St Brendan’s College awarded national LGBTQ+ Quality Mark

St Brendan’s College, Killarney has been officially recognised for its commitment to inclusion after receiving the Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark at a national ceremony in Dublin.

The Killarney school was among a group of 39 post-primary schools and Youthreach centres from across Ireland honoured at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire for their work in creating safe and welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ young people.
The accreditation follows an intensive 18-month programme of evidence-based interventions designed to strengthen student wellbeing. During this period, the “Sem” implemented robust anti-bullying policies, established student-led ‘LGBTQ+ and Allies’ clubs, and engaged in direct outreach to parents to foster a culture of belonging within the wider school community.
Principal of St Brendan’s College, Mr Séan Coffey, welcomed the achievement as a significant milestone for the school. “We are delighted to accept our LGBTQ+ Quality Mark on behalf of the whole school community. We take pride in helping our students grow not only in knowledge and skill, but in character and compassion,” Mr Coffey said.
“Embracing diversity and nurturing inclusion strengthens our school community, enriches school life, and prepares our young people to lead in the modern world. Our achievement is the beginning of a renewed commitment to continuing to build a school culture where difference is celebrated, inclusion is lived, and every student knows they belong. The Sem strengthens its position as a forward-looking school grounded in respect, empathy, and community, a place where tradition and progress work hand in hand. Together we are one.”
The ceremony marked one of the first major engagements for the new CEO of Belong To, Kieran O’Donovan. He noted that while a 2022 survey showed 76% of LGBTQ+ youth still do not feel safe at school, the accredited institutions are taking meaningful action to change those statistics.
“Staff and students have shown real dedication to building environments where every young person feels safe, valued, and able to be themselves. These schools and centres are leading the way,” Mr O’Donovan commented.
The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark is the first national accreditation of its kind in Ireland. Following the success of this year’s programme, which represented over 22,000 students nationwide, applications for the 2026/2027 academic year are now open to schools and Youthreach centres via www.belongto.org.

Killarney hosts successful Irish Open Karate Championships

Over 200 competitors from across Ireland and Europe gathered in Killarney recently for the fifth Irish Open Karate Championships.

The event saw a strong turnout from County Kerry clubs, who competed alongside athletes from Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Roscommon, and Clare. International and cross-border participation included teams from Belfast and Derry, as well as a visiting delegation from Italy.
The Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Martin Grady, officially opened the championships. In his address, he welcomed the visitors to the town and praised the dedication of the competitors, referees, organisers, and sponsors involved in coordinating the high-profile event.
Throughout the day, spectators witnessed a high standard of skill and sportsmanship across various categories. The competition was overseen by a panel of experienced referees from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Italy, ensuring international judging standards were met.