Connect with us

News

Local talent Orna Cleary O’Shea takes lead role in ‘All Shook Up’

Published

on

Residents of Killarney will recognise many familiar faces when Killarney Musical Society stages All Shook Up on February 10, 11 and 12 in the Gleneagle Arena.

The society is marking its 40th anniversary year and is introducing the lead cast members in the weeks before opening night.
Orna Cleary O’Shea plays Mayor Matilda Hyde, a conservative town leader who opposes the arrival of rock and roll. The character tries to keep control as music changes life in the community. Mayor Hyde is protective of her son Dean, played by Jaidon Ward Barrett, and works with Sheriff Earl, played by Conor O’Leary, to maintain order.
Orna has performed with the society since its first production in 1985 and has appeared in every show.
She said she has built her life around the group. “I have been afforded countless unforgettable memories, fabulous friendships, laughter, loss and love, and above all moments that have shaped my life and will treasure forever,” she said.
Her past roles include Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’, Sally Smith in ‘Me and My Girl’, Reno Sweeney in ‘Anything Goes’, Laurie in ‘Oklahoma’, and Mrs Johnstone in ‘Blood Brothers’.
She received an AIMS Best Actress nomination for Oklahoma. In later years she played Maria, Duchess of Derreen in Titanic and Alice Beane in Titanic.
Orna said Killarney Musical Society has been more than theatre. “KMS has been far more than a stage to me, it has been part of my life, a second home filled with laughter, tears, lifelong friendships and memories of a lifetime,” she said.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster and at the Gleneagle box office.

Advertisement

News

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Published

on

O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

Published

on

Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport