News
Muckross Suite CD will boost local charity
A magnificent musical suite, specially composed and arranged to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of Muckross House to the public, has been released on CD to raise funds for a deserving local charity this Christmas.
The Muckross Suite features five fabulous tracks all of which are linked to specific moments in time or events that occurred in the landmark house, the building of which was completed in 1843.
All proceeds from the CD will go to the Kerry Cancer Support Group which operates the Healthlink Transport Service bringing patients, free of charge, to and from hospitals in Cork and Limerick for treatment.
The CD project was commissioned by the Trustees of Muckross House to mark the diamond anniversary of the opening of the landmark building to the people of Killarney and around the world in 1964.
The Muckross Suite was composed by JJ O’Shea with arrangements by Paul de Grae and Reidun Schlesinger.
Paul (piano and guitar) and Reidun (harp) are joined by musicians Barry Lynch (uilleann pipes and whistle) and Sean Abeyta (fiddle) and the five-track CD was recorded at Tony O’Flaherty’s Sonas Studios in Killarney.
Muckross House archivist and librarian Patricia O’Hare said the inspiration for the musical project was inspired by Muckross House itself, its furnishings, its location and its history.
“It was a real labour of love for all involved and it is wonderful to be in a position to support such a wonderful charity,” she said.
Composer and broadcaster JJ O’Shea said the melody goes through five different changes and it takes the listener on an epic journey through the history of Muckross House.
The Muckross Suite is on sale in the Muckross House Craft Centre for €9.99 and all proceeds will go to the Kerry Cancer Support Group
The five tracks in what is essentially a Muckross House Anthem are:
Mary Herbert’s Piano: A tranquil solo piece dedicated to the former Muckross House owner whose piano is still on show there.
Kitty in the Kitchen: A jig that celebrates the life and times of the Muckross House staff who worked downstairs.
View from the Library Window: A harp-based track featuring a spectacular view from Muckross House which inspired Mary Herbert who was an accomplished water colourist. Her art demonstrates her great love and affection for Killarney’s landscape.
An American in Killarney: A lively jazz number dedicated to American entrepreneur William Bowers Bourn who purchased Muckross House for his daughter Maud.
Open Doors: A lively, upbeat 1960’s style rhythm marking the opening of Muckross House to the public in 1964.
Lochanna Beo’s mapping highlights water quality concerns
Local environmental action group Lochanna Beo has released mapping data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to draw attention to deteriorating water quality across Killarney and the broader Laune Catchment.
The EPA map uses a colour-coded system to rate water quality status from 2019 to 2024: blue indicates high status, green indicates good, yellow represents moderate, brown denotes poor, and red signifies bad status.
The figures indicate significant ecological pressure on local lakes and rivers compared to neighbouring areas across County Kerry.
Formed during the summer of 2026, Lochanna Beo aims to bring together residents, business owners, agricultural operators, and public bodies to address the key factors affecting the regional aquatic ecosystem.
The community initiative is seeking direct engagement with relevant statutory authorities to implement practical restoration measures and protect the long-term health of Killarney’s water bodies.
Former Killarney Cycling Club rider Stefan Caulfield-Dreier has secured a professional contract with leading Dutch-based outfit Azerion-Villa Valkenburg.
The 23-year-old Beaufort native began his cycling career with Killarney Cycling Club in the under-12 age category. He demonstrated strong potential during his youth career, culminating in a victory at the Under-16 National Time-Trial Championship in 2019.
After progressing through the junior ranks, Caulfield-Dreier began racing on the Continent with a Dutch squad upon entering senior competition. He claimed Senior National Track titles in both the Points and Madison events in 2023 and 2024, and went on to represent Ireland at international track events in the Netherlands and Switzerland across 2024 and 2025.
Announcing the signing, team management at Azerion-Villa Valkenburg highlighted Caulfield-Dreier as a specialist in classics and time trials who excels in demanding race conditions.
Killarney Cycling Club Chairman Kevin Murphy welcomed the announcement, praising the former member’s dedication.
“Stefan has shown enormous persistence and resilience, and we are delighted that he has been recognized and rewarded with this big step-up in his career,” Murphy said.
Caulfield-Dreier’s father, Heiko, runs Killorglin-based firm Aqua Design and has been a long-standing supporter of Killarney Cycling Club.
Stefan Caulfield-Dreier signs professional cycling contract
Former Killarney Cycling Club rider Stefan Caulfield-Dreier has secured a professional contract with leading Dutch-based outfit Azerion-Villa Valkenburg.
The 23-year-old Beaufort native began his cycling career with Killarney Cycling Club in the under-12 age category. He demonstrated strong potential during his youth career, culminating in a victory at the Under-16 National Time-Trial Championship in 2019.
After progressing through the junior ranks, Caulfield-Dreier began racing on the Continent with a Dutch squad upon entering senior competition. He claimed Senior National Track titles in both the Points and Madison events in 2023 and 2024, and went on to represent Ireland at international track events in the Netherlands and Switzerland across 2024 and 2025.
Announcing the signing, team management at Azerion-Villa Valkenburg highlighted Caulfield-Dreier as a specialist in classics and time trials who excels in demanding race conditions.
Killarney Cycling Club Chairman Kevin Murphy welcomed the announcement, praising the former member’s dedication.
“Stefan has shown enormous persistence and resilience, and we are delighted that he has been recognized and rewarded with this big step-up in his career,” Murphy said.
Caulfield-Dreier’s father, Heiko, runs Killorglin-based firm Aqua Design and has been a long-standing supporter of Killarney Cycling Club.
Former Killarney Cycling Club rider Stefan Caulfield-Dreier has secured a professional contract with leading Dutch-based outfit Azerion-Villa Valkenburg.
The 23-year-old Beaufort native began his cycling career with Killarney Cycling Club in the under-12 age category. He demonstrated strong potential during his youth career, culminating in a victory at the Under-16 National Time-Trial Championship in 2019.
After progressing through the junior ranks, Caulfield-Dreier began racing on the Continent with a Dutch squad upon entering senior competition. He claimed Senior National Track titles in both the Points and Madison events in 2023 and 2024, and went on to represent Ireland at international track events in the Netherlands and Switzerland across 2024 and 2025.
Announcing the signing, team management at Azerion-Villa Valkenburg highlighted Caulfield-Dreier as a specialist in classics and time trials who excels in demanding race conditions.
Killarney Cycling Club Chairman Kevin Murphy welcomed the announcement, praising the former member’s dedication.
“Stefan has shown enormous persistence and resilience, and we are delighted that he has been recognized and rewarded with this big step-up in his career,” Murphy said.
Caulfield-Dreier’s father, Heiko, runs Killorglin-based firm Aqua Design and has been a long-standing supporter of Killarney Cycling Club.
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