Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has paid tribute to the organisation’s senior executive, Bridget O’Keeffe, who is to leave the position to pursue other interests.

The Newmarket, Co Cork native, who previously held a key role with financial services giant Fexco, joined Chamber in February 2023 and she assumed responsibility for the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Bridget spearheaded a major restructuring of the Chamber with several new steering committees established to oversee issues such as advocacy, retail, sustainability, events, brand communication and membership.

During her term, she also helped to increase membership quite significantly. She greatly strengthened relationships with other stakeholders involved in the promotion of Killarney, thus ensuring a coherent approach to the reputational management of the town.

Bridget’s main priority was to ensure the Chamber’s new governance and development plan was successfully implemented and to ensure a collective and unified voice was heard in the promotion of the Killarney brand throughout the world.

She also developed a top-class new website for the Chamber and she was the liaison between the business organisation and other promotional stakeholders such as Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation.

More recently, Bridget led the Chamber team in the organisation and running of the hugely successful Celebration of Irish-American Friendship, working closely on that project with her colleagues Katy Jacobi and Maureen Hegarty and the Chamber executive.

Chamber Co-Presidents Pádraig Treacy and Johnny McGuire thanked Bridget for her tremendous contribution over the past 18 months and for helping to successfully reshape, grow and enhance the organisation.

“We are enormously grateful to Bridget for all she has done. We worked really well together and she had a fantastic relationship with Chamber members who hold her in very high regard,” they said.

Chamber expressed delight that Bridget will remain on as a valued member of the Christmas in Killarney festival committee and as a volunteer for the many events that take place throughout the year, including the Tidy Towns and Killarney Looking Good campaign.

Bridget said she has thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the co-presidents, the executive, the staff, the many steering groups and, of course, the fantastic volunteers.

“Killarney Chamber is in great standing across a wide range of areas and it plays a pivotal role in supporting local businesses to make Killarney a wonderful place to live and work,” she said.