News
Construction starts on outdoor dining but Jarveys not happy

By Sean Moriarty
The much awaited €600,000 outdoor dining project for the town finally began construction this week - but not everyone is happy about its timing due to the start of the tourism season.
The Bord Fáilte funded scheme, part of the town’s response to COVID-19, will include a 620 square-metre outdoor dining area consisting of paving, landscaping, and lighting, of which 210 square-metres will be a covered dining area, was given the green light in September last year. It was hoped to have been fully completed last month at the very latest.
After months of planning, funding applications and a tender process, construction work finally began this week.
A new protective hoarding has been erected on Kenmare Place to prevent members of the public accidently walking into the construction site and to prevent construction material spilling on to public walkways.
As a result the roadway has become much narrower. The bus setdown area in Kenmare Place is no longer available and the number of Jarvey stands at the adjacent HaHa have been reduced.
While Jarveys are not opposed to the overall plan, they believe the timing of the project is wrong as the town prepares to enter its peak tourism season. However, one of the funding conditions for the public outdoor dining area is that construction must be completed by a certain date.
ACCIDENTS
Jarveys say that there is a health and safety issue as they have witnessed buses picking up and dropping off passengers from nearby hotels in live traffic. They have also seen a number of accidents – including a collision between two buses in the street since the hoarding went up earlier this week.
Apart from the reduced number of Jarvey stands, as a result of the narrower road, the jaunting car operators say they are losing business as potential customers cannot see the Jarvey stand at the other side of the black construction hoarding.
“We are not against this, the timing is wrong, anything that helps Killarney we are for it,” Jarvey Michael O’Grady told the Killarney Advertiser. “But they seem to have forgotten the céad míle fáilte in this case.”
The Jarveys also raised concerns about traffic and said that the noise of the construction works will frighten horses.
“There will be chaos here in the summer time,” added Jarvey Mike Griffin. “And if a horse shies we are in trouble again.”
His colleague Patrick O’Sullivan added that “buses are now loading in the Jarvey stand”.
Kenmare Place was selected for the scheme due its proximity to Killarney House and National Park, the recently developed ANAM Arts and Cultural building, Killarney Jarvey stand, Christ the King Monument and St Mary’s Church.
Kerry County Council said at the time of the grant application Kenmare Place was the most suitable location based on Fáilte Ireland criteria.
“This outdoor infrastructure area currently being constructed at Kenmare Place has been the subject of a statutory public consultation process which was widely publicised. Council staff have met with, and will continue to meet with, any groups, businesses or residents who have issues of concern while the works are taking place. The project commenced construction this week and the Council looks forward to its completion at the earliest opportunity,” a Council spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.
News
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”