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Adventure Awaits at Killarney’s Wander Wild Festival This Weekend!
Kick off Your Easter Break at the Ultimate Adventure and Wellness Weekend at Wander Wild Festival in Killarney.
Killarney is on a high this weekend with the much-anticipated Wander Wild Festival, which is packed with unforgettable experiences for outdoor, adventure, and wellness enthusiasts, along with a full kids programme!
The UNESCO Killarney National Park will be buzzing with lots of outdoor activities from Stand Up Paddleboarding and Sunrise Dips, to Hikes, Forest Bathing, Samhradh’s Sauna at Dundag, a Mindfulness Hike, and Rock Climbing in the Gap of Dunloe, showcasing our treasured natural amenities at their best for locals and visitors alike to experience and enjoy. It’s such a great opportunity to try something new!
The Festival kicked off this morning with the Nature Valley Hike with Roz Purcell and over the three days there are over 120 events both in the National Park and in town so there is something for everyone! Over 2,500 are expected to take part in events over the three days. More than 40 of the events are already sold out but tickets are still available for many activities.
The expanded evening programme includes seanchaí story-telling fireside chats with well-known adventurers, and an intimate concert with Bressie and Special Guests in St Mary’s Church of Ireland.
The festival offers events to revitalise the body, mind, and soul of every adventurer and outdoor lover. The Wellness Hub based in the Anam Cultural Arts Centre promises to bring calm to all who attend one of the many well-being events, whether you’re interested in herbal medicine, mindset, energy health, breathwork and more. There’s also a Vision Boarding Workshop with fashion designer and influencer Aoife McNamara and Killarney’s own KellyKali Yoga as well as a host of yoga activities.
Basecamp at Kenmare Place (pedestrianised during the day on Saturday and Sunday) will be buzzing all weekend with street food vendors, performances and people coming and going to activities. There’ll be musical performances and fun activities including Cyclextric!
There are also plenty of family-friendly events, ensuring a fun-filled weekend for all. For the kids, there are Gruffalo hunts, digital treasure hunts, musical master classes, family yoga and more.
Pat Chawke, Chairperson of Wander Wild Festival, said, "We are very excited for this weekend's festival. We have expanded the programme to cater to a wide range of interests. We encourage everyone to explore their home town in a new way by participating in one of the 100 events we have on offer. Basecamp will be the heart of the action over the weekend, so be sure to come along and enjoy some street entertainment. We’d like to thank all of our volunteers who have put so much into organising this weekend and all the local activity providers and businesses who have supported us in showcasing Killarney as the Outdoor capital of Ireland. This is a fantastic opportunity for our town."
Wander Wild Festival is sponsored by Nature Valley and supported by 53 Degrees North, Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce and the National Park and Wildlife Service.
Gneeveguilla apprentice wins national stonemasonry title
Darragh O’Sullivan from Gneeveguilla won the overall prize in the Architectural Stonemasonry category at the WorldSkills Ireland competition held recently at the RDS in Dublin.
An apprentice stonecutter and stonemason with the Office of Public Works (OPW) based in Mallow, O’Sullivan secured gold for his technical accuracy and craftsmanship during the three-day event.
The state agency relies on traditional trade skills to manage, conserve, and restore national monuments, public buildings, and heritage sites across the country.
O’Sullivan’s success reflects the training provided by his OPW mentors and team, highlighting the importance of apprentice development in preserving traditional heritage crafts for future generations.
Picture Caption: CRAFT CHAMPION: Tom Little (Kerry ETB), Terri Sweeney Meade (OPW), category winner Darragh O’Sullivan (OPW), and Donal Keys (WorldSkills Ireland) at the RDS in Dublin.
Jessica Cronin donates hair for children’s charity
Ten-year-old Killarney resident Jessica Cronin is set to cut and donate 12 inches of her hair to support young cancer patients, alongside a fundraising campaign for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.
The hair donation will go directly to the Little Princess Trust, a charity providing real hair wigs free of charge to children and young people who have lost their own hair through medical treatment.
Alongside her hair donation, Jessica is collecting financial contributions for LauraLynn through the Locks of Love campaign.
“I want to help somebody that doesn’t have something that I have, hair,” Jessica said.
Her family expressed their pride in her decision to support both organisations.
“We are all so proud of her,” her mother, Grace O’Shea-Cronin, said. “Any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.”
Donations to support Jessica’s fundraiser can be made online at
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