A special Christmas edition of the Saturday supplement on Radio Kerry will take listeners on a unique journey through Killarney National Park’s Black Valley with local guide Genie Tangney.

The story, broadcast from 9.00 am to 11.00 am on Saturday, December 27, features Genie Tangney leading broadcaster Frank Lewis through his special places in his native Black Valley.

Mr. Tangney, a keen observer of nature, shared striking encounters with wildlife, including the sound of “two red stags bellowed all night” and an occasion where “14 white-tailed eagles perched here in our home farmyard in Gearhameen”.

The programme delves into the area’s tough past, with Dux O’Donoghue of Gap of Dunloe Traditional Boat Tours recalling the precarious life of a fisherman. He noted that in the 1970s, catching “two salmon a week you were better off than a man working in Liebher, the best job in Killarney at the time,” but added that fishermen “could go six weeks without catching a salmon”.

The history of the area is further evidenced by the story of ‘Saltauns,’ who trapped otters for skins, earning £14 for each.
The broadcast also touches on the history of the native Red Deer herd. Former regional manager of the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Paddy O’Sullivan, recalled a never-implemented plan to continue shooting 400 deer a year over ten or eleven years to manage the population.

The history of travel is also explored, highlighting the jaunting car, pony, and boat Killarney day trip which has been operating for 278 years. At Lord Brandon’s Cottage quay, Mr. Tangney and Mr. O’Donoghue recounted the 70-year-old local story of an O’Donoghue firing a large plinth of rock over Purple mountain to the Gap of Dunloe.

Conservation Ranger Mary Sheehan pointed out local wildlife, including the Ring Ouzel, a rare summer visitor, and the sight of a pair of Whooper Swans flying the length of Cloghernoosh Lake. Mr. Tangney also pointed out the river gravel beds where Atlantic Salmon shape a depression for their eggs.

The programme also features local social history, including the building of Our Lady of the Valley church in the 1950s, with the parish priest Fr Sayers helping on the roof.

Listeners can join Frank Lewis and his guests on Radio Kerry on Saturday, December 27th, live on 97fm or worldwide on

www.radiokerry.ie. The programme will also be available on the website the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

Par 72, a brand-new golf simulator experience at the Brehon Hotel, is set to open in the new year. It features world-class visuals and access to a vast library of iconic golf courses from around the globe. Par 72 will be Kerry’s only public TrackMan golf simulator, offering hotel guests and the local community an unparalleled opportunity to play the world’s finest courses year-round. Speaking about the launch, Neil Grant, General Manager of The Brehon, said they are incredibly excited to introduce Par 72 to their guests and the wider community. He said: “The quality of the technology, the realism of the experience, and the versatility it brings to the hotel are truly impressive. Whether for practice, group entertainment, or competitive play, Par 72 elevates what we can offer year-round.” In support of this exciting new amenity, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club has kindly gifted The Brehon a set of golf clubs for use in Par 72. Par 72 is now available to book on their website. Pricing is €50 an hour for up to 4 players. More information and updates are available on the hotel’s social media pages.