Private dog park to open near Gap of Dunloe

Killarney and its surrounding areas are set to gain a long-awaited dog park, though the new facility will be a privately operated venture rather than a municipal amenity.

Located in the Gap of Dunloe near Kate Kearney’s Cottage (Eircode V93 K7N2), the enclosed park has been designed to provide a safe space for dogs to run freely.
Co-owner Declan Casey said that the facility will cater to both open socialising and private bookings, allowing owners of nervous dogs or restricted breeds to reserve the space exclusively for hour-long sessions.
The private initiative comes after repeated calls for a public dog park in the area over recent years. In May 2021, Councillor Brendan Cronin put forward a motion requesting that the Municipal District build a facility in town, citing a similar successful scheme in Lucan, County Dublin.
At the time, council officials noted that while the project had merit, local authority land was unavailable and discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service would be required.
The issue was raised again in January 2023 by Councillor John O’Donoghue, who highlighted the growing number of dog-friendly local businesses and the rising demand for dedicated space. However, Kerry County Council stated it had no plans to construct a public facility due to challenges around funding, location, and ongoing maintenance.

22 nominations for 2026 Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award

The Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society has announced that 22 nominations have been submitted for the 2026 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award.

The announcement marks a key milestone in the return of the prestigious award following a six-year absence. The annual programme was suspended due to resource constraints after its 2019 presentation to Ireland’s UN Peacekeepers, with a further delay caused by the pandemic. Its return this autumn has been made possible through funding from the Kerry County Council Community Support Programme, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, and local sponsors.
Society Chairperson Jerry O’Grady highlighted the global reach of this year’s nominees.
“The 22 nominations represent a wide spread of individuals and NGOs operating across six continents, catering for the humanitarian needs of deprived, oppressed and exploited people in famine-riven, poor and war-torn countries,” O’Grady said. “The Award Selection Panel will be assessing the nominations over the coming weeks, and the identity of the 2026 Award Recipient should be known by the end of August.”
O’Grady expressed the society’s gratitude to Kerry County Council and the Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce for providing the essential support needed to resume the award programme.
The 12th annual award ceremony will take place in Killarney on the evening of Friday, October 30, with detailed arrangements to be announced in due course.