Killarney Coffee Shop ranked among Europe’s best

Boardwalk Coffee Killarney secures 48th place in prestigious European awards

There is great excitement in Killarney this week as Boardwalk Coffee Killarney has officially been ranked 48th Best Coffee Shop in Europe for 2026, following the prestigious Europe’s 100 Best Coffee Shops Gala held in Brussels.
In a competition where over 5,300 coffee shops across Europe were evaluated, the Killarney outlet secured an outstanding place among the continent’s elite, putting both Killarney and Kerry firmly on the international coffee map.
The achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that Boardwalk Coffee Killarney is the only coffee shop in Munster to make the Top 100 list and is one of only nine coffee shops in Ireland to be recognised.
Adding to the success story, the Killarney branch only opened its doors in April 2025, making this international recognition all the more extraordinary in such a short space of time.
At the centre of the achievement is Jason Murphy, manager of the Killarney branch, who was recently named among the Top 12 Baristas in Ireland — recognition of his skill, dedication and passion for the craft.
Jason’s leadership, together with the strength of the wider Boardwalk Coffee team, has played a major role in securing the prestigious European ranking.
Located in the heart of Killarney, one of Ireland’s leading tourist destinations, Boardwalk Coffee has quickly built a strong reputation for premium coffee, excellent service and a warm welcome for both locals and visitors alike.
Speaking after the announcement in Brussels, Boardwalk Coffee founder Ger Flanagan praised the Killarney team for their commitment and professionalism.
He paid special tribute to Jason Murphy and Vadym Zvarch, Head Roaster at Boardwalk Coffee, for helping build the brand’s growing reputation for quality.
The achievement has also been warmly welcomed by civic leaders, with Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, describing it as a major Irish success story and congratulating the entire team.
To be ranked 48th in Europe, and to be the only Munster coffee shop to achieve the honour, is a major milestone not only for Boardwalk Coffee, but for Killarney, Kerry and Irish hospitality.
It is another strong example of how Irish independent coffee culture continues to gain recognition on the world stage.

Killarney Triathlon Club member Oran O’Donoghue has had his race cancelled after Ironman Nice and Ironman 70.3 Nice were called off this weekend due to a heatwave in Europe.

The Muckross man travelled to France for the Full Ironman event. However, local authorities in Nice cancelled the triathlons to protect the safety of the 4,500 athletes, organisers, and volunteers.

Officials stated that running the races would put too much pressure on emergency and medical services.

France and other parts of the continent are experiencing high temperatures, leading to the cancellation or modification of several other races.

The club are all behind Oran who is also a committee member and excellent swimmer,” said club PRO Caitriona Shannahan, “As you can imagine it was devastating for him.It will be rescheduled and we are all behind him for this huge endurance event.”

The news follows a club gathering just days earlier. On Tuesday, June 23rd, members met at Dundag for a training swim and a get-together to wish O’Donoghue luck before his trip to France.

Cronin represents Ireland in Spain

Killarney Triathlon Club also recognised the recent achievement of member Alan Cronin from Scartaglen, who represented Ireland at the European Triathlon Age Group Championships in Tarragona, Spain.

Competing in the Sprint Distance race, Cronin finished in 34th place against age-group athletes from across Europe.

The swim went ahead without wetsuits due to the hot weather, followed by a fast, draft-legal bike course.

The run proved challenging in the high temperatures, but Cronin described the event as a fantastic experience that he thoroughly enjoyed.