News
Busy week for politics students at The Sem
St Brendan's College Choir performing for An Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD during his visit to St Brendan's College Killarney onMonday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin
It was a busyweek for Mr Declan O’Donoghue’s Politics and Society classes at St Brendan’s College, with visits from national leaders followed by a trip to Leinster House.
On Monday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited the school, where he met students and staff and toured the facilities. He held a question-and-answer session with senior Politics students, discussing national and international issues and the value of young people engaging in public life. The Taoiseach described St Brendan’s as a school with a long and proud 165-year tradition and praised its commitment to opportunity and learning.
The class also welcomed Ministers Norma Foley and Michael Healy-Rae, Senator Mark Daly and Kerry TDs Michael Cahill and Danny Healy-Rae.
On Tuesday, the fifth and sixth year classes travelled to Dáil Éireann, where they visited the Seanad and committee rooms and observed proceedings on what was a busy day, with the Cabinet reshuffle taking place. The trip was facilitated by Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.
The visit was supported by Ms Kelleher, Mrs Gorman and Mrs Sweetman.
Busy week for politics students at The Sem
It was a busyweek for Mr Declan O’Donoghue’s Politics and Society classes at St Brendan’s College, with visits from national leaders followed by a trip to Leinster House.
On Monday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited the school, where he met students and staff and toured the facilities. He held a question-and-answer session with senior Politics students, discussing national and international issues and the value of young people engaging in public life. The Taoiseach described St Brendan’s as a school with a long and proud 165-year tradition and praised its commitment to opportunity and learning.
The class also welcomed Ministers Norma Foley and Michael Healy-Rae, Senator Mark Daly and Kerry TDs Michael Cahill and Danny Healy-Rae.
On Tuesday, the fifth and sixth year classes travelled to Dáil Éireann, where they visited the Seanad and committee rooms and observed proceedings on what was a busy day, with the Cabinet reshuffle taking place. The trip was facilitated by Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.
The visit was supported by Ms Kelleher, Mrs Gorman and Mrs Sweetman.
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.
Lochanna Beo’s mapping highlights water quality concerns
Lochanna Beo’s mapping highlights water quality concerns Local environmental action group Lochanna Beo has released mapping data from the Environmental...
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...
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