News
Arbutus Hotel welcomes Pat Gill as General Manager
NEW ROLE: Pat Gill, pictured with Sean Buckley (Managing Director), is taking up the role of General Manager with The Arbutus Hotel.
There's a new face at The Arbutus Hotel in town as Pat Gill is taking up the role of General Manager.
The Buckley family this week said that they are delighted to welcome Pat on board as they prepare to reopen the hotel after months of closure due to the pandemic.
Pat returns to Killarney after spending the last seven years in West Cork at the Westlodge Hotel Bantry.
He has a wealth of experience in hospitality and he has lived in Killarney since the early '90s.
Pat started his hotel career at the Three Lakes Hotel in 1980 and has been in love with the town ever since.
Managing Director Seán Buckley brought Pat on board to relaunch The Arbutus after an extremely difficult period to recreate the services offered to their loyal customers and hopefully attract many new ones by now offering new dining options such a full comprehensive bar menu, outdoor courtyard café, and when guidelines allow, an indoor dining option using the beautiful classic Arbutus Restaurant for Sunday lunch or evening dining for special occasions.
"This is an exciting time for hospitality, and everyone at the Arbutus Hotel are so keen to open our doors again and welcome back our customers to our new range of services and help our customers try and return to the new normal," he said. "Pat Gill and the team at the Arbutus will be ready from June 7 to offer you a great big céad míle fáilte."
€1m EuroMillions win at Centra The Reeks
Anthony O’Connor, Ciaran Culloty, Conor Healy, Elizabeth Nagle, and representatives from the National Lottery
Celebrations are underway in Killarney after Centra at The Reeks Gateway on Tralee Road sold a EuroMillions ticket worth €1,005,000 in the Friday, August 21 draw.
The lucky winner secured the life-changing sum through the special Ireland Only Raffle event after purchasing a Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw.
Store owner John Bowler, who has operated the shop for over 20 years, expressed his delight after receiving the news from the National Lottery.
“There’s a great buzz around the store and we’re absolutely delighted,” Bowler said. “We have a mix of local customers and visitors coming through our doors every day, so the winner could be anyone. While we’ve sold fantastic prizes over the years, this is by far the biggest. It’s wonderful news for Killarney.”
National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan urged anyone who bought a ticket at the store on Friday to check their numbers carefully. The ticket holder is advised to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact the National Lottery prize claims team to arrange collection.
All photos: Eamonn Keogh
Pig’s Lane crowned Bar of the Year
Killarney’s subterranean venue Pig’s Lane emerged as a triple winner at the Bar of the Year 2026 Awards in Dublin on Monday night.
The College Street venue was named overall Bar of the Year, alongside taking Gold for both Cocktail Bar of the Year and Best Designed Bar / Inside Space. The announcements were made at a gala ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road.
Operating under the family-run O’Donoghue Ring Collection, the underground cocktail bar and whiskey parlour opened in 2023. The venue previously secured Innovative Bar of the Year in 2024 and Best Designed Bar in 2025 before taking the top national prize this year.
Judges praised the venue for its “unmatched excellence across the board”. The broader O’Donoghue Ring Collection earned eight finalist nominations across three properties, including Café du Parc and The Kenmare Rooms.
“We are so proud to be crowned Ireland’s Bar of the Year 2026,” said founder Gemma Ring. “A huge amount of work, creativity, and passion goes into everything we do”.
Pig’s Lane derives its name from the historic 1800s designation for the thoroughfare connecting College Street to Railway Road. On September 11, the bar will host a collaborative evening featuring Michelin Bib Gourmand tapas from Dingle’s Solas paired with bespoke cocktails.
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