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Castlemaine Village Fair Day to be revived

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A revival of Castlemaine Fair Day will take place tomorrow (Sunday) in memory of the late John O’Donoghue with proceeds going to charity.

The location of the Sheep Fair will be in Griffin's Car Park and it will get underway from 10am.

The event and its proceeds, organised by Castlemaine Events Committee, will be in aid of Kerry Hospice whilst there will also be an auction on the day where the donation of animals is welcome.

Funds raised from the auction will go towards The Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) who provide exemplary care and attention to their patients. A raffle with some wonderful spot prizes will be on offer courtesy of sponsorship, and bucket collections will also be in operation throughout the event.

John O’Donoghue who was known all over, resided in the heart of Castlemaine village. He was born on January 21, 1965 which ironically happened to coincide with a staging of the old Castlemaine Fair Day so it felt appropriate to mark John’s lifetime love of attending fairs and being an integral part of the farming community by bringing back the old fair day in his honour and with it celebrate old traditions, customs and beliefs in the locality.

“The fair day was an annual event in Castlemaine but it died out in the '90s," John’s daughter, Cathy, said.

"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. John loved to attend the fair days throughout the county and was well known as the custom of attending the fairs was passed onto John from his father Denis. Attending the fairs was not only enjoyable but also important to my father as he liked to keep up traditions. You would always be sure to get a bit of traditional luck back in the form of change from my father too with a deal."

She added that both she and his good friend Pat O'Keeffe felt a fair day was a lovely way to celebrate John’s life whilst also raising money for Kerry Hospice due to his passion for farming.

It was a huge shock to John, his family and friends when he was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in May 2019. His life was cut short as seven months after that he died in the Palliative Care Unit on January 13 2020.

"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. It is great to have the Castlemaine Events Committee on board to help with the planning of the event. We are very lucky to have such a team in a small village."
If this event runs successfully, she added, they would love to see it as an annual event.

"Not only does it help raise money for the wonderful service of the Kerry Hospice it will also help keep my father’s memory alive.”

All queries surrounding the fair day can be directed to Castlemaine Events Committee by contacting 087 2549116 and further information is also available on the committee’s Facebook page.

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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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