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Calls for on street dining and seating in Killarney town centre

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OUTDOOR DINING: Street scenes like this are common in Europe and Cllr Michael Gleeson says the time is right to explore such an idea in Killarney.

By Sean Moriarty

 

A plan to roof the centre of Killarney to allow people to socialise outside in all weathers could be back on the agenda thanks to Coronavirus restrictions.

The idea to place retractable umbrellas over Main St had been given approval by the previous town council but that idea was pushed off the agenda in 2014 when town councils were merged with the Council and were restructured as municipal districts.

The idea was first put forward by Cllr Michael Gleeson seven years ago and the Independent Alliance politician sees merit in re-introducing the idea as a solution to indoor socialising that has been restricted as a result of the pandemic.

At the time local engineer Paudie O’Mahoney devised a plan to keep the rain off of tourists and locals alike. It included placing an ‘artificial roof’ over the streets of Killarney which can be removed in the summer when the weather is nice and put back up when it's raining.

The plan is to make the artificial roofs from large sections of heavy-duty canvas.

"This canopy cover system could be introduced on a trial basis in a lane way or even on one of the main streets and I can see it taking off all over the country in a very short space of time,” Paudie said in 2013.

A year later Kerry County Council said details and specifications had been agreed with a specialist supplier, but the tender process had not been completed prior to the town council’s abolition.

Cllr Gleeson raised the matter at a Killarney Municipal District meeting earlier this month as part of a debate surrounding pedestrianisation and the Safe Streets project.

His idea is to put a covered seating area in the centre of the town’s streets which would be owned and maintained by the Municipal District Council and placed in such a way that it would not favour any particular business.

Mr Gleeson says the idea works well on the continent, particularly Belgium which enjoys a similar climate to Ireland.

“It is time to look at Al Fresco dining on the streets of Killarney,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “I have seen something similar in a large hotel in Dublin and it is quite common in Europe. It would enhance Killarney as a tourist destination as tourists and locals could socialise in a safe distance. Belgium can be colder than here in the winter but it works there.”

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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