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Construction on the Killarney Micro Track to start in June

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7 years ago

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By Sean Moriarty

The Killarney Micro Track project will start construction in June thanks to the final piece of local Government funding being granted this week.

Local councillor Niall Kelleher confirmed to the Killarney Advertiser on Wednesday that the project will receive €25,000 from Kerry County Council’s Strategic Sports Fund.

However, project coordinators are still short €100,000 and are calling on the people and businesses of Killarney to row in behind them and help get it over the line.

Coordinators have confirmed that the tendering process is now complete, a contractor has been appointed and that work on the site will start on June 24.

“The government funding is now complete so we are going to have to borrow the final €100,000,” coordinator Jerry Griffin said. “One of the problems we faced with people is that they never knew if this was going to be built or not. Now that we have the tendering process complete they will be able to see real progress. This project will benefit everyone in town, there are roughly 12,500 people in Killarney and if everyone gave a tenner we are there, if they only gave a fiver we are half-way there. That is why we are pushing with local fundraising and a GoFundMe page, for one final push.”

The micro track, also known South and East Kerry Community Rural Track project will be located at St Brendan’s College, and will benefit up to 2,000 students from nearby schools, athletic clubs, paralympic athletes, Special Olympics athletes and community groups.

Supporters of the project can be seen around Killarney every Monday and Wednesday night. The walking group is aiming to walk 1,000kms over a series of short walks to raise funds and awareness.

Mr Griffin praised the efforts of local politicians like Kerry TD and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, Cllr John Sheahan and Cllr Niall Kelleher for their help in securing funds for the track.

The GoFundMe page can be found online by searching for GoFundme: Killarney Micro Track.

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Sinn Féin to host public meeting on cost of living at Killarney Heights Hotel

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm. […]

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5 hours ago

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25 May 2026

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Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm.

The Donegal TD will be joined by Kerry TD Pa Daly to discuss the economic pressures facing local households and the policy changes needed to provide financial relief. The main focus of the evening will center on the barriers preventing local people from buying their own homes, alongside broader costs of living challenges.
Speaking exclusively to the Killarney Advertiser ahead of his visit, Deputy Doherty said workers and families across Kerry are being squeezed from every direction by rising weekly shops, high energy bills, increasing insurance premiums, and substantial housing costs.
“Young people are losing hope that they will ever own a home in the county where they were raised,” Deputy Doherty said. “And while all of this is happening, the government is sitting on billions in budget surpluses while telling struggling families to wait. It is simply not good enough.”
The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson highlighted specific regional factors making the crisis acute in County Kerry, particularly regarding home heating costs.
“Almost 59% of homes in Kerry rely on home heating oil, which is nearly double the state average of 34%,” he said. “That means families across the county are far more exposed to soaring fuel costs than households in many other parts of the state. Yet the government withdrew supports that were helping households keep the lights on and heat their homes.”
Deputy Doherty noted that the housing situation in Kerry has moved beyond a social issue and is now impacting the local economy and communities. He pointed to figures showing average rents in the county have reached €1,493 per month, with exceptionally low market availability.
“At the time of writing, there were only 27 properties available online to rent across the entire county. Only 19 were below €2,000 a month and just five were available for less than €1,500. A county the size of Kerry, and only five rental properties affordable to someone on an ordinary income,” he said.
He also raised concerns for first-time buyers, noting that average house prices in Kerry have climbed to €296,000, representing an increase of €33,500 in a single year.
During the meeting, the Sinn Féin representatives will outline their party’s alternative proposals. These include a state-led program of affordable home building, a ban on excessive rent increases, enhanced protections for renters, and immediate energy credits and tax relief for workers.
“The resources exist to do this,” Deputy Doherty added. “The government’s own figures show billions in surplus funds available to the state. The issue is not a lack of money. The issue is political choice.”
The meeting is open to all members of the public, and a discussion session will follow the main presentations.

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National Park hosts weekend Bioblitz for National Biodiversity Week

Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment. Today, Friday, […]

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6 hours ago

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25 May 2026

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Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment.

Today, Friday, May 22, marks the UN International Day for Biological Diversity, and a series of free events will run across the park until the national celebration concludes this Sunday, May 24.
The highlight of the weekend is the Killarney National Park Bioblitz. This event brings families, nature lovers, and community volunteers together to find, identify, and record as many different plant and animal species as possible across the park’s diverse habitats over the next three days.
Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, encouraged locals and visitors alike to utiliSe the final days of the festival to experience the area’s unique wildlife, referencing Killarney’s native habitats as key areas the state is working to protect.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), noted that the week is designed to remind people that native plants, woodlands, and rivers are vital systems that make life possible. OrganiSers are encouraging anyone in the locality to head out to Killarney National Park before Sunday evening to participate in the species count and support local conservation efforts.

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