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Geraldine is no longer at your service

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By Michelle Crean

For almost four decades Geraldine Tangney has been one of the friendly faces in the Gleneagle Hotel but this week she decided to hang up her uniform.

It was an emotional day on Tuesday for the Duty Manager from Ballyspillane as she bid farewell to her colleagues and bosses after a wonderful career after 39 years there.

Geraldine started in the Gleneagle Hotel in 1982 first as a waitress before working her way up through to management.

"It was very emotional, a bit nostalgic," Geraldine said when speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week.
"I was talking about it [retirement] for a while. It didn't even feel like 39 years. It hit me really for the last time crossing the car park going in to work on Tuesday."

Geraldine was 24 when she started her career in hospitality and has been behind many of the big events in the hotel over the decades including AIMS which would have crowds of over one thousand to serve over four days. She was also delighted to end her career serving President Michael D. Higgins after a recent stay at the hotel.

She said she has seen many changes during this time as the hotel grew.

She also worked for four generations of the O'Donoghues, first with Mrs Sheila O'Donoghue, Maurice and Margaret, Patrick and Eileen, and more recently their son Peter.

"I worked with four generations of O'Donoghues, they are a lovely crowd. I saw the INEC being built, and I have a lot of fond memories of the people I would have worked with. One of her colleagues she'll miss - but will see often is Maura O'Connor, who also has 39 years service with the hotel.

"Maura and I have worked together for 39 years, we started around the same time," she added.

Being retired means the 63-year-old will now have more time with her partner Ger, as well as a chance to visit her children and grandchildren more often including her son Bryan in Sydney and his two children, her daughter Valerie and grandchildren in New York, and she's very excited for the birth of her eight grandchild in Barraduff which her son Ivan and his wife are expecting any day now.

"I did the Ring of Kerry many times as well and I still have the bike so I might do that again," she said.

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Garda Seán O’Sullivan honoured as 2025 Radio Kerry Hero

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Killarney’s Seán O’Sullivan has been named as one of the Fexco Kerry Heroes of 2025 following his life-saving actions earlier this year.

The award, organised by Radio Kerry and Fexco, recognises Seán’s courage and his subsequent work as an advocate for CPR training.

In April 2025, Seán saved the life of his 24-year-old son, Seán Óg, who had suffered a cardiac arrest at the family home.


The incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon when Seán Óg, a fit and healthy non-smoker, suddenly became unresponsive.


His younger brother Conor (15) began CPR before Seán took over, maintaining the effort until paramedics arrived ten minutes later.

Seán Óg was then flown by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital. Medical staff confirmed that the immediate CPR performed at home was the deciding factor in his survival.


Since the incident, Seán has used his platform to encourage everyone to learn CPR, highlighting that such emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere.

He was one of eight recipients chosen by a judging panel for their outstanding community spirit and service to the county.


The winners were announced on the Kerry Today programme just before the Christmas break, and each received a specially commissioned Fexco Kerry Heroes wall plaque.


Also honoured in the 2025 awards was Jerh O’Donoghue of the Social Action Group in Rathmore.

Founded by Jerh in 1975, the group has delivered vital services like meals on wheels and a day care centre for 50 years.

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Killarney Suzuki dealer wins national customer service award

A Killarney motor dealership has been recognised at national level after Dineen O’Donoghue Suzuki was named Aftersales Customer Experience Dealer of the Year at the 2025 Suzuki Ireland Dealer of […]

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A Killarney motor dealership has been recognised at national level after Dineen O’Donoghue Suzuki was named Aftersales Customer Experience Dealer of the Year at the 2025 Suzuki Ireland Dealer of the Year Awards.

The awards ceremony took place at Carton House in Maynooth, Co Kildare, where Suzuki Ireland honoured dealerships from across its 24-strong national network for performance and customer service over the past year.
The Killarney dealership received the accolade in recognition of its consistently high standards in customer care and aftersales service.
Suzuki Ireland Managing Director Takanori Suzuki praised the overall dealer network for its achievements, noting that 2025 delivered record results for the brand in Ireland, including a new market share high and more than 2,350 vehicles sold before year end.
He added that Suzuki dealers will play a key role in the brand’s plans for 2026, including the launch of the new fully electric e Vitara next spring.

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