A 17-strong group of volunteers from the Kerry branch of Orienteering Ireland this week turned out to give their time and a huge effort to the final Killarney Mountain Meitheal outing of the season.

They joined a group of over 20 regular voluntary workers clearing the hugely invasive rhododendron species and helping to restore the woodland habitats in Killarney National Park.
The Mountain Meitheal – supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service with the invaluable support of the Trustees of Muckross House – held no less than 53 work camps between October and this week with an average of over 20 volunteers per outing.
“These sessions are essential for keeping key areas free of rhododendron and giving native plants an opportunity to regenerate naturally,” said volunteer Johnny McGuire.
“Thanks to the hard work, in all kinds of weather, we’re already seeing great results,” he added.
For the summer months the volunteers will now turn their hands to the Tidy Towns Meitheal with the aim of keeping Killarney Looking Good for the season ahead.
The first outing of the season will be on Monday, May 12 meeting at the bottle bank in the High Street car park at 6.00pm ,and everybody is welcome to lend a hand.