Connect with us

News

Showcasing Killarney to an influential audience

Published

on

0249691_Laura_Fleming__a_student_from_St_Brigids_Presentation_Secondary_School__entertainig_guests_with_the_brush_dance.jpg

For tourism industry professionals, the Skal President’s Dinner is the social highlight of the year, but was also a perfect opportunity to show the best of Killarney.

GALA: Melanie and John Hurley at the Skal President's Dinner on Saturday night. Photo: Alexandra Bozic

PRESIDENT'S DINNER: Caroline Hennigan Molly O'Mahony and Geraldine O'Mahony at the Skal President's Dinner. Photo: Alexandra Bozic

SCHOOL: The singers and dancers from St Brigid's Presentation Secondary School who performed at the Skal President's Dinner on Saturday night. Photo: Alexandra Bozic

The gala event in the Plaza Hotel on Saturday night was hosted by Kerry Skal President Michelle Rosney and she used the occasion to highlight the best of Killarney’s performing arts talent, cuisine and locally produced drinks.

There were special performances on the night by singers and dancers from St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney and the West End House School of Arts who brought The Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, back to life for one night only to deliver a passionate dramatisation of a famous speech.

Food served included local produce from the Killarney Urban Farm project on East Avenue Road.

The tipple of choice for the traditional after dinner toast was the Liberator Irish Whiskey supplied by Maurice and Francesca O’Connell of Wayward Irish Spirits based in Fossa.

On display on the night were the All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate trophies recently won by Fossa and Rathmore respectively, and although the Sam Maguire was unavoidably absent, Kerry Skal President Michelle Rosney promised guests that, all going according to plan, Sam would be on display in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Skal is the largest international hospitality networking organisation in the world with 13,000 members in 308 clubs in almost 90 countries.

Special guests in attendance included Fáilte Ireland chairperson Paul Carty, Skal Ireland President Margaret Cahill, Skal Ireland Treasurer Francis Brennan, lifelong Skal member Dermot Cronin of Cork, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, MEP Seán Kelly, Kerry College and ETB Chairman Cllr Jim Finucane, Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels Federation Chairperson Bernadette Randles and Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne.

Advertisement

News

Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

Published

on

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

Continue Reading

News

St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

Published

on

By

Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport