Vintage Tractor Show raises €6,000 for local charities

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has presented €6,000 to three local charities following the success of its annual tractor show at 4 Park Business Centre in Farranfore.

Each beneficiary received a cheque for €2,000 during a presentation evening following the event, which took place on Sunday, October 11.
The proceeds were divided equally between Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer Support House, Killarney Valley Athletics Club, and Firies National School.
More than 60 tractors featured in the showcase alongside community attractions including dyno testing, a digger challenge, and family entertainment.
Club members extended their thanks to the public, venue hosts, participants, and sponsors for their support in running the event and making the fundraising total possible.

My experience in Transition Year

My experience in Transition Year

My name is Ailbhe O’Callaghan. I am a 15 year old transition year student at St Brigids secondary school and I’m currently on work experience at the Killarney Advertiser.

Before starting Transition year, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’d heard so many different opinions about it, with some people saying it was the best year of secondary school. Now that I’ve been in Transition Year since August, I can already see why so many people recommend it.
I think one of the biggest things about Transition year is that it gives you the chance to grow as a person. Before starting this year, I would have described myself as quite shy and anxious, especially when it came to meeting new people, speaking up or putting myself in situations I wasn’t used to. I wasn’t always the most confident person when it came to trying new things, but I already feel like Transition Year is helping me change that.
Things like work experience have played a big part in this. At first, the idea of going somewhere new, meeting people and having to talk to people I don’t know was really nerve racking and quite daunting. However, you soon realise that sometimes you just have to put yourself out there. Getting the opportunity to do my work experience with the Killarney Advertiser has been a great example of this. It’s given me the chance to try something completely different, learn a bit about what goes on in a news magazine company and do something I might have not had the confidence to try before. My work experience in the Advertiser is really helping me decide on what I would like to do after school and it’s helping me realise that maybe journalism is something I’d like to pursue in the future.
Another thing I really like about Transition Year is having a bit of a break after the Junior Cert. After a hard year of focusing on exams, homework and studying, it’s nice to finally have a year where you’re not constantly worrying about exams. Of course, schoolwork is still important, but I think it’s good to have time to focus on other things too.
Already we’ve had so many opportunities to go on trips, attend open days and take part in activities we wouldn’t normally get to experience during an ordinary school year. I think these experiences are just as valuable as what you learn in a classroom because they teach you about independence, confidence, and what life might be like after you finish school. Our trip to UL Open Day is a great example of this. We got to walk around the campus and attend different talks where lecturers explained the courses and what we could expect from them.
I think people sometimes underestimate Transition Year because they see it as a “Doss Year” or simply a year without exams, but I think that’s exactly what makes it so valuable. It’s a chance to discover new interests, step outside your comfort zone, and learn things about yourself that you might not have otherwise.
Although I’m only a few months into Transition Year, I can already see how much I’ve benefited from it. For me, it’s not just about having fun or getting a break from studying. It’s about building my confidence, becoming more independent, and preparing myself for life beyond secondary school. And I think that’s what makes Transition Year so worth it.