The town of Killarney and the wider Kerry community have been mourning the loss of Paudie O’Callaghan, who passed away peacefully over the weekend after a long illness.

Paudie, pre-deceased by his father Dermot and his brothers Donal and Dermot, was deeply loved by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Valerie, his daughter Megan, granddaughter Rubie, his mother Eileen, his brothers Michael, Colm, and Niall, sisters-in-law Noreen, Eliza, Carol, and Kathy, and extended family, including nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours, and friends.
Paudie was widely recognised as a true gentleman and a cornerstone of Killarney’s business and social life. Minister Michael Healy-Rae TD paid personal tribute, saying: “This week brought very sad news with the passing of my great friend, Paudie O’Callaghan. Paudie was one of life’s true gentlemen, full of life, laughter, loyalty, and heart. He was a man who’d do anything for a friend, and I was blessed to count him as my very best. Even in difficult days, Paudie’s strength and spirit never left him.”
Minister Healy-Rae recalled meeting Paudie every Saturday in Killarney, walking the town together, meeting people, and enjoying the simple but meaningful moments that defined their friendship. He also noted the pride Paudie had in becoming a grandfather, a joy that brightened his final weeks.
The Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce also paid tribute to Paudie’s contribution to the town. A statement from the Chamber said: “Paudie O’Callaghan played a very active and progressive role in the business life of Killarney and was always willing to lend a hand and contribute positively to whatever projects the town was engaged with. He spearheaded the Killarney Vintners Association for many years and was a very able and influential representative for that sector. His enormous contribution to the sporting and social life of the town is already well documented, and he contributed hugely to the town he loved in so many ways.”
Paudie reposed at the Fáilte Hotel on Monday evening. The funeral cortège arrived at St Mary’s Cathedral,on Tuesday morning, followed by burial at Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.
Tributes highlighted Paudie’s warmth, loyalty, and dedication to family, friends, and the Killarney community.
Minister Healy-Rae summed up the sentiment shared by many: “People come and go throughout our lives, but every so often, someone truly special comes along who makes life better just by being part of it. That was Paudie. I’ll miss him dearly.”

Photos by Eamoon Keogh

The confirmation that Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) has been awarded €2.3 million in funding to purchase the former Pretty Polly site on Upper Park Road has been described as a gamechanger for the town.

The long-awaited development marks a major breakthrough for Killarney, with the site now set to be transformed into a Tourism and Hospitality Training College. T
he announcement was made by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, who confirmed that the project will serve as a centre for skills development in hospitality and tourism.
MAJOR BOOST FOR KILLARNEY
Kerry TD Michael Cahill said the investment was “a gamechanger” for both Killarney and Kerry, describing it as a vital step that will cement the town’s position as Ireland’s tourism capital.
“This is immense news for the town,” said Deputy Cahill. “It will mark Killarney out officially as the tourism capital of Ireland by providing a Hospitality Sector Training College right in the heart of the county. I’ve been raising this issue repeatedly in the Dáil, and I am delighted to see it finally move forward.”
Deputy Cahill said the €2.375m allocation followed years of persistence and lobbying at Government level.
“The Pretty Polly site has been an issue for decades and this investment will be a gamechanger for the hospitality sector in Killarney and Kerry,” he said. “I am absolutely delighted to have played my part in getting this across the line.”
He also referred to the history of hospitality training in the town.
“Some will remember the CERT training centre at the Torc Great Southern Hotel back in the 1970s. It’s fitting that Killarney will once again be a training hub for hospitality professionals,” he said.
SUPPORT FROM MINISTER FOLEY
Minister for Children and Kerry TD Norma Foley also welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “transformative project” for education and tourism in the county.
“This is a transformative project for education in Kerry but also an acknowledgement of the excellence of Kerry in the delivery of hospitality,” said Minister Foley. “Having been involved in the development of this project from the beginning, this is an important next stage in the project for Killarney and County Kerry. I look forward to continuing to work to see the project through to fruition.”
The Pretty Polly site, which covers 3.2 hectares, has been vacant for many years. Under the plan, Kerry ETB will purchase the site from Kerry County Council and submit a business case for a state-of-the-art training campus focused on hospitality skills and education.
CHAMBER WELCOME
The Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce also welcomed the news, describing it as “a major step forward” for the town and its key industries.
“This project will transform a long-vacant site into an active training hub that will strengthen both the local economy and workforce,” the Chamber said in a statement. “It’s a positive development that will benefit Killarney and the wider Kerry region for many years to come.”