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Fields of Gold…Féile Lughnasadh- Milltown, July 28 to 31

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The best in trad will return to Milltown this July, the mid-Kerry town once again providing a feast of traditional music and culture over a four-day event.

Sharon Shannon will headline the event, playing on the gig rig in the square on Saturday, July 30th. Friday night will feature local Kerry sensation ‘The Rising’, and Sunday night will see internationally renowned ‘Jiggy’. Acts will be supported each night by local musicians, so the festival will showcase the best of trad, locally, nationally and internationally. All performances are free and open air.

The festival theme is the ancient Lughnasadh celebration, a traditional Celtic event to mark the beginning of the harvest, showing gratitude to the gods for the early fruits and invoking help for a good crop in the coming weeks with grain and roots. The god Lugh and goddess Tailtiu are the providers and guardians in Celtic lore and a parade will see local children recreate these ancient celebrations.

The festival programme begins with the parade on Thursday, July 28th, followed by drumming with Urs Wenk and Celtic lore from Helen O'Sullivan. This will be followed by the perennial favourite, Club Amhráníochta Lughnasadh, the singing club, taking place in Milltown Community Hall. Singers are invited to come and take part in the open-mic event.

Friday night will feature local musicians on the gig rig, followed by Kerry’s finest, ‘The Rising’, a quartet guaranteed to have the crowd buzzing with their unique and powerful blend of trad tunes. The Community Hall will host local talent in an open music session afterwards, ‘Club Lughnasadh’.

Saturday night will see the world-renowned Sharon Shannon showcase her mercurial talents with her band on the gig rig at 9 pm. This will be a unique opportunity to see Sharon open air and promises to be a memorable event.

Sunday will be a full day of activities for all the family, with a craft fair presenting the best in local artisan foods, along with kids’ activities with ‘Party Time’ and storytelling with ‘The Crafty Cailleach’. The ever-popular Uí Briain will play for the Open Air Céili from 4 to 7, with sets on the dancing platform. Performances from Kerry Comhaltas branches will link the evening with ‘Jiggy’, giving their exotic flavour of world rhythms and cutting-edge dance grooves to the deep roots of trad. Each night will feature open music sessions until late in the Community Hall. Musicians will be welcome in the Milltown bars all weekend, so bring the instruments and you’d never know who you’ll meet.

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Generous public raises over €1,400 at Christmas Day Goal Mile

Organisers of the Killarney Goal Mile have extended their sincere thanks to the local community following an “overwhelmingly successful” event on Christmas Day. The annual fundraiser, which took place in […]

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Organisers of the Killarney Goal Mile have extended their sincere thanks to the local community following an “overwhelmingly successful” event on Christmas Day.

The annual fundraiser, which took place in the Killarney House and Gardens, saw a massive turnout of walkers and runners. Goal Ireland has officially acknowledged a total of €882.50 raised in cash on the day, with a further €535 donated through the online portal, bringing the combined total for the international aid agency to over €1,400.
In a statement of appreciation, Goal Ireland noted that the generosity shown in Killarney will help transform the lives of millions of vulnerable people in 2025. The funds will provide food, shelter, and safety for refugees in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Locally, the money will also support street children in Ethiopia and provide training and tools for young entrepreneurs to support their communities.
Closer to home, Kerry Cancer Support Services also expressed deep gratitude to participants for their impressive generosity. Organiser Anne Mangan highlighted the vital role of the charity’s transport service, which is a primary beneficiary of the local collection.
“The transport service is described by those using it as a travelling support group,” Ms Mangan said. “It offers not just transport to appointments, but comfort, understanding, and companionship during what can be a very difficult time for patients and their families.”
The organisers concluded by offering a “Míle Buíochas” to everyone who took time out of their Christmas morning to support these two worthy causes.

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Beaufort Golf Club reopening under new management

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Beaufort Golf Club is entering a new chapter as it is set to reopen under new management.

The Magill Family, who own the course, have described the reopening as a “modern but respectful evolution” of the club, building on Beaufort’s strong heritage while investing in facilities, technology and experiences that appeal to younger players and new members.

Pauline, the club’s new Golf Operations Manager, alongside Ella, are now the welcoming faces of Beaufort Golf Club.

Both have been overwhelmed by the positive response from members and the wider local community, with strong support evident since the reopening.

A major redevelopment of the clubhouse kitchen and restaurant is currently underway.

Central to this project is the finalisation of a new, fully branded restaurant franchise, to be run on site by a five-star Michelin trained chef.

Beaufort Golf Club is set to become the first golf club in County Kerry to fully adopt robotic mowing technology for its fairways, representing a major advancement in course maintenance, consistency, and sustainability.

The robotic mowing programme is led by new Head Greenkeeper Padraig Bruton, alongside Tony who remains onsite with an expanded greens team.

Looking ahead, the club has ambitious but carefully phased plans. Shane Spellman, who is overseeing the investment, said “the club is exploring complementary leisure and sporting activities on site, including a padel court, golf simulation and other facilities, all to broaden its appeal and strengthen its role as a community hub”

To mark the reopening, Beaufort Golf Club is offering a reduced sign-up fee for new members until the end of January, while welcoming back former members at existing rates.

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