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First Velo Kenmare hailed a resounding success

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3 years ago

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Cyclists from all over Ireland took on the challenging, mountainous course of Velo Kenmare, a 135km of Ireland’s steepest climbs, on Saturday.

TOUGH STUFF: A cyclist taking part in Velo Kenmare Ireland’s newest and toughest cycling event.

Ireland’s newest and toughest cycling event is a timed loop route starting and finishing in Kenmare, with a total climbing distance of 1,650m.

Cyclists enjoyed fabulous autumn weather for this inaugural cycle with blue skies, sun and dry weather holding up for this scenic tour of Kerry.

The tough mountain climbs took cyclists over Molls Gap, Ballaghbeama Pass, Ballaghasheen and Coomakista. Participating cyclists were given €20 ‘Velo Dollars’/vouchers to spend in local shops redeemable against goods and services in Kenmare.

Overall fastest male cyclist was Jerry McCarthy who finished in 03:49:01, followed by Ewan Buckley in 03:49:14, and Bernard Sweeney in 03:51:35.

Overall fastest female cyclist was Diane Behan in a time of 04:16:08, followed by Astrid Sasses in 04:41:39 and Regina Sheehan in 04:56:32.

Fastest male and fastest female over four categorised mountain climbs including Molls Gap, Ballaghbema Pass, Ballaghasheen and Coomakista, were crowned King and Queen of the Mountains. The King of the Mountains was Ewan Buckley in 3 hours 49 minutes, and Queen of the Mountains was Diane Behan in 4 hours 16 minutes.

No stranger to cycling events, Velo Kenmare is managed by Elite Events Management, who also successfully deliver the Ring of Beara Cycle, Ride Dingle and Wicklow 200.

“We are very happy to bring this challenging cycling event to Kenmare and support local business and community groups in the process," event organiser, Ollie Kirwin, said.

"Kenmare has always proved a very welcoming and friendly host town for many of our events, and we hope to build on Velo Kenmare as a regular cycling sportive in the coming years. It was designed to be a tough event for the serious cyclist and by all accounts the feedback was it was tough enough! In this way, we were also able to showcase the most stunning parts of Kerry and the country to our visiting participants, via iconic views from some of Ireland’s highest mountain passes and most scenic coastal roads.”

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Killarney welcomes home Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin

Boxer Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin received a warm homecoming in Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar on College Street on Sunday evening following his victory in Dublin last weekend, where he was […]

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3 hours ago

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18 October 2025

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Boxer Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin received a warm homecoming in Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar on College Street on Sunday evening following his victory in Dublin last weekend, where he was crowned Irish Light Heavyweight Champion.

Mayor of Killarney Cllr Martin Grady was on hand to officially welcome the new champion home, congratulating him on what he described as “a proud moment for Killarney and for Kerry sport.”
Cronin, who is sponsored by Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar, claimed the vacant national title after a hard-fought ten-round battle against Cork’s Cathal Crowley at the National Stadium, Dublin, on Friday night last.
The Kerry fighter won by majority decision, with the judges scoring the contest 95-94, 97-93 and 95-95. The result capped off years of dedication and hard work for Cronin, who now holds an 11-3-1 professional record.
Speaking at the homecoming, Cronin thanked his supporters and sponsors for their backing throughout his career.
“It’s unbelievable to bring this title to Kerry,” he said. “The support from home means everything. This one’s for everyone who’s been with me from the start.”
Crowds packed into Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar to celebrate the achievement, with music, photos and plenty of local pride on display.

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Concerns over future of St Mary of the Angels

Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for […]

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22 hours ago

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17 October 2025

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Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for children and adults with profound disabilities and special needs.

The campus, set on lands generously donated by the Doyle family, offers 30 acres of grounds, existing buildings, and services, making it a valuable asset for the provision of respite care in Kerry. TD Michael Cahill emphasized that the Doyle family’s wishes should be respected, and that the grounds should be made accessible immediately.
“The special needs community in Kerry has a major respite crisis and families don’t have time to wait. Families need help — they are not asking for full-time residential care but respite care, a break, a helping hand,” Deputy Cahill said.
He added that a bespoke approach is needed to meet the individual needs of children attending St Francis Special School. “Many of the children in the county with profound needs need a safe haven where they can roam the grounds freely, and St Mary of the Angels offers this.”
Deputy Cahill has accompanied several Ministers to the Beaufort campus to highlight its value to Disability Health Service providers. A working group has been formed including St John of Gods, the HSE, representatives of residents at St Mary of the Angels, and St Francis Special School, to explore options for maintaining and expanding respite services.
“Parents are worn out and at the end of their tether. This needs to be dealt with expeditiously, in an environment of cooperation between the relevant Government Departments of Health, Disability, and Education. We need to get this across the line urgently and put it permanently in place,” he said.
Deputy Cahill pointed to the current shortfall of respite services in Kerry. “As of now, Cunamh Iveragh respite in Cahersiveen is only open Friday to Sunday, running at half capacity — two adults per night instead of four. The issue is staffing, and the HSE will not release funding to open full-time. The Beaufort campus is available and should be utilised as parents are crying out for overnight respite. Cooperation and compassion could see this done quickly.”
TD Danny Healy Rae echoed these concerns during a Dáil speech this week. “We are still short of respite beds on the southern side of the constituency. Families caring for people with disabilities just want a break, but there is nowhere available locally. Places are being offered only in Tipperary or Meath for those needing new residential care. It makes no sense. St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort has 40 or 50 acres of grounds that could be expanded, with facilities already in place such as swimming pools. It could be developed as a model for the rest of the country.”
Both TDs are urging the Government and the HSE to take immediate action to utilise the Beaufort campus for respite care, in line with the intentions of the Doyle family and the needs of Kerry families.

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