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Calls for  Autism friendly playground in Knockreer

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The Killarney Municipal District Office said it “would welcome a meeting with stakeholders to discuss any opportunities to broaden the universal access of Knockreer playground."

This follows a motion by Cllr John O’Donoghue at this week’s Killarney Municipal District Meeting.

He asked if the Council would commit to providing an Autism friendly area in Knockreer Playground.

“Accessibility to all aspects of society is a major issue for some and I feel we as a Council should lead the way in doing all we can to ensure all citizens of our State have equal rights. I am very fortunate to be a small part of a wonderful group working to make Killarney Autism Friendly to ensure those with additional sensory needs are catered for in our town,” he told the meeting .

“No child in this State should ever have to feel grateful for simply being facilitated to access the same level of care or services as their peers, but the point still stands in that it shows the importance of what great things can be achieved by relatively small steps on our part. I ask that the Council would look favourably upon any request for assistance, be it financial or otherwise, if any groups come to them looking for it.”

A council official replied: “Kerry County Council are currently updating the Council's Playground Policy following recent consultation and continues to upgrade playgrounds including Killarney (Knockreer) Playground. Kerry County Council will continue to enhance access to play for children with a difference within Killarney (Knockreer) Playground, to include autism friendly certified play equipment, as further funding becomes available. The Killarney MD Office would welcome a meeting with stakeholders to discuss any opportunities to broaden the universal access of Knockreer playground.”

 

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Musical Society announces ‘Sister Act’ as 2027 production

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Killarney Musical Society has announced that its 2027 musical production will be the comedy Sister Act.

The show will run at the Gleneagle Arena from Tuesday, March 2nd to Thursday, March 4th, 2027.

Based on the film, the musical tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer placed in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a crime. While there, she helps transform the parish choir.


Society Chairperson Derek O’Leary expressed excitement about the selection. “It is a show that combines humour, heart, spectacular music and an inspiring story, making it a perfect fit for Killarney Musical Society and our audiences,”

O’Leary said. He also confirmed that award-winning director Oliver Hurley and musical director Jimmy Brockie will return for the production.


The society, which draws performers, musicians, and backstage volunteers from across Kerry and neighbouring counties, will release details regarding auditions and production updates in the coming months.

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Killarney retains top ten position in national litter rankings

Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The […]

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Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The town was officially deemed to be ‘Cleaner than European Norms’.

The accompanying report by An Taisce praised Killarney for delivering a solid performance, noting that there were no heavily littered sites found within the town boundaries.
Several local areas received top marks for maintenance and presentation. Main Street was highlighted as exceptionally well-presented, while Park Road, Muckross Road, and the Knockreer Playground and environs were also singled out for praise. The report noted that the playground area was in very good order across all elements.
However, the inspectors did highlight some areas for improvement. The JYSK site showed slight progress compared to the previous survey but remained classified as moderately littered. The report warned that care must be taken to prevent the location from deteriorating further.
On a national level, IBAL representative Conor Horgan noted that entering the peak tourist season, the country has fewer littered areas than at any time in the past 25 years.
Despite the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the survey highlighted a national rise in specific waste items. Plastic bottles were found in 19% of all surveyed sites across the country, and drinks cans were present in 22%. The prevalence of coffee cups also reached its highest level since 2023, alongside an increase in cigarette butt litter.

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