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Calls for extra Bank Holiday to aid tourism recovery

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By Michelle Crean

A local tourism body is calling for an extra Bank Holiday this year to help the tourism industry to recover from the devastating impact of COVID-19.

Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF) is supporting the call from Brendan Griffin TD and Junior Minister for Tourism for an extra Bank Holiday this September.

As part of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce’s Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-2023, it was recommended to add an additional bank holiday to the year during the off-peak season. This would give the industry a well-needed boost following another detrimental year. As homegrown tourism continues to be vital to the Irish and the Kerry tourism sector the addition of an extra Bank Holiday in particular in September is vital to the industry not only for the current year but important for future years. With only one Bank Holiday between summer and Christmas, this will extend the domestic season for the country and the county of Kerry into September and has the power to increase the domestic season annually.

“The industry continues to face challenges, with Government business and employment supports being fundamental to the survival of tourism," Chairman of KTIF, Pat O’ Leary, said.

"The addition of an extra Bank Holiday, in particular in September, will deliver that extra much-needed lift for the industry not only in Kerry but nationwide. Kerry continues to plan for events on the basis that health advice will allow them to take place and the addition of the extra bank holiday will support such events including the planned Listowel Races for September.”

This is a time for innovative solutions with a view to recovering the current situation and progressing measures for the future of the industry in the county. As homegrown tourism continues to be vital to the Kerry tourism sector the addition of the extra Bank Holiday in September 2021 will be beneficial to the sector and the county as a whole, he added.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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