News
Pádraig Harnett honoured posthumously by club he loved
Lifelong soccer stalwart and sports reporter Pádraig Harnett, who passed away in October following a brief illness, has been honoured posthumously by the club to which he devoted much of his life.
Killarney Celtic FC Achievement Awards were presented to Diarmuid Daly Brian Spillane and Gary Keane by (left) Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and (right) Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Killarney Celtic FC Committee Paul Sherry (Vice Chairman) Jane O'Donoghue Tim Jones (Club Chairman) Michelle Kennelly Hurley and John Somers at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Under 17 Manager presenting the Killarney Celtic U17 Player of the Year Award to winner Eoghan Crowley with his parents John and Desireee Crowley at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Senior 'B' management team presenting the Killarney Celtic Senior 'B' Player of the Year Award to winner Adam McMahon with Stephen Hayes Management team at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Alan Doyle (back centre) presenting the Aiden Cronin Memorial Perpetual Shield to Senior 'A' team Player of the Year Stephen McCarthy with (left) Brian Spillane (Senior Team Manager) Sarah and Aiden Cronin (back from left) Diarmuid Daly Stephen Hayes Alan Cronin Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Jerry and Maria Falvey (seated left) presenting the Jimmy Falvey Perpetual Cup Killarney Celtic Youth Player of The Year to Darragh O'Shea who accepted the cup on behalf of winner Sean Fitzgerald with Killarney Celtic FC Youth players (front) Karl Kalvin O'Sullivan, Cathal Kelly (back) Liam Brosnan Murphy, Liam O'Donoghue, Shay O'Meara, Tim Jones (Club Chairman), Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman), Robbie Harnett, Eoghan Crowley, Luke Costello and Diarmuid Daly (Team Manager) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel, Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Killarney Celtic FC Achievement Awards were presented to Diarmuid Daly Brian Spillane and Gary Keane by (left) Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and (right) Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Killarney Celtic FC Committee Paul Sherry (Vice Chairman) Jane O'Donoghue Tim Jones (Club Chairman) Michelle Kennelly Hurley and John Somers at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Under 17 Manager presenting the Killarney Celtic U17 Player of the Year Award to winner Eoghan Crowley with his parents John and Desireee Crowley at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Senior 'B' management team presenting the Killarney Celtic Senior 'B' Player of the Year Award to winner Adam McMahon with Stephen Hayes Management team at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Alan Doyle (back centre) presenting the Aiden Cronin Memorial Perpetual Shield to Senior 'A' team Player of the Year Stephen McCarthy with (left) Brian Spillane (Senior Team Manager) Sarah and Aiden Cronin (back from left) Diarmuid Daly Stephen Hayes Alan Cronin Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Jerry and Maria Falvey (seated left) presenting the Jimmy Falvey Perpetual Cup Killarney Celtic Youth Player of The Year to Darragh O'Shea who accepted the cup on behalf of winner Sean Fitzgerald with Killarney Celtic FC Youth players (front) Karl Kalvin O'Sullivan, Cathal Kelly (back) Liam Brosnan Murphy, Liam O'Donoghue, Shay O'Meara, Tim Jones (Club Chairman), Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman), Robbie Harnett, Eoghan Crowley, Luke Costello and Diarmuid Daly (Team Manager) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel, Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Pádraig was named 'Club Person of the Year' by Kerry soccer kingpins Killarney Celtic FC at their annual awards ceremony to a mark outstanding contributions and achievements.
Pádraig served in several positions with the club and he always worked tirelessly and passionately for Celtic and Kerry soccer at many levels.
When Pádraig passed away last October, his coffin was draped in the green and white flag of Celtic and club officials, members and players staged a very moving guard of honour as the cortege wound its way through the streets of Killarney.
At a reception in the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Friday night, the award was accepted by Pádraig’s wife, Maura and also in attendance were his stepson Seán Daly, his brother Brendan, sister-in-law Kathleen and nephews Mark and Robbie Harnett.
The awards were presented by club Chairman Tim Jones and Vice Chairman Paul Sherry.
Another recipient on the night was former senior manager Brian Spillane who received an 'Outstanding Achievement' award for his record-breaking exploits on the sidelines.
During his tenure, Celtic won an unprecedented four Premier League and cup doubles in a row as well as the coveted Munster League of Champions trophy.
A key member of that all-conquering Celtic squad was the outstanding Gary Keane who won every honour in the domestic game and is considered a Celtic legend who has been part of the club since he was a schoolboy.
Gary, who recently hung up his boots, was also presented with an outstanding achievement award as was club mentor Diarmuid Daly who was the kitman for the four-in-a-row squad and managed teams at senior B, youth and Under 17 level.
Other awards presented on the night were:
Senior A Player of the Year: Stephen McCarthy
Senior B Player of the Year: Adam McMahon
Youth Player of the Year: Seán Fitzgerald
Under 17 Boys’ Player of the Year: Eoghan Crowley
Killarney National Park Autumn Talks up and running
Following a successful opening presentation by award-winning photographer James Crombie on the mesmerising starling murmuration’s of Lough Ennell, the 38th annual Killarney National Park Autumn Talks Series continues next week with a focus on Irish biodiversity.
The lineup for Thursday, October 15, features guest speaker Professor Grace McCormack of University College Galway, who will present a talk on “The Importance of Native Honeybees and Other Pollinators and Current Threats to Their Survival”.
Prof. McCormack’s address will explore the vital role native bees play in local ecosystems, the environmental pressures threatening their populations, and the conservation efforts required to ensure their survival.
Last night’s (October 8) opening talk, saw Inpho Sports Photography staff photographer James Crombie kick off the six-week series.
Crombie, named Irish Press Photographer of the Year in 2021, 2022, and 2025, shared the story behind his famous images documenting Westmeath’s starling displays, which reached millions of viewers worldwide.
The Autumn Talks Series runs weekly for six weeks in the Killarney House Auditorium (V93 HE3C) at 8.00pm. Admission is free, though seating is limited. All presentations are also live streamed via the Killarney National Park Facebook page.
MESMERISING NATURE: Multi-award-winning photographer James Crombie, who opened the 38th annual Killarney National Park Autumn Talks Series with a presentation on his famous starling murmuration photographs.
Missing Killarney chef located dead in UK
A 34-year search for missing former Killarney chef Patrick (Patsy) O’Sullivan ended following confirmation that he was located deceased in the UK.
Patsy was 35 years old when last seen by relatives in Lombardstown, County Cork, during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in April 1992. At the time of his disappearance, he was working as a chef in Waterville, having previously worked across several Killarney hotels. He was scheduled to attend a family Christening shortly after returning from Kerry, but never arrived.
Despite decades of public appeals, including features on RTÉ’s Crimecall, his location remained unknown.
Investigations revealed that Patsy moved to the UK and changed his name to Patrick Aldridge in 1995, adopting the surname of his partner who passed away in 2022. He passed away from natural causes on July 5, 2024, living just over an hour away from his brother who also passed away in the UK last year.
Speaking on Cork’s 96FM, his brother Jerry O’Sullivan confirmed the family finally received closure following renewed efforts led by Garda PJ Roche and investigating officers. He noted that while unanswered questions remain about why Patsy started over fresh, the family is grateful for the work that brought final answers.
An Garda Síochána confirmed the missing person case is closed and thanked the public for their assistance over the years.
IN MEMORY: Patrick (Patsy) O’Sullivan, a native of North Cork who worked as a chef in Killarney and Waterville, went missing in April 1992 and was located deceased in the UK. Photo: Garda Press Office.
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