News
Kevin faces two of the world’s coldest races
By Sean Moriarty
A Killarney man who is no stranger to tough challenges is set to take it to the limit in the coming weeks to take on - not one but two - ultimate ice challenges.
Kevin Leahy of the Black Sheep Hostel is currently on his way to the Arctic Circle to contest the first of two 500km ultra runs in the frozen north.
CONDITIONS: These are the conditions that Kevin Leahy will face in Överkalix Sweden in March.
The first ice running event will be done in Canada and then he'll face a similar run in Swedish Lapland – with less than 10 days off in between.
His first race, the Yukon Arctic Ultra – billed as the world’s coldest and toughest race - where temperatures can dip as low as -50°C – gets underway next Thursday.
Kevin reckons it will take him seven days and nights to complete the course.
Throughout the 500km race he will have to be fully self-sufficient and will drag a sled weighing between 25kg and 30kg with all his cooking essentials, tent and spare clothes on board.
The effort required to pull it will depend on the depth of snow. In late 2021 he traversed the entire Kerry Way and contested the Kerry Ultra Marathon as part of his final preparations.
“I have been practicing on the bogs near Kilcummin by pulling old Jeep tyres behind me,” Kevin explained to the Killarney Advertiser this week. “I have to be completely self-sufficient and I will sleep when I am tired, I will eat when I am hungry.”
Kevin is no stranger to such events.
The Yukon Arctic Ultra runs along the Canadian-Alskan border and two years ago he led the shorter 160km race that runs within the main 500km event.
The problem with leading is that he created a path in the snow for his pursuers to follow.
He still won it despite suffering from "sleep deprivation and hallucinations", was hungry, cold and exhausted and with "nothing but the sound of the sled behind me for company" - with no prize money, or fame for his efforts.
Once he completes the Canadian race he will return to Killarney to get ready for a second 500km race in Swedish Lapland but will have less than 10 days at home to prepare.
The Lapland Arctic Ultra, billed as a race “through Europe’s last wilderness”, takes place between March 6-16 in Överkalix, Sweden. The Swedish town is about 160km west of the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, the official home of Santa Claus in Lapland.
DOCUMENTARY
Kevin’s progress on both events will be followed by local digital production company Grandview Media.
The Pawn Office Lane-based company is run by director and producer Adrian McCarthy who is well known for his video promotional work in the district.
Adrian’s documentary entitled ‘1000km of Chaos' will chart Kevin’s early preparations in Kerry, the disappointments of cancelled events due to COVID-19 restrictions and finally getting to compete in two of the toughest races in the world.
The finished production will be shown at the Kerry International Film Festival next October.
Kevin’s bid is being supported by All Real Nutrition, the Farranfore-based protein bar manufacturer, and Montane, an international extreme weather clothing brand.
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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