A double launch held on Thursday officially introduced two free summer music programmes for Killarney.

Both initiatives are directed and produced by local folk musician Tim O’Shea, highlighting a new acoustic music venture alongside the return of a long-running youth traditional arts showcase.

Following a successful pilot scheme last year, “The Anam Sessions” have been officially launched for the summer months.

This new series will feature early evening concerts showcasing local Kerry folk, traditional, singer-songwriter, and Afro-Irish acoustic music.

The sessions will run for five nights only, taking place every second Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm at ANAM on East Avenue Road.

The performance dates are 1 July, 15 July, 29 July, 12 August, and 26 August. Curated by Tim O’Shea, who will also perform alongside the guests each night, the line-up includes Fiona Doyle from Beaufort, Samuel Kiwanuka from Tralee, Mike Walsh from Knocknagoshel, and Philip Crickard from Ardfert. The series is sponsored by the Kerry Arts Office of Kerry County Council.

The launch also marked the return of “Spraoi Chiarraí” for its 21st season. This performance collective provides a mentorship platform for young local Kerry talent to gain experience in high-profile concert settings and develop their performance skills.

The Spraoi Chiarraí concerts will take place across five Saturdays at 8pm inside St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, opposite the Town Hall.

The scheduled dates are 4 July, 25 July, 1 August, 15 August, and 22 August. The opening concert on 4 July will feature accordionist Maighréad Ní Lúasa from Coolea, Ballyvourney, alongside her students from the Fermoy area. The group has also been invited to perform at Puck Fair this August.

The youth traditional arts programme is supported by Kerry County Council Killarney Municipal District, the Arts and Community Offices, Kerry Gems, the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, and the St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Vestry Committee.

Admission to all events across both festival bills is free, and families are welcome to attend. For more details, the public can contact Tim O’Shea at 087 2814550, email timoshea99@hotmail.com, or visit timosheaandfriends.com.

Community Hospital targeted for mid-July opening pending union ballot

The long-awaited Killarney Community Hospital has been given a new targeted opening date of July 13 for patient transfers, though one final obstacle remains as staff vote on operational conditions.

The project has faced numerous delays over the past two years, with several previously missed deadlines including September 2024, early 2025, March 2026, and most recently, June 30 of this year.
On Monday this week the facility finally secured its formal registration from Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
The approval was granted following the completion of minor structural works required to meet national standards. While the HSE had previously suggested this registration was imminent as far back as last January, the official clearance has only now arrived, roughly 18 months after the physical completion of the building on the grounds of St Finan’s.
The transition to the new state-of-the-art facility will involve the relocation of 101 patients from the existing community hospital.
However, the mid-July moving date remains strictly dependent on the outcome of an ongoing union ballot. Following discussions between management and staff representatives, an agreed position was reached, and nurses began voting on the proposed staffing conditions over the weekend.