Killarney for Palestine has welcomed the launch of the revamped “Summer in Killarney Festival,” which replaces the town’s traditional July 4th parade with a month-long calendar of civic and cultural events.

The new festival format, which commenced on Thursday, June 25 and runs until July 20, moves away from a standalone US independence celebration.
Following community dialogue and a protest at last year’s parade regarding US foreign policy and the conflict in Gaza, members of Killarney for Palestine expressed relief that they will not need to hold a protest in the town this Saturday.
A spokesperson for Killarney for Palestine stated: “Our group has several American members (who live in Killarney itself) and further continually receives messages of support from American visitors who have joined our events in the past, appalled at the actions of their government and very bewildered that a small town in the Southwest of Ireland was so fixated on celebrating America in this wholly unnecessary fashion”.
The group, which consists of over 80 local members and was featured on RTÉ Nuacht on Sunday, has been actively raising mutual aid funds for families in Gaza through local cultural days, film screenings, and coffee mornings.
While the group noted that the new schedule still explores historical connections between the two countries, they strongly welcomed the shift toward a more inclusive, community-wide festival format.
Presented by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, the restructured festival runs across four weeks to highlight local culture and environment. Festival chair Diarmuid Leen explained that the new approach focuses on offering experiences for both visitors and locals alike, featuring street parades, outdoor cinema, and theatrical performances in the grounds of Killarney House.
As part of the new programming, the festival includes a curated cultural strand themed “Celebrating 250 Years of Ireland’s Contribution to American Culture,” whi

Cycling Club mentors guide 17 newcomers to Ring of Kerry challenge

The success of this year’s Killarney Cycling Club mentoring programme will bear fruit this Saturday as 17 newcomers take to the roads fully prepared for the Ring of Kerry charity cycle.

The club wrapped up its latest training initiative just in time for the major event, welcoming a group of new members who are now cycling competently, safely, and with confidence.
This year’s cohort brought a fantastic, spirited energy and represented a wide mix of backgrounds. Some participants were returning to the road after a long hiatus, others had never sat on a road bike before, and a few were Killarney National Park regulars who initially wondered how they would ever push their distance past the 80km mark.
They found their answers and built their stamina thanks to a dedicated leadership team. Kevin Murphy led two indoor turbo nights, tuning everyone into the best use of gears and efficient cycling. Dan O’Connor braved the challenging weather of April, May, and June to lead the group out on the road on Wednesday evenings, alongside two longer weekend cycles, freely sharing his wealth of cycling knowledge. Fiona O’Donoghue coordinated the mentoring programme, keeping the entire schedule running smoothly from start to finish.
Reflecting on her experience, participant Mary Cussen noted that joining the programme as a total newbie was the best decision ever. She highlighted the supportive and encouraging nature of the group, which included plenty of laughs and coffee stops along the various routes, adding that she cannot believe what she achieved on the journey and feels incredibly proud of herself.