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Beaufort teen completes one hundred Carrauntoohil climbs

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By Michelle Crean

She may be only 14-years-old but Orlaith Kelly from Beaufort has accomplished an amazing feat by climbing Carrauntoohil one hundred times.

SNOW FUN: Orlaith Kelly pictured with her dad Piaras on Carrauntoohil which she has climbed 100 times in the last five years.

ACHIEVEMENT: Orlaith Kelly (14) this week scaled Carrauntoohil for the one hundredth time.

Orlaith pictured with her dad Piaras Kelly and mom Catherine Kelly.

On Monday, Orlaith once again scaled Ireland's tallest mountain - but this time it was extra special for her and her family as it was the teen's centenary climb.

Orlaith has a special connection to the mountains as her parents Catherine and Piaras Kelly run Kerry Climbing - and live right beside the MacGillicuddy Reeks.

"She has always been into hiking and the outdoors," Catherine told the Killarney Advertiser.

"She climbed Torc when she was four and that would have been her first peak. She's been doing it since she was knee high to a grasshopper. We're lucky to have the MacGillicuddy Reeks so close."

Around the age of seven Orlaith began to get a little bit more ambitious after watching her parents regularly take groups on the Carrauntoohil climb. She then began asking if she could accompany them.

However it wasn't until the age of nine, and after years of climbing, that her parents felt that she had enough experience to accomplish it safely with them as they are trained professionals who could help guide her.

On her 10th birthday she also climbed Coomloughra Horseshoe which is one of Ireland's classic ridge walks on the MacGillycuddy Reeks.

The youngster has also climbed the four highest peaks in Ireland - two in one day!

She's climbed Carrauntoohil which is 1,038.6 metres high and Mweelraa at 814 metres.

However, one of other biggest challenges was heading to Belfast with her dad where the next day she not only climbed Slieve Donard which is 850 metres high - but travelled to Wicklow the same day and climbed Lugnaquilla which is 925 metres and then made the journey home to Beaufort.

"That's her sport, she's not into team sports," said Catherine.

"She has done all the peaks on Carrauntoohil in all different weathers. The main thing we're so proud of is the experience she's gained. She does talks on geology when out on corporate climbs and she has done her Mountain Skills 1 and 2 which are starting courses to become a mountain leader."

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Kerry artist explores identity at ANAM

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Kerry artist explores identity at ANAM


Kerry artist Felix Power is inviting the Killarney community to explore personal ideas of identity, belonging, and Irishness at a free interactive afternoon event this weekend.


Titled Where’s the I in Ireland?, the project takes place on Saturday, October 10, at the ANAM Centre on East Avenue Road, starting at 2.30pm.
The initiative centres around 21 questions regarding personal identity and participants’ complex relationships with Ireland. Over 2025 and 2026, groups across Dublin, Cork, and Kerry participated in sessions structured as part research project, part table quiz, and part bingo night, offering lighthearted moments alongside genuine personal reflection.
During the session, Felix Power and guest facilitators will guide attendees through thoughts on their own personal journeys, sharing notable responses gathered from previous events across the country. Attendees complete anonymous survey cards answering the core questions, with no expectation to speak publicly or share stories out loud. Those who wish to can hand in their cards at the end for inclusion in upcoming public installations.
A pop-up exhibition featuring previous written responses from past participants will also be on display inside the venue, showing the varied ways people move towards or away from traditional ideas of Irishness.
“What emerges is far from a unified voice or consensus,” stated Felix Power. “I see it as a beautiful cacophony, a hectic dawn chorus of differing voices, diverse journeys and unique understandings.”
Power, a graduate of MTU Cork’s MA in Arts and Engagement, has a background spanning visual art, sculpture, live performance, and film. His work focusses heavily on creating participatory spaces that combine playfulness with authentic dialogue about local culture and place.
The event is open to everyone regardless of background or nationality. Supported by Creative Ireland and the Kerry County Council Arts Office, admission is entirely free. While a limited number of entry passes will be available at the door on the day, advance online booking is encouraged to assist organisers with capacity monitoring.

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Town encouraged to wear bright colours for Kevin

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Town encouraged to wear bright colours for Kevin

The town of Killarney was encouraged to wear its brightest colours this week to honour the memory of one of its most beloved sons following the sudden and unexpected passing of Kevin Looney on Tuesday.


A familiar sight walking the streets of Killarney and his adopted home of Tralee alongside his wife Katie, Kevin was widely known for his bright personality, athletic talent, and involvement with local sports organisations.
A gifted athlete and dedicated leader, Kevin served for many years as captain of the Kerry Stars Special Olympics basketball team, leading the side to back-to-back tournament victories in Little Island, Cork, in 2023. Beyond his success on the court, he was a talented runner with an 18-minute 5k record, a keen soccer player with ambitions for Kerry FC, and a head designer who created custom sports gear for his clubs.
Tributes have poured in for the young man, whose kindness, dedication, and enthusiasm left a lasting mark on teammates, coaches, and the wider community.
Kevin is survived by his wife Katie, his mother Carmel, his sisters Selina, Carmel-Ann, and Frankie, his brothers Darren and Tommy-Dan, his granddad Dan McCarthy, and his nephews Sean, Noah, and Theo, along with his extended family, neighbours, and friends.
His removal took place on Thursday evening at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney. Funeral mass takes place this morning, Friday, at 10am at St Mary’s Cathedral, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.
Mourners attending the service have been asked to wear bright colours in Kevin’s memory. Family flowers only, with donations in lieu, if desired, to Epilepsy Ireland.

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