Connect with us

News

Busy weekend as Rally of the Lakes

Published

on

0227532_Rally_Lakes_Launch_2022_271.jpg

With International Rally of the Lakes set to return to Killarney this weekend for the first time in three years, the town will be exceptionally busy.

Event organisers say that the 41st edition will attract tens of thousands of spectators for what is sure to be a festival-like atmosphere over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

“Preparations for the rally are now at the advanced stage and we cannot wait to welcome crews and spectators to the town next weekend,” Darren McCormick, Clerk of the Course, said. “We are mindful of the residents of the town so we ask everyone who comes to Killarney to leave the town the way you found it, bring your litter home and ‘Keep the Race in its Place’.’’

The rally kicks off on Friday evening, with a ceremonial start ramp on Main Street. The first car is due over the ramp at 7pm but the street will be closed to ordinary traffic from around 6pm.

The rally proper starts Saturday in the late morning, with runs over stages near Kilsarcon, Banard and Gortnagane, before a service halt at the Liebherr Container Cranes factory in Fossa.

Drivers will tackle those three stages in the afternoon. Heavy traffic can be expected in Kilcummin, Scartaglin, Gneeveguilla, Rathmore and Barraduff areas on Saturday. The bypass and the Fossa area will be very busy too.

After an overnight halt in Killarney, competitors will have the daunting task of Molls Gap and Ballaghbeama to negotiate in the morning, each stage being run twice. The afternoon will see the crews fight for the rally win on Shanera and Caragh Lake, where overall and class winners will be crowned Killarney’s champions.

Traffic on Sunday will be busy in the Muckross, Glencar, Beaufort and the Killorglin areas.

The Muckross Road will remain busy on Sunday afternoon as crews make their way to Rally HQ, The Gleneagle Hotel for a champagne celebration on the finish ramp before a trophy presentation later on that evening at the same venue.

The rally has a range of title sponsors for the 2022 event and without their generous support, there would be no rally. Rentokil Initial, Aherns.ie Motorgroup, The Gleneagle Hotel and OSI have all joined forces to ensure the rally remains viable in what is a difficult return to action for both rallying and the businesses themselves following the pandemic.

Last week, President of the Killarney Chamber of Commerce, Niall Kelleher, welcomed the return of the rally, stating that the rally is worth upwards of €10 million to the local economy. He said the rally is “right up there” with other major events for the town. Local businesses can expect a major windfall from the event and hotel rooms are at a premium for the “must attend” event said Mr Kelleher.

Advertisement

News

Adventure runner completes all Dublin streets

Published

on

By

Adventure runner completes all Dublin streets


Killarney native Seanie Clifford has completed an extraordinary 25-day endurance challenge that saw him run all 4,400 named streets in Dublin while sleeping rough on the city’s pavements every night.



The local athlete completed his final stretch in the capital on Saturday, August 29, after covering a total distance of 2,000 kilometres. Running under the project banner 4400 Streets & Nowhere to Go, Clifford undertook the gruelling schedule to raise vital funds for Focus Ireland, Liberty Soup Run, and Dublin Homeless Awareness.

To mirror the reality faced by thousands of individuals across the country, the Killarney man spent 25 consecutive nights sleeping out on the very streets he ran during the day. Averaging close to 80 kilometres every 24 hours, he navigated heavy traffic, intense asphalt heat, and constant route adjustments alongside his partner and sole support crew member, Alicja.

Reflecting on the experience, Clifford praised the overwhelming backing he received from members of the public throughout the capital. He stated that he went into the challenge with extreme positivity and was rewarded with extraordinary kindness from people across Dublin, with residents from Ballymun to Donnybrook coming out to offer support.

Local support carries



By the midpoint of the challenge, physical exhaustion presented severe hurdles. However, local running clubs and individuals joined Clifford on various sections of the daily routes to assist his progress.

On Day 12, runners from Artane Beaumont Running Club and local supporters joined him on the road, allowing him to complete his daily 80-kilometre target ahead of schedule as community support carried him through the toughest miles.

The final stage of the run coincided with the release of official monthly figures from the Department of Housing, which recorded a record 17,527 people living in emergency accommodation across the country, including 5,659 children.

During the closing days of the project, Clifford was invited into Leinster House to meet with TDs and discuss the conditions he witnessed while sleeping on the streets. He stressed throughout the campaign that while his temporary homelessness would end with a return home to Kerry, thousands of families across Ireland remain without permanent shelter.


Triple Crown completed



Following his arrival at the final street, members of the national ultra-running community confirmed that Clifford had achieved what is widely regarded as the Triple Crown of Irish Endurance.

A former student of St Oliver’s Primary School and St Brendan’s College in Killarney, Clifford first set a national record in 2024 by running all 275 Irish mountains over 600 metres in 21 days. In 2025, he ran the entire 2,700-kilometre length of the Wild Atlantic Way from Malin Head to Kinsale in under 30 days.

Despite his previous mountain and coastal records, Clifford described the urban street challenge through Dublin as his most difficult undertaking to date.

Clifford, who now organises trail running retreats and uses endurance projects to highlight mental health and social issues, finished his final street run on Saturday afternoon to complete the historic trilogy of Irish endurance challenges.

Continue Reading

News

Kerry Stars volunteer appreciation night

Published

on

By

Kerry Stars volunteer appreciation night


Kerry Stars Special Olympics Sports Club hosted a volunteer appreciation night at the International Hotel on Monday, August 31, ahead of the upcoming sports season.


The event brought together both new and long-standing volunteers to celebrate their contribution to the club, which provides sporting opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the region.
Run entirely by volunteers, the club relies on helpers who dedicate an hour each week from September through May. The gathering provided a chance to recognise their effort following a successful summer where four Kerry Stars athletes secured a haul of gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games in June.
The club caters to both competitive athletes and members who participate primarily for the social aspect and inclusion. With the new season resuming in mid-September, Kerry Stars is inviting new volunteers and athletes to join its weekly training schedule.
Weekly sessions take place at various local venues, including Monday athletics at Spa GAA from 6pm to 7pm, Wednesday basketball at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre from 7pm to 8pm, and Thursday soccer at the same location from 7pm to 8pm. The club also runs therapeutic horse riding and swimming programs in Killarney and Tralee, both of which currently operate waiting lists.
Anyone interested in getting involved as a volunteer or athlete can contact the club directly at kerrystars63@gmail.com.

Attachments

Continue Reading