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Council takes a bow as Kerry tourism strategy selected as best in Ireland

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KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL has clinched a coveted national award this week, having been selected as outright winner of the Irish Public Sector Service to Tourism Award 2016 for its newly published tourism strategy.

The ‘Excellence in Business’ Awards to Local Government, sponsored by the Irish Public Sector Magazine, are awarded annually to companies and authorities who can demonstrate outstanding service, continuity, track record and general excellence in business to the public sector, Irish companies, and to the people of Ireland. Last year, the council won the ITIC Best Tourism Innovation Award at the inaugural National Tourism Awards.

The new Kerry Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2022 is the culmination of two years’ work by the council and the Destination Kerry Tourism Forum and follows extensive local, national and international consultation with the public, visitors, agencies and trade and is the most in-depth analysis of tourism ever undertaken in the county.

The new report sets out 272 specific actions to be implemented across seven key areas over the short, medium or long term, including community tourism, events and festivals, education, enterprise and innovation, environment, natural and cultural heritage, infrastructure, adventure, and branding and marketing.

The prioritisation of the extensive number of projects which were agreed following full public consultation was based on the need to
extend the tourism activity into the shoulder season. A focus is also placed on the promotion of Kerry's green and clean image, further development of the Wild Atlantic Way, and development of projects with significant visitor appeal.

The vision set out in the strategy is “to maximise, in a sustainable manner, tourism’s contribution to the quality of life, economy, employment and local community development, paying particular attention to nurturing and protecting the natural, built, cultural and linguistic heritage of the county.”

Kerry is Ireland’s premier regional holiday destination. It has been welcoming visitors for generations and today attracts 1.7m overseas and domestic holidaymakers which generate over €420m in tourist-related income for the county. The county currently attracts 13% of all overseas visitors to Ireland and one in three American visitors includes Kerry on their itineraries. It has the greatest concentration of tourist accommodation outside of Dublin - up to 50,000 beds in the approved and unapproved sectors.

Kerry is also more dependent on tourism than any other county with over 20% of its workforce employed in tourism-related enterprises and has over 9,000 people directly employed in the accommodation and hospitality sectors.

Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, welcomed the award saying: “The Tourism Strategy which forms an integral part of Kerry County Council’s Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2022, is a living document that will respond to new challenges, changing market trends and consumer behaviour and will be reviewed and updated annually.”
 


 
Welcoming the award for the Kerry County Tourism Strategy at County Buildings this week, Cllr Robert Beasley (chairman, Tourism Strategic Policy Committee), Cllr Michael O’Shea (mayor), Moira Murrell (chief executive), Joan McCarthy (head of tourism development), John Griffin (tourism officer).

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

Following the violent death of Jamey Carney in Killarney on Tuesday, national charity Women’s Aid has released a stark update regarding violence against women in Ireland.

According to the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch for the Republic of Ireland, eight women have died in violent circumstances so far this year.

This figure already exceeds the total of seven women recorded during the entirety of 2025.

Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid, said:

“Violence, abuse, and even at its extremes, death, are still a reality for many women living in Ireland. After the devastating murder of Ashling Murphy in 2022, Ireland said never again. But Ireland has not lived up to that promise.

“Since then, 40 women have died violently in Ireland. That is 40 women with lives, dreams, family, friends and communities.

“Since we started the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch in 1996, 286 women have died violently in Ireland. Every death is an outrage. An absolute tragic loss of life resulting in utter heartache and trauma for those left behind.

“We are thinking today of those who will be deeply impacted by the loss of life in Killarney. Prevention of all domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is crucial and urgent.”

“The Women’s Aid Femicide Watch shows that 87% of women (where the case has been resolved) were killed by a man known to them. We also know that in Ireland, one in three women has been subjected to domestic abuse of some kind.

“Every woman has the right to be safe in her home and in her community, and this is just not the case. We must do the work required to achieve equality and safety for all, to make Ireland a country that truly has zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”

Support is available on the Women’s Aid 24-Hour National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900, or go to womensaid.ie to use the Instant Message Service or for more information on domestic violence and abuse.”

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

Gardaí investigating the discovery of a woman’s body at a residence on Muckross Road in Killarney are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the direction of their inquiries.

It is understood that a full murder investigation is expected to be launched.

The deceased has been named locally as Jamey Carney, an American national in her 40s and the mother of a 13-year-old girl.

The scene at the domestic residence remains cordoned off today for a full technical examination, with a visible Garda presence continuing at the location.

An incident room has been established at Killarney Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer. Local businesses in the area have already begun supplying CCTV footage to assisting officers.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, local councillor Martin Grady expressed the deep sense of shock in the area.

“I want to offer my condolences to the family,” Cllr Grady said. “This is an awful shock to the local community. I encourage anyone to come forward with any information they may have to An Garda Síochána. Whoever committed such a crime is a cowardly person and should get the maximum penalty.”

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Muckross Road area between the evening of Monday, July 6 and the afternoon of Tuesday, July 7 to come forward. They are particularly appealing to road users and business owners who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from the area during those times.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

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