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Sean Kelly faces tough Fine Gael battle for Presidential nomination

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Seán Kelly MEP faces an uphill battle to secure Fine Gael’s nomination for the Presidency after former cabinet minister Heather Humphreys quickly established a strong lead in parliamentary support this week.

Both Mr Kelly and Ms Humphreys formally announced their intention to seek the party’s nomination on Tuesday morning.
Each candidate will need the support of 20 members of the parliamentary party, 25 councillors and five members of the Fine Gael executive council in order to secure a place on the ballot.
Ms Humphreys has already secured at least 29 public declarations from TDs and senators.
Party insiders suggested her tally could climb above 30 by the end of the week, giving her a comfortable cushion well above the required threshold.
Among her backers are ministers Peter Burke and Patrick O’Donovan, junior ministers Neale Richmond, Hildegarde Naughton, Colm Brophy and Emer Higgins, and a wide spread of TDs and senators including David Maxwell, John Paul O’Shea, Paula Butterly, Frank Feighan, Catherine Callaghan, Alan Dillon and Maria Byrne.
In contrast, Mr Kelly had secured the backing of six members of the parliamentary party.
Those include Clare TD Joe Cooney, who said that as a Munster man and a GAA man he would be proud to support Mr Kelly, as well as Senators Michael Kennelly and Garrett Ahearn and TDs Noel McCarthy, Brian Brennan and Michael Murphy.
Mr Kelly, a former president of the GAA who has served as an MEP for Ireland South since 2009, entered the race following the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness on health grounds.
He said the change in circumstances led him to reflect on whether now was the right time to put himself forward.
In a statement, Mr Kelly said: “As someone who has devoted my life to serving communities across Ireland, as a teacher, as President of the GAA, and for the past sixteen years as MEP for Ireland South, I am confident that I can represent the country with integrity, inclusiveness, and a commitment to our communities. To be entrusted with that honour would be the greatest privilege of my life.”
He thanked his constituents in Ireland South for their support and added that a competitive process would be good for Fine Gael as it prepared for a presidential election contest.
Ms Humphreys, a Cavan-Monaghan native, is also a former cabinet minister with strong links to Northern Ireland. She has spoken in the past about her Unionist family background and is viewed by many in the party as a figure who could broaden Fine Gael’s appeal in the race for the Áras.
The contest to secure the Fine Gael nomination will now move quickly, with both candidates expected to spend the coming weeks canvassing members of the parliamentary party, councillors and executive members.
For Mr Kelly, the challenge will be to build momentum from his base in Munster and within the GAA community. For Ms Humphreys, the task will be to consolidate her early lead and demonstrate her national reach.

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Rugby Club launch new home jersey at Scotts Hotel

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Rugby Club launch new home jersey at Scotts Hotel


Killarney RFC officially unveiled their new home jersey for the upcoming 2026/2027 season during a launch event held at Scotts Hotel.


Club captain Matt McAuliffe presented the new shirt at the town centre venue, marking the official launch of the kit as the squad prepares for the new campaign ahead.
The club expressed its sincere gratitude to Scotts Hotel for their ongoing partnership and support. Killarney RFC members noted how proud they are to carry the name of a valued local sponsor on their jerseys throughout the season.

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Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday

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Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday



Following several false starts and long delays, the phased transfer of patients and residents to the new state-of-the-art Killarney Community Nursing Unit on Lewis Road is set to begin on Monday, August 10.



A major stumbling block regarding staff transfers and safe staffing levels was resolved following negotiations under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

With an agreement reached between the HSE and representative unions, including the INMO, SIPTU, and Fórsa, at long last, staff and residents are prepared to move into the new facility.

Welcoming the breakthrough, Councillor Marie Moloney expressed cautious optimism:

“It’s good news that an agreement has been reached with the staff and that transfer of residents and patients can finally take place to the Community Nursing Unit. So many families have been waiting for so long to see their loved ones transfer to this beautiful new facility. Let’s hope there will be no further delays.”

HSE National Director and Integrated Health Area Manager for Kerry, Julie O’Neill, confirmed that the agreement enables the facility to open safely on a phased basis:

“I welcome the agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, enabling us to proceed with the opening of our new Community Nursing Unit in Killarney. I would like to thank everyone involved in reaching this agreement and acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties.”

Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Michael Cahill TD, also welcomed the news:

“This is very welcome news for older people and their families across Kerry. The new Killarney Community Nursing Unit has been eagerly awaited and I am delighted that agreement has now been reached to allow its phased opening from August 10. I know the delays have been a source of frustration for many families but today’s announcement provides certainty that residents will soon begin moving into this modern, purpose-built facility.”

Deputy Cahill acknowledged the efforts of all parties involved in negotiations, noting:

“I want to thank the HSE, the Workplace Relations Commission and the representative unions, the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement. Ensuring safe staffing is essential, and I am pleased that a solution has now been found.”

He added:

“As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I will continue to work to ensure Kerry receives the healthcare investment and staffing it deserves. The opening of this new unit is a major step forward for residential care in our county, and I look forward to seeing residents welcomed through its doors from August 10.”

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