News
Biggest line up ever for June’s BikeFest
BikeFest Killarney returns this June 2 to 5 with a fantastic line-up of free entertainment.
It is set to take place at festival headquarters in The Gleneagle Hotel.
This year’s programme features the biggest and best line-up yet taking in three stages - the Main Stage INEC, the Outdoor Stage in the Bike Village, and The Harley Bar.
Expect all the rock classics on the Main Stage at the Gleneagle INEC Arena where some of the greatest tribute and cover bands on the planet are set to perform including Rock Rising, Metallica Reloaded, JoanOvArc, The Unusual Suspects and festival legends and internationally acclaimed AC/DC Tribute Hells Bells. New for 2023 is Glasgow’s folk supergroup Mec Lir who are set to make their Ireland BikeFest debut on the Main Stage on Saturday night.
Outside, in the purpose-built festival Bike Village, the Outdoor Stage will host a marathon of live music with performances by Springsteen – A Tribute, Renovator, Johnny Gallagher and The Boxty Band, The Vibe, All Folk’d Up, Rattle and Hum, No Strings Attached, Cash Returns and Bowtie. And that’s not all! Favourite bikers’ haunt The Harley Bar is set to host Two Time Polka, Super Céilí and The Small Hours.
Ireland Bikefest is renowned as one of Europe’s premier free open motorcycle festivals and is a firm favourite of bikers, aspiring bikers, families, visitors and locals alike. Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world are expected to visit the picturesque town and county to make the most of the fantastic scenery, touring routes, hospitality and festival atmosphere.
Ireland BikeFest Killarney is supported by Harley-Davidson UK and Ireland, The Gleneagle Hotel, Fáilte Ireland, Destination Killarney Ltd., authorised Harley-Davidson Dealers, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Kerry County Council.
To keep up-to-date with festival news as it happens check www.irelandbikefest.com.
News
Killarney and District Motor Club members honoured by Motorsport Ireland
By Cormac Casey Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday. The highlight of the event is the […]

By Cormac Casey
Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday.
The highlight of the event is the announcement of the sport’s top awards.
Kilkenny’s Jack Brennan (19) was named Young Rally Driver of the Year, while Wexford native Jack Byrne was named Young Racing Driver of the Year and the International Driver of the Year award went to recently crowned FIA Junior World Rally Champion, William Creighton.
Muckross-based co-driver Noel O’Sullivan was presented with his Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winning trophy.
This year saw the introduction of the Motorsport Ireland President’s Awards which celebrate the achievements of clubs and organisations.
Killarney and District Motor Club won in the innovation category for their work with their KDMC 2 initiative thanks to the efforts of the club’s vice chairman Mike O’Shea.
Rally Rescue teams were also recognised and the club’s Mike Cleary picked up an award for his role he played in what was a difficult year for rescue crew operators.
Tom O’Riordan, who looks after ambulance procurement on the club’s events, was presented with an FIA Volunteer Pin by Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper.
Killarney Advertiser Journalist Sean Moriarty was presented with an award for best use of of PR and media in 2023.
News
Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest ‘thank you’ event at Brehon
Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar […]

Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar events again in 2024.
Feedback from more than 100 people who attended this year’s Fest events from 7th to 14th October was positive with 91% stating they were satisfied.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest is held annually over the course of a week to highlight World Mental Health Day on October 10.
It aims to raise awareness of the available supports and services in Kerry as well as empower people to engage with the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ through offering a dynamic and interactive programme of events.
99% percent of respondents, most of whom identified as female, said they would recommend the Fest to friends next year. Some key notes for improvement included a request for more events with wider variety throughout the county.
The Chair of the Interagency Steering Group, John Drummey from Kerry Mental Health Association, said: “We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to event organisers, community groups, businesses, funders and partners that facilitated the Fest’s dynamic and interactive programme of events in 2023. We are encouraged to see such growth in numbers attending the Fest events with a 50% increase from 2022. We are already making plans for the Fest from 5 to 12t October 2024 and we are looking forward to building on this year’s successes. That said, there is always room for improvement and we would welcome suggestions for new events and activities.”
Many of the event organisers attended a ‘thank-you’ event at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney, courtesy of the Kerry Volunteer Centre to coincide with the annual International Volunteer Day, December 5.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest was organised by an interagency steering group made up of local agencies that support wellbeing in our community.
The organising committee is a collaboration between Connecting for Life Kerry, Healthy Kerry, Kerry County Council, Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership, the HSE, NEWKD, SKDP, Kerry Mental Health Association, Jigsaw Kerry, Munster Technological University/Kerry, KDYS, Kerry Volunteer Centre and Family Resource Centres throughout the county.