News
Sewage pumped into lakes during heavy rains
By Sean Moriarty
Sewage from the Killarney Urban District gets pumped into the lakes during heavy rains, a Kerry County Council official has confirmed.
The official was responding to a motion raised by Cllr Donal Grady at Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting.
Cllr Grady asked: “How much raw sewerage is going into our rivers and lakes and how much is being by-passed at our Waste Water Treatment Plant in heavy rain?”
A council engineer stated that the practice of releasing sewage into a water network during heavy rain is a common engineering practice all over the world.
“The sewer pipe network in Killarney is a combined system wherein the foul and storm water drainage is all collected in a common pipe,” he said.
“Occasionally, where there is heavy, sustained rainfall, the excess flow of waste water is designed to be released through outlets referred to as Storm Water Overflows. Storm Water Overflows act as emergency safety valves and release the excess flow from the sewer directly into local waters, such as rivers. These Storm Water Overflows are common practice and without these releases there could be a greater risk to the environment and people’s health because the sewer and treatment plant could become inundated, resulted in flooding in urban areas. These discharges from Storm Water Overflows are diluted by the coinciding rainwater.”
He added that the level of dilution is so great during heavy rain that it does not pose any sort of health risk and that the water quality in Lough Leane in Killarney is extensively and comprehensively monitored on an ongoing basis.
Local hospitality nominated for Good Food Ireland awards
Several Killarney hotels and restaurants have been shortlisted for the Good Food Ireland 20th Anniversary Awards 2026.
The annual awards recognise businesses that feature Irish food and drink as part of their visitor service.
In the luxury accommodation categories, Muckross Park Hotel and The Europe Hotel and Resort have both received nominations for 5 Star Irish Hospitality Experience of the Year and Hotel Restaurant Experience of the Year.
In the town centre, The Mad Monk has been shortlisted for Best Irish Seafood Experience.
The Brehon Hotel has been named a finalist in the Wild Atlantic Way category.
And the Kerry Creamery Experience has also been nominated for the Irish Culinary Tourism Innovation Award for its work showcasing local dairy heritage.
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at the InterContinental Dublin on Monday, November 16
Holy Cross Mercy announces return of Memory Tree initiative
Holy Cross Mercy National School has announced details for its 2026 Killarney Memory Tree, the annual Christmas fundraising hosted at the New Road school.
The initiative offers local residents the opportunity to purchase lights on the tree to commemorate loved ones over the festive season.
The official switch-on ceremony takes place at the school on Wednesday, December 9 at 7pm. Fr Seán Murphy will lead prayers, accompanied by festive carols by candlelight.
A special mass for all those commemorated on the tree will be celebrated in St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday, December 17 at 1pm. The service will be open to the public and streamed online via the Killarney Parish website.
The Memory Tree will remain lit each evening until January 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
Lights can be purchased directly from the pupils, staff, or the school office at Holy Cross Mercy National School on New Road, with all proceeds going towards school development.
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