News
New mural to celebrate diversity and creativity
By Michelle Crean
A new mural being created by local children manifests the ethos of their school in embracing and celebrating diversity and creativity.
Artist Tricia O'Connor, who has a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Social and Art Theory, has been working with a small group from the Third and Fourth multidisciplinary classes in St. Oliver's Primary School in The Department of Education BLAST Residency initiative.
"I'm currently delighted to be working in St. Oliver's Primary School Killarney," she told the Killarney Advertiser.
"The children, coordinating teacher of Intercultural Education and the BLAST project Terry Landers, class teachers Mairead Greene and Amy O'Shea, the SNA team Mags McCarthy, Mandy Lynch, Martina Dineen and I based our initial idea on this year's St Oliver's intercultural poster and poem," she said.
"Together we explored the words of the poem by Charles Bennafield "I'm diversity, embrace me and we'll journey far, I'm diversity include me and we will reach the shining star".
She added that they focused on creating stars through different mediums such as modelling clay, paper and cardboard.
"We also jumped on trampolines outside to explore different forms of movement that our bodies can make while looking at the colours of the sky, the shapes of the clouds and faraway stars. I then designed a mural using figures and a colour pallet chosen from our group explorations."
The mural has been very much led by the children and each child is bringing their own creativity and talent to the project.
"The mural will be finished by Easter and will take pride of place mounted in the school's inner courtyard. This is a special meeting place for all classes from pre-school up to Sixth. It is a place where children play, staff meet, parents gather and graduations are celebrated."
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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