Political heavyweights gather for haulage conference

Massive political presence is expected in town today and tomorrow as the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) holds its annual conference at the Gleneagle Hotel.

Cabinet members, opposition figures, and MEPs are assembling to address thousands of transport operators from across the country.
Minister for Climate, Environment, Energy and Transport Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State for Transport Seán Canney TD head the government contingent.
They are joined on the speaker list by local TD Michael Healy-Rae, Independent TD Carol Nolan, and MEPs Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and our own MEP Seán Kelly.
Rising fuel prices, state supports, and decarbonisation targets top the weekend agenda. IRHA President Ger Hyland warned that any government move to unwind existing fuel supports would place unsustainable pressure on transport companies, driving up consumer prices for food and freight.
The location also brings local infrastructure under scrutiny. Visiting delegates and politicians face Killarney’s ongoing traffic gridlock, highlighting the local transport challenges experienced by freight operators and commuters daily.
The conference runs through Saturday evening, featuring a public display of heavy goods vehicles and vintage trucks outside the venue

Bottle recycling drive passes major €20,000 milestone

A staff-led recycling initiative at Centra Muckross Road has passed €20,000 in fundraising for local sports clubs, schools, and community groups across Kerry.

What began in March 2024 as a two-person effort by store employees Kevin and Patricia Ennis to rescue recyclable bottles from general waste bins has grown into a widespread community campaign. Using Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, the pair originally set out to fund an automated external defibrillator for the store.
Having successfully installed both indoor and outdoor defibrillators and funded CPR training for staff, the initiative expanded its reach. The drive now raises between €150 and €200 weekly, with local residents regularly dropping off bags of eligible bottles and cans directly to the store team.
The €20,000 total has supported numerous local causes, including primary schools across Killarney, youth sports organisations, health charities such as Pieta House and the Irish Kidney Association, and local athlete Sarah Leahy.
Speaking about the milestone, Kevin Ennis highlighted that the initial goal was simply to stop recyclable materials from going to waste. “The defibrillator was our first goal, and once we saw what a difference it made, we just kept going,” he said. “It is amazing to think it has added up to over €20,000 now.”
Patricia Ennis praised the ongoing backing from local residents who bring items into the Muckross Road shop specifically to support the drive. “The best part is how the community has taken it on as their own,” she said. “People bring bags of bottles in and ask us who it is going to next.”
The Sheahan family, who operate ten Centra outlets and one Daybreak store in County Kerry, confirmed that the team will continue collecting deposit-return items at the Muckross Road premises to support further community projects throughout the year.