250th anniversary of Arthur Young’s Muckross visit

A special commemorative walk will take place on the Muckross Peninsula this Sunday, September 27, to mark the 250th anniversary of English writer and agriculturist Arthur Young’s historic visit to Killarney.

Young stayed with the Herbert family at the Muckross Estate for four nights in September 1776 while researching his book A Tour Of Ireland. During his stay, he explored the native oak woods, the rare Reenadinna Yew Wood, limestone rock formations, and local flora along the peninsula.
His detailed accounts of the landscape led to the formal naming of the “Arthur Young Walk” on September 27, 1776.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Conservation Ranger Shonagh Gray will lead the anniversary walk, guiding participants through the historical route while outlining the ecology and heritage of the peninsula.
The walk begins at 10.30am this Sunday, outside the Garden Restaurant at Muckross House.

Towers Hotel extends Killarney Historic Rally sponsorship to 2029

The future of the Killarney Historic Rally received a major boost this week as Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre confirmed an extension of its title sponsorship through 2029.

The hotel, part of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection enters its fourth year as title sponsor for the 2026 edition, with the new agreement securing long-term backing for Ireland’s premier historic motorsport fixture across the next three seasons.

This year’s event marks a milestone 30th anniversary for the rally, founded in 1996 by the late Maurice Nagle. His son, five-time World Rally Championship event winner and FIA Safety Delegate Paul Nagle, steps into the Clerk of the Course role for the anniversary running.
“I am very proud to continue the legacy my father started 30 years ago,” said Mr Nagle.
“Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre are ideal partners for this iconic event. Not just as accommodation partners, they have the required meeting and briefing room space across their properties and offer top entertainment venues in town like Pig’s Lane and The Laune Bar. I thank the O’Donoghue and Ring families for their continued support.”
Managing Director of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection and Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre, Gemma Ring, commented:
“We are delighted to announce the extension of our partnership with the Killarney Historic Rally through to 2029. As proud title sponsor since 2023, we will continue our commitment for a further three years, playing our part in the next chapter of this much-loved Killarney tradition.
The Killarney Historic Rally is an important part of the fabric of the town, bringing a huge sense of excitement and energy to Killarney while attracting competitors, enthusiasts and visitors from across Ireland and beyond. Its impact reaches far beyond the rally itself, bringing significant footfall to hotels, restaurants, bars and local businesses and showcasing Killarney as a destination at a particularly vibrant time of year. For us as a family-run Killarney business, supporting events like the Historic Rally is about investing in the community we are part of and contributing to the vitality of the town.
We are incredibly proud to continue our association with Killarney & District Motor Club and to support the team as the rally enters its next chapter. We look forward to being part of many more successful rallies over the coming years and to continuing to celebrate this fantastic event, the people behind it and the community that makes it possible.”
The Killarney Historic Rally injects millions of euros into the local economy each November drawing thousands of spectators, crews, and international visitors to the town for the final major event on the Irish rallying calendar.