Kerry Airport has received €1.4 million in funding to support payroll costs across air traffic control, fire services and security screening.

In total, €4 million in Exchequer funding is being allocated to Ireland West, Donegal and Kerry airports under the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025.

The announcement has been welcomed by Kerry TDs Michael Cahill, Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae and Norma Foley.

The announced funding is in addition to the €7.8 million in capital supports announced for the same airports earlier this year.

Overall, passenger traffic across these airports from January to end September this year has increased by 11% when compared with the same period last year.

The Chief Financial Officer at Kerry Airport, Basil Sheerin, extended his appreciation to the Minister for Transport and Kerry politicians for their steadfast support.

He said: “The funding provided for both operational and capital expenditure has been critical to delivering investment in our electric vehicle fleet, green energy initiatives, security infrastructure, and ongoing runway maintenance. hese are commitments to a sustainable and secure future.”

Minister Darragh O’Brien said while today’s announcement marks the last round of funding under the current programme, the Government is committed to investing in regional airports and will create a new programme for 2026-2030.

Meanwhile, more than 7 million Ryanair passengers have travelled through Kerry Airport since the airline began operating there in 1989.

Ryanair’s Director of Communications, Jade Kirwan, welcomed the significant milestone saying it “showcases Ryanair’s continued support and investment in the region.”

Ms Kirwan called on the government to continue supporting regional airports by expanding the scope of the Regional Airports Programme 2026-30 to at least 3m passengers per annum which she says would allow regional airports to grow traffic without being penalised for doing so.

This winter, Ryanair is operating 58 weekly flights across 5 routes to/from Kerry Airport, including city break destinations like Frankfurt, Manchester, and London.

Kerry Airport recently underwent a massive refurbishment, with a new arrivals hall unveiled earlier this month.

It was officially opened by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

A husband and wife who built a hugely successful international business from humble beginnings in a shed at the rear of their home have been inducted into the Order of Inisfallen.

The award is considered the highest honour that  Killarney can bestow.
Con and Anne Stack saw their company grow from very humble beginnings to a multi-national enterprise that now employs over 600 people.
That remarkable success story was recognised at a ceremony in the historic Muckross House on Thursday afternoon when they received the Order of Inisfallen civic honour which is a joint initiative between Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Kerry County Council.
It recognises those who have made an exceptional contribution to the local economy and to the tourism industry.
When they moved to Killarney over 50 years ago, Moyvane native Con and his Ballyduff native wife, Anne, set up Killarney Plastics, having identified a market for fibre glass and glass enforced products.
The company later moved operations to an IDA supported, purpose-built unit and the remarkable dedication shown and groundwork put in by Con and Anne Stack paid handsome dividends as Killarney Plastics became global engineering company Tricel.
It evolved into a major family-led firm, delivering performance and innovation-driven solutions across the water, environmental, construction and distribution industries.
With 14 companies within the group, Tricel currently employs 620 people, 200 of whom are based in Killarney, and the company is now run by Con and Anne’s sons Michael, Con, Richard and Robert.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Martin Grady  said the story of Tricel is inspiring as it went from modest beginnings to international innovation, nurtured by vision, hard work, resilience and innovation.
“Despite this remarkable expansion, the Stack family has never lost sight of their roots. They have remained humble and steadfast supporters of local employment, local investment and local opportunity.
“Their commitment has ensured that generations of families in Killarney, Kerry and beyond have had the ability to thrive close to home,” the mayor said.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President Johnny McGuire said all the comments he has heard since it was first announced that Con and Anne Stack were to be honoured had one common theme: It couldn’t happen to a nicer couple or a nicer family.
“No words of mine could adequately describe the impact the company has made, both as a manufacturer and as an employer of over 600 people.
“Everything Con and Anne Stack have achieved in business and in life can be attributed to their dignity, their dedication, their commitment, their will to succeed and their incredible work ethic,” he said.