News
Friars move to Outlet Centre to meet and greet parishioners
By Sean Moriarty
For the first time ever the Friars have taken over a vacant store in Killarney Outlet Centre.
Instead of passing on their Christmas message on the town’s streets like other years, they are inviting locals to receive a blessing in the shopping centre.
The Brothers are a familiar sight on the streets of Killarney every Christmas as they walk the town to meet and greet their parishioners ahead of the Holy Season.
This year, forced by COVID-19 restrictions, storms and other reasons, instead of mingling with Christmas shoppers on the town’s streets, the Friars have gone indoors.
“What we're doing in the Outlet Centre is about going out into the highways and byways, into the shopping centres, into the streets, and just meeting people, befriending people and learning from them. We have much more to gain from meeting people outside the Friary than what they gain from meeting us,” Brother Pat Lynch told the Killarney Advertiser.
The move to the Outlet Centre was made possible by the Outlet Centre’s Paul Sherry and Noreen O’Sullivan.
Brother Pat has a lot of experience of this type of ministry.
He was Vocations Director for the order for 15 years and had stands at the Ploughing Championships over many years in shopping centres in Cork, Athlone and Galway.
“In those places the aim was looking for vocations but in the Outlet Centre it is just about being present among the people. He is distributing prayers for the family and for the care of creation. It's a 'money free zone' and he has insisted he doesn't want any money as people have too many expenses at this time leading up to Christmas,” added Anne Marie O’Leary of the Friary Office.
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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