By Sean Moriarty

Popular Killarney Municipal District officer Eileen O’Donoghue has left the Town Hall and taken up a new role with the Corporate Affairs Department of Kerry County Council.

Ms O’Donoghue started her new role in Áras an Chontae this week after over four years as the town’s Municipal District Officer.

Along with the day to day operation of the Municipal District, in her time in the Town Hall she played a significant role in the delivery of a wide range of projects that enhanced Killarney for both locals and visitors.

These included the current Christmas display and the many wall murals across the town centre.

Eileen worked to improve and enhance access to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in and around the town. This is now a key part of the Climate Change agenda.

Eileen’s last project was the delivery of the new mural along the Flesk cycleway.

Evidence of her work can be seen this week on the streets of Killarney, with the large scale Christmas decorations, which were added to the town in 2020.

Eileen used her skills to secure funding and worked with organisations such as Tidy Towns, Chamber of Commerce, and the National Parks and Wildlife Services, in the delivery of projects for the betterment of the district.

Eileen paid tribute to her “fantastic team of both indoor staff and outdoor workers led by Noel O'Leary who, along with elected members, work tirelessly for the good of the Municipal District”.

“The last 18 months have been a challenging time for everyone, but services and significant projects continued to be delivered. As a local and keen walker I was particularly delighted to see the road to Torc upgraded and the Flesk cycleway completed this year,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

“The staff in Killarney are exemplars in their commitment and dedication to public service delivery and I look forward as a local to the continued development of the town.”

Eileen’s successor has been named as Brian Teahan, a native of Killorglin who served in similar roles in Local Authorities in the Dublin area.