The Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Martin Grady, has issued a stark warning regarding the “toxic environment” of social media, calling for an outright ban on the platforms for children under the age of 16.

In a rare move of political agreement, the Independent councillor confirmed this week that he “strongly agrees” with recent proposals by Tánaiste Simon Harris to introduce strict age-based restrictions.
The Mayor, who is notable among public representatives for not using social media himself, described the digital landscape as a primary driver of a growing mental health crisis.
Mayor Grady argued that the constant connectivity of smartphones means that for many Killarney students, harassment and peer pressure are no longer confined to school hours.
“Social media has become a major driver of cyberbullying,” Mayor Grady stated. “For many young people, bullying no longer ends at the school gate; it follows them home and beyond. This constant exposure can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.”
The Mayor also highlighted the misleading nature of “curated” online lives. He noted that formative years are being damaged by young people comparing their reality to the “perfect lives” portrayed online, which he described as often being nothing more than a captured, edited moment.
The call from Killarney’s first citizen comes as the national conversation around digital safety reaches a fever pitch. Last week, Tánaiste Simon Harris described the impact of social media as being “on the verge of a public health emergency,” comparing the need for age limits to existing laws governing alcohol and nicotine.
The Tánaiste’s comments in Croatia, where he met with other European leaders to discuss similar restrictions, suggest that Ireland may follow countries like Australia, which recently moved to implement a world-first ban for under-16s.
A recent Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent confirmed the scale of the issue, revealing that 52% of people in Ireland feel “addicted” to their phones, while 22% admit to spending more than five hours a day on their devices.
Addressing potential critics of a ban, Mayor Grady insisted the proposal is not about punishment or censorship but is a necessary safeguarding measure.
“It is about giving young people the space to grow, mature, and develop real-world social skills without the constant pressures and risks that come with online platforms,” he said.
While acknowledging that enforcement and digital literacy present significant challenges, the Mayor concluded that the “benefits far outweigh the negatives.”
“Doing nothing is no longer an option,” he added, urging the government to move beyond age-verification pilots toward a definitive prohibition for the under-16 age group.

Killarney’s Emer Buckley and her daughter Michaela Buckley O’Riordan made National Basketball Arena history over the weekend, becoming the first mother-daughter duo to officiate at the prestigious National Cup Finals.

The pair shared the spotlight in Dublin, working both individually and together across a busy weekend of top-flight action.

Emer is a seasoned National League HPG referee and is widely regarded as one of the top officials in the country.

Her daughter, Michaela, has carved out her own path as a FIBA-licenced table official, a qualification she earned last year following years of commitment to the sport.

Michaela is a familiar face at the Killarney Sports Centre, where she serves as the table official coordinator for St. Paul’s Basketball Club.

Her expertise is in high demand, seeing her officiate weekly at Women’s Superleague and Men’s Division 1 games, as well as travelling to assist the Tralee Warriors.

The weekend was a full-circle moment for the family. Michaela grew up watching her mother win National Cup titles as a player with St. Paul’s.

This year, she was involved in six different cup finals, with the highlight being the Women’s Superleague Final, which was broadcast live on TG4.

Both women continue to be key figures in the development of the sport in Kerry, balancing their local club duties with high-level national and international officiating assignments.