News
Killarney car enthusiasts committed to helping one of their own
Members of Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club have committed to supporting a fundraising event in Tralee for a fellow car enthusiast.
Members of the Tralee-based Kerry Motor Club are organising a static car show in Tralee town centre next month to raise funds for club member James Quinlan who faces a very difficult medical journey in New York.
James, from Waterville, suffered a major brain haemorrhage on December 19 and remains in the intensive care unit in a Manhattan Hospital.
His family estimates that it will cost more than €250,000, possibly as much as four times that figure, to get James the treatment he needs. A GoFundMe campaign over Christmas raised €80,000 but more funds are urgently needed.
His friends in the Kerry motorsport community are running a series of events over the coming weeks including the car show at the Brandon Car Park in Tralee on February 13.
James, a car mechanic, was a popular member of Kerry Motor Club before he moved to New York around 17 years ago. He could always be relied upon to volunteer for club events and ran his own rally cars on local rallies in the early 2000s.
“He bought his second rally car from me,” explained Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club PRO Tom Leslie. “That is why we have to support this event.”
Kerry Motor Club is asking anyone who owns interesting cars, rally cars, vintage and classic cars or motorcycles, to display their machines at the event in a few weeks’ time.
Members of the public will be invited to view the cars and entry to the event will be by donation to the James Quinlan Recovery Fund.
A series of raffles and spot prizes will also be on offer throughout the day – more side events are also planned to include a 5k walk from the Brandon Car Park along the canal, to Blennerville, and back.
The classic car show will run from around mid-day on February 13 and will take the format of a Cars’N’Coffee style event.
Owner of cars that wish to show off their pride and joy are asked to contact any member of the organising team (numbers listed below) or via a dedicated email: jamesquinlanfund@gmail.com
Kerry Motor Club’s John Liston is a close friend of the Quinlan family.
“We are inviting anyone in Kerry or beyond who owns an interesting car to bring it along on the day, we have secured permission from Tralee Municipal Council to use the car park,” he said. “James faces a long journey, from his current situation to full recovery and we are asking every car enthusiast to come and support us on the day because James would always be the first to support or lend a hand to these kinds of events.”
Committee members are: John Liston: 087 689 8530; Richard Talbot: 087 268 0732; Senan Raggett: 087 259 9657; Ger O’Brien: 087 274 8936; Sean Moriarty: 087 677 1019. Or via email: jamesquinlanfund@gmail.com
Donations to the GoFundMe campaign can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-james-quinlans-journey-to-recovery
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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