News
Three local competitors to watch in this weekend’s Rally of the Lakes
Three local competitors will start the 2023 Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes in state-of-the-art rally cars capable of winning the event.
RALLY CARS: Cecelia Lynch (Administrative Quality Assurance Coordinator at Assess Ireland) Paula Buckley (Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator at Codepak Solutions) Erin Cosgrove (Director of Customer Relations at Assess Ireland) at the launch of the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes on Saturday evening. Photo: Digimac Photography
RALLY LAUNCH: Paula Buckley (Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator at Codepak Solutions) Erin Cosgrove (Director of Customer Relations at Assess Ireland) Cecelia Lynch (Administrative Quality Assurance Coordinator) and Conor Deasy (Managing Director at Assess Ireland) at the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch on Saturday. Photo: Digimac Photography
UNDER COVER: Rally fans take advantage of the free umbrellas handed out by Assess Ireland at the Rally of the Lakes launch on Saturday evening. Photo: Digimac Photography
CREW: Members of Killarney and District Motor Club and Assess Ireland staff at the launch of the Rally of the Lakes on Saturday. Photo: Digimac Photography
TEAM: Members of Killarney and District Motor Club and Assess Ireland staff at the launch of the Rally of the Lakes on Saturday from left to right; Tom Randles Gavin Lynne Michael Hickey Jim O’Brien Conor Deasy Dermot Healy and Cormac Casey. Photo: Digimac Photography
CROWD: A large group of rally fans attended the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch on Saturday evening. Photo: Digimac Photography
PARTY: A hen party gate-crashed the launch of the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes on Saturday. Photo: Digimac Photography
RALLY CARS: Cecelia Lynch (Administrative Quality Assurance Coordinator at Assess Ireland) Paula Buckley (Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator at Codepak Solutions) Erin Cosgrove (Director of Customer Relations at Assess Ireland) at the launch of the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes on Saturday evening. Photo: Digimac Photography
RALLY LAUNCH: Paula Buckley (Graphic Design and Marketing Coordinator at Codepak Solutions) Erin Cosgrove (Director of Customer Relations at Assess Ireland) Cecelia Lynch (Administrative Quality Assurance Coordinator) and Conor Deasy (Managing Director at Assess Ireland) at the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch on Saturday. Photo: Digimac Photography
UNDER COVER: Rally fans take advantage of the free umbrellas handed out by Assess Ireland at the Rally of the Lakes launch on Saturday evening. Photo: Digimac Photography
CREW: Members of Killarney and District Motor Club and Assess Ireland staff at the launch of the Rally of the Lakes on Saturday. Photo: Digimac Photography
TEAM: Members of Killarney and District Motor Club and Assess Ireland staff at the launch of the Rally of the Lakes on Saturday from left to right; Tom Randles Gavin Lynne Michael Hickey Jim O’Brien Conor Deasy Dermot Healy and Cormac Casey. Photo: Digimac Photography
CROWD: A large group of rally fans attended the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch on Saturday evening. Photo: Digimac Photography
PARTY: A hen party gate-crashed the launch of the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes on Saturday. Photo: Digimac Photography
Defending champion Callum Devine will start at number one and he will have Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan in a Volkswagen Polo Rally2 alongside.
They dramatically won the rally last year after chief rival Alistair Fisher crashed out in the final stage.
Two more local Volkswagens will start the rally in the hands of Rob Duggan and Alan Ring.
“It is an honour to carry number one on the doors,” said O’Sullivan. “The club have put on an incredible route, and it is great to see the two boys out in Polos. There is a very strong entry, and we will do our best to get a good result.”
Duggan is the defending modified category champion but has made a surprise step up to the top class.
“It has always been a dream since I was four or five-years-old to go up The Gap in a top machine,” he said.
“I have no idea what to expect, I will only see the car on Thursday morning, I have only done the rally in a modified car, so I guess this car won’t be as tail happy.”
He will be co-driven, as usual, by Ger Conway.
Duggan’s car will be run by Welsh outfit, Melvyn Evans Motorsport, the same team that will run Alan Ring who makes a welcome return to top-flight rallying after a few years contesting events in the historic category.
“The weekend should be good,” he said. “Myself and Rob will be teammates and it will be nice to have a proper car for the event.”
The rally gets underway with a ceremonial start in Killarney town centre on Friday evening before two action-packed days across 16 stages.
The Saturday run returns to the challenging Beara Peninsula while Sunday morning’s action takes place in South Kerry ahead of the grand finale on East Kerry roads on Sunday evening.
Bottle recycling drive passes major €20,000 milestone
A staff-led recycling initiative at Centra Muckross Road has passed €20,000 in fundraising for local sports clubs, schools, and community groups across Kerry.
What began in March 2024 as a two-person effort by store employees Kevin and Patricia Ennis to rescue recyclable bottles from general waste bins has grown into a widespread community campaign. Using Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, the pair originally set out to fund an automated external defibrillator for the store.
Having successfully installed both indoor and outdoor defibrillators and funded CPR training for staff, the initiative expanded its reach. The drive now raises between €150 and €200 weekly, with local residents regularly dropping off bags of eligible bottles and cans directly to the store team.
The €20,000 total has supported numerous local causes, including primary schools across Killarney, youth sports organisations, health charities such as Pieta House and the Irish Kidney Association, and local athlete Sarah Leahy.
Speaking about the milestone, Kevin Ennis highlighted that the initial goal was simply to stop recyclable materials from going to waste. “The defibrillator was our first goal, and once we saw what a difference it made, we just kept going,” he said. “It is amazing to think it has added up to over €20,000 now.”
Patricia Ennis praised the ongoing backing from local residents who bring items into the Muckross Road shop specifically to support the drive. “The best part is how the community has taken it on as their own,” she said. “People bring bags of bottles in and ask us who it is going to next.”
The Sheahan family, who operate ten Centra outlets and one Daybreak store in County Kerry, confirmed that the team will continue collecting deposit-return items at the Muckross Road premises to support further community projects throughout the year.
Centenary certificate for Beaufort’s Rupert Costello
Beaufort native Rupert Costello has been presented with a special centenary certificate by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin for his lifelong service to Fianna Fáil.
The presentation took place at the Beaufort Bar, where Mr Costello was recognised for his decades of dedication to advancing the party locally and nationally.
Over the years, Mr Costello has held numerous roles within the Beaufort Fianna Fáil cumann, one of the oldest active cumainn in Ireland. Joined by his wife Noreen for the presentation, he was praised for his long-standing commitment to community politics and the local organisation.
Bottle recycling drive passes major €20,000 milestone
Bottle recycling drive passes major €20,000 milestone A staff-led recycling initiative at Centra Muckross Road has passed €20,000 in fundraising...
Centenary certificate for Beaufort’s Rupert Costello
Centenary certificate for Beaufort’s Rupert Costello Beaufort native Rupert Costello has been presented with a special centenary certificate by An...
Rare freshwater turtle spotted in Killarney National Park
A non-native freshwater turtle has been spotted basking on the banks of the Lakes of Killarney near Dinis. The unexpected...
Urgent flood relief scheme opens for affected households
Strict Sunday deadline applies for emergency government financial supportTorrential downpour damaged homes and closed major local roads Killarney homeowners directly...
Calls to expand mink management to National Park
Calls to expand mink management to National Park Local conservation group Lochanna Beo is calling for a targeted American Mink...
