OPINION: Show your Kerry pride by buying local

As the build-up to the big match heats up, green and gold gear is popping up everywhere across Killarney.

While the buzz is great, where you buy your match-day merchandise matters.
Temporary street vendors setting up on footpaths might add a bit of colour, but they give nothing back once the match is over. Buying your jerseys, flags, and scarves from established Killarney shops ensures your money stays in the local economy.
Local businesses support our town all year round. They pay rates, employ local staff, and sponsor local sports clubs, schools, and community groups whenever asked. When our teams need backing, local traders step up. Street stalls simply take their cash and leave.
Shopping in Killarney town centre protects local jobs and keeps our streets active. The pride we show for the Kerry jersey should match the support we give to the businesses keeping our town going.
Before heading off to back the Kingdom, support the local shops that support Killarney every day of the year. Buy local and keep the benefits at home.

Fans urged to leave points on field

Kerry fans travelling to Croke Park for the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on Sunday, are being urged to keep road safety as their top priority and leave the penalties and points to the players on the pitch.

With thousands of supporters set to travel hundreds of kilometres by car, bus, train, and plane for the showdown between Kerry and Mayo, Kerry and Mayo County Councils have joined forces to roll out a joint road safety campaign.
The initiative features a GAA-inspired advert for local radio and social media. The campaign highlights that while speed and impact play a key role for a footballer on the pitch, the consequences of speed behind the wheel carry a very different and dangerous outcome. Both local authorities emphasize that road safety is a team effort, ensuring everyone arrives safely to enjoy the match and returns home without incident.
Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Declan Keogh, warned of the need for vigilance during the long journey to Dublin.
“There will be a lot of excitement and distractions on the journeys to Croke Park. We are asking motorists to stay focused, keep their eye on the road and ensure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt. Long journeys can be tiring for drivers, so short breaks should be factored into the journey plan. Whether celebrating or commiserating after the game, drivers should never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Staying safe on the road is the main goal.”
Supporters on both sides are being reminded that regardless of the result on the pitch, making safe decisions on the road ensures a winning outcome for everyone