O’Donoghue Public House is College St’s newest offering
A pillar of Killarney’s community, O’Donoghue Public House on College Street reopened its doors on October 22 with a fresh look and feel, bringing a new sense of vibrancy to the town centre’s social scene.
2021 marks a pivotal year in the story of O’Donoghue Public House as the reins pass from one generation to the next. An extensive restoration with a new look and new menus marks the beginning of this exciting new chapter for the family establishment as it pays homage to the past, while creating a handsome, polished space, revived and rejuvenated, that’s awaiting new memories to be made.
Craft is at the core of O’Donoghue Public House. From reclaimed wood floors, a hand-carved timber bar, traditional family recipes and high-quality local suppliers, craftsmanship can be seen, felt and experienced throughout the premises. A seamless marriage of old pub ways with some new finishes — “Old ways, new doors,” as they put it themselves — every element selected for this stylish and reassuringly classic bar has a story to be told, and someone interesting to tell it.
The public house has been restored to showcase true craftsmanship throughout its interiors, including the glossy dark wooden panelling, the glistening marble table tops and polished brass accents, the comfy banquettes and golden glow of low-lit lamps.
“ We were full all Bank Holiday weekend,” Deputy General Manager Stuart Courtney told the Killarney Advertiser.
“This is just the start. It used to be a very typical Irish hotel bar. We’ve gone for more of a traditional Irish pub aesthetic,”
“It’s open to everyone, both locals and tourists. We want the people to come in and enjoy themselves. There’s great food and we’ve got great pints of Guinness. We also have live music seven night a week.”
There are snugs aplenty, some with contemporary artworks from local artists, including four pieces from Ted Jones and other artists, sharing fascinating history about Killarney itself and with many collectables that are featured in the bar detail the history of College Street in particular, dating back into the 18th and 19th centuries.
One snug is named after a gifted carpenter and joiner, the late Patrick ‘Paddy’ Ring. A member of the extended O’Donoghue family and master of his craft, Paddy hand-carved the original timber bar counter and the snug beside the bar is dedicated in his honour.
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak Resource Awards, securing a spot on the national shortlist for environmental achievement.
The local waste management company has been nominated in the Best Recovery Operator Innovation category, sponsored by DNV, for its state-of-the-art residual waste recovery system.
The Killarney facility utilizes optical sorting, screening, and mechanical processing to extract recyclable plastics and organic material from municipal waste. In its first year of operation, the technology recovered more than 10 per cent of plastic packaging from residual waste for recycling and diverted almost 50 per cent of organic material toward composting.
KWD Recycling will compete alongside Dublin operators Panda and Thorntons Recycling for the category title.
Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh commended the Kerry firm for demonstrating environmental leadership and bringing local ambition to the national awards.
Category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, October 23, where each winner will also compete for the Overall Repak Resource Award.
Local businesses have a strong track record at the national event, with Killarney town venue The Killarney Park and The Ross previously taking home the overall title in 2023.
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
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