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Castlemaine Fair in memory of John O’Donoghue

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The Castlemaine Fair Day was such a success last year that the Castlemaine Events Committee has decided to make it an annual event.

Set for this Sunday (October 16), the fair will remember local man John O’Donoghue and raise funds for the Kerry Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry.

John O’Donoghue died in January 2020 after a battle with cancer. He was well known in the area and had a lifetime love of attending fairs and being an integral part of the farming community.

John, who resided in the heart of Castlemaine Village was born on January 21, 1965 which ironically happened to coincide with a staging of the old Castlemaine Fair Day.

The Castlemaine Events Committee felt it appropriate to remember John by bringing back the old fair day in his honour.

“The fair day was an annual event in Castlemaine, but it died out in the 1990s. This event is very important as it keeps my father’s memory alive as we approach his third anniversary in January 2023,” said his daughter Cathy.

“John was known by many, particularly for his work ethic, humour, and honesty. When people mention any dealings they had with him, it is always with a smile on their face, and they will all tell you that it was always a good deal they had with him," she said.

The custom of attending the fairs was passed onto John from his father Denis.

The fair will get underway at 10am in Griffin’s car park. Last year the event raised €40,000 and the committee hope to exceed that with an animal auction on the day.

“Almost everyone has been affected by cancer in some way or another and are familiar with the Kerry Hospice in UHK. The care and support provided from the palliative care team was so amazing that it feels very right to give something back and I hope that we can raise as much money as possible on the day for such a wonderful service here in the heart of Kerry,” added Cathy.

“The support from the farming and local community is truly heart-warming and the community spirit is magnificent.”

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Strong connections made at tourism tradeshow 

Many significant business deals were signed at this year’s Meitheal – Ireland’s largest and most important trade event for the tourism industry. Held in the INEC, 450 Irish businesses pitched to over 230 international […]

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Many significant business deals were signed at this year’s Meitheal – Ireland’s largest and most important trade event for the tourism industry.

Held in the INEC, 450 Irish businesses pitched to over 230 international buyers from 17 countries at Fáilte Ireland’s flagship trade event. 

Running since 1975, Meitheal is organised in partnership with Tourism Ireland to provide Irish tourism businesses with the opportunity to sell directly to top international buyers and tour operators.

The best of what is on offer across Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin, were showcased with the aim of being scheduled on the itineraries of the global tour operators.

Key themes and trends emerging this year are sustainable travel options, immersive outdoor experiences and festivals.

Speaking about the importance of developing a future pipeline of tourism business, Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, said that “creating a strong pipeline of future business is key for the recovery of tourism”.

“Seeing the demand for the Irish tourism product with international buyers at Meitheal is fantastic. Each international buyer represents tens of thousands of possible visitors to Ireland, and their business will be hugely important for tourism and hospitality businesses, communities, and destination Ireland as we continue to work towards recovery,” he said. 

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Outdoor dining area officially opens in town

A new outdoor dining space at Kenmare Place was officially opened today (Wednesday). The project, which was supported with €605,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and […]

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A new outdoor dining space at Kenmare Place was officially opened today (Wednesday).

The project, which was supported with €605,000 in funding from Fáilte Ireland under the Local Authority Weatherproofing and Outdoor Dining Infrastructure Scheme, provides an attractive outdoor dining option for locals and visitors to Killarney.

“This is a really wonderful addition to Killarney’s tourism infrastructure and will prove a great asset throughout the year and particularly during the forthcoming tourist season,” said Cllr Kelleher, Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, who did the honours.

“One of the effects of the recent pandemic was the need to utilise and maximise outdoor dining options and this infrastructure shows what can be achieved in an imaginative way. It will greatly enhance Killarney’s reputation as a destination for top quality tourism experiences.”

The project has been operational since last October but the official opening was timed to coincide with the Meitheal 2023 tourism industry showcase that was organised by Fáilte Ireland at the INEC this week.

“It is fantastic to see Killarney’s outdoor dining infrastructure being so well received by trade and visitors alike,” Miriam Kennedy, Head of Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, said.

Councillors in the Killarney Municipal District approved planning permission for the infrastructure which was completed by Daniel Canty Construction.

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