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Father-daughter duo excel at World Jigsaw Championship

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You may remember back in September; the Killarney Advertiser published a story about a father-daughter duo who were heading to Spain to compete in the World Jigsaw Championship. Well, Killarney’s Emma Quirke and her father, Darren Quirke, have since returned home from the competition held in in Valladolid, Spain, after delivering impressive performances on the international stage. The duo, representing Ireland, competed in both the individual and pairs categories.

Emma Quirke, a 24-year-old teacher, stunned commentators as she soared through the preliminary rounds of the individual competition, comfortably securing her place in the semifinals. In her semifinal heat, Emma completed a 500-piece puzzle in just 36 minutes and 36 seconds, finishing in a remarkable 4th place.

Advancing to the highly competitive final, Emma faced a new, unpublished jigsaw challenge. Although the final proved tougher, Emma still performed admirably, finishing 33rd overall with a time of 49 minutes and 26 seconds. For a first-time competitor, her result far exceeded expectations, especially given that she was relatively unknown in the international jigsaw scene prior to the competition.

In the pairs category, Emma teamed up with her father, Darren Quirke, to take on the challenge of a 1,000-piece puzzle specifically designed for the final. The puzzle, showcasing Valladolid, tested the skills of the competitors, and the Quirke duo proved up to the challenge. They completed the puzzle in 1 hour and 23 minutes, securing 73rd place out of 180 pairs - a commendable result in their debut international competition.

Upon her return, Emma and some of her Irish competitors established the Irish Jigsaw Association on Facebook, aiming to promote jigsaw puzzling throughout Ireland through fun events, puzzle swaps, and competitions. Emma has also introduced a jigsaw club at the school where she works, encouraging her students to step away from screens and engage with the rewarding pastime of puzzling. The club has already been a hit with students, who are eagerly embracing their new found hobby.

You can follow Emmas Instagram account, @thequirkeypuzzler

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Charlie Foley’s celebrates 130 years on New Street

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Charlie Foley’s celebrates 130 years on New Street

A glimpse of days gone by outside Charlie Foley’s on New Street, where generations of family history began. Photo courtesy of the Foley family.


Charlie Foley’s, Killarney’s oldest family-run pub, is celebrating its 130th anniversary on Friday, November 13 with a special night of music and community festivities at 101 New Street.


First established in 1896 by Charlie and Ellen Foley, the iconic local establishment is now in its fourth generation of family ownership, currently run by Colm Foley.
The anniversary event will feature live music from Donal Lucey and Comhra, featuring Sam Fagan and Paudie Enright, along with special giveaways from Torc Travel. The milestone follows the recent release of the pub’s custom anniversary whiskey, launched last year in the lead-up to the 130-year mark.
The celebration also honors the memory of Colm’s late mother, Eileen Foley, who passed away in June after spending decades at the heart of the business alongside her family.

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Homecoming honours two-time European champion Pa Casey

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Homecoming honours two-time European champion Pa Casey


Kerry Community Youth Service hosted a special homecoming celebration on Friday, October 30 to mark the achievements of two-time European Under-15 boxing champion Pa Casey.


The event brought together family, friends, fellow boxers, and local community members at the youth centre on Fair Hill.
Attendees included Mayor of Killarney John O’Donoghue, Councillor Niall O’Callaghan, Kerry County Boxing Board Chair Jennifer O’Sullivan Coffey, strength and conditioning coach Bobby Enright, and KCYS Chief Executive Officer Seamus Whitty.
Speaking at the celebration, KCYS CEO Seamus Whitty said: “It was a real privilege to welcome Pa, his family and friends to KCYS. When you watch Pa box, you see a young person on fire for something he loves. Whether it’s sport, music, art or anything else, there’s something wonderful about seeing young people discover what they’re capable of. That’s very much what we’re here to support at KCYS. We hear plenty of negative things said about young people, but Pa is a reminder of just how extraordinary they can be. His achievements are remarkable, and it’s really lovely to see his family, coaches and wider community gathered around him. When young people are encouraged, believed in and supported by the people around them, they’re unstoppable. That’s something worth celebrating and supporting.”

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