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Family rivalry tested to its limit

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RIVALRY: There are divided loyalties in the Osborne household in Killarney in advance of the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Dublin this Sunday. Dubliner Paddy Osborne and his Kerry born wife Liz are supporting their native counties while their 17-year-old twins David (Dublin) and Rebecca (Kerry) are also on opposite sides. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Sean Moriarty

Husband against wife, sister against brother, son against mother, daughter against father.

Sounds like an incredibly complex plot in an American soap opera - but this is exactly the dilemma facing one Killarney family this weekend.

The Osborne household in Muckross is divided in two ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Dublin.

Dubliner Paddy Osborne and his Kerry born wife Liz are supporting their native counties while their 17-year-old twins David (Dublin) and Rebecca (Kerry) are also on opposite sides.

The couple, who met while Liz was working as a nurse in Dublin, have another son who plays soccer for Cobh Ramblers.

Their situation is further complicated as Paddy, who is originally from Cabra, is a long-time member of Killarney Legion.

“There is a good buzz in our house,” Paddy told the Killarney Advertiser.
“But I must be the only Dub that does not think this is a foregone conclusion. I see too much local football. I was there (in Croke Park) in 2009 when Kerry hammered Dublin and that was supposed to our year and the game was over in 10 minutes. I would be wary of these young Kerry teams – look at 1975.”

Paddy and his family are travelling to the match on Saturday and are looking forward to the pre-match banter on Sunday morning.

“We just love football,” he added. “I will meet a lot of Kerry people I know in Dublin and it will be good craic. I don’t mind who wins it as long as it’s a good game and not won or lost by someone’s mistake. We have lots of Legion players on the team. I know James O’Donoghue’s father Diarmuid very well. Robert played alongside David Clifford in The Sem before he followed the soccer path, so I know David very well too.”

Shrewd management is key according to Paddy.

“Jim Gavin is the most important man for Dublin, even looking back to Heffo’s day, he is another Micko,” he said. “I know Peter Keane too, he managed the Legion senior team for a while and if I know Peter he will launch a curveball.”

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Killarney for Palestine film screening

Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz. The event, which […]

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Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz.

The event, which took place on July 3, included two screenings, both of which were fully booked. Guests enjoyed cheese and wine before the shows.
‘No Other Land’ depicts the ongoing destruction in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of villages in the Southern West Bank, and shows the experiences of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The film won in the Best Documentary category at this year’s Academy Awards.
The screenings were organised in association with the West End School of Arts.
All proceeds from the €25 tickets benefited Camp Breakerz Crew, a children’s charity based in Gaza that provides creative outlets through dance and is involved in food distribution programs in Nuseirat Camp and Deir-Al-Balah due to food shortages.
Sally MacMonagle, who recently spent time in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, also spoke at one of the screenings.

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Bid to host European Presidency summit meetings gathers pace

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026. Deputy Cahill […]

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Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026.

Deputy Cahill believes Kerry’s available accommodation, food, and conference facilities are “second to none,” with Killarney as the central location.
“Visitors from every corner of the earth have been coming to Kerry for centuries now, to experience its beauty and serenity and have returned on many occasions because of the fabulous time they have enjoyed during their stay here,” said Deputy Cahill. “Where else would you want to bring the senior Government Ministers of all of our EU counterpart states, to experience Ireland, its customs and heritage?”
The Rossbeigh TD outlined various attractions available for visitors during downtime: “During their downtime, they can visit the Blaskets and Slea Head, Sceilg Mhichíl and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney’s Lakes, Gap of Dunloe, National Park and Sliabh Luachra, all of our glorious beaches from Ballybunion to Rossbeigh, Kells to Ventry, Whitestrand to Inch, Ballinskelligs to Cromane, Waterville to Derrynane.” He also cited Kerry’s golf courses, Listowel Writers Week, the Rose of Tralee, and Puck Fair as potential experiences.
Deputy Cahill confirmed he has raised this matter with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris; and Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne.
“If Killarney’s bid is successful in bringing the Heads of State to our county for meetings, conferences and functions, it will be a massive boost to the local economy in Killarney and also throughout the county,” added Cahill.”Iwill continue to push in the coming months for Killarney and Kerry to be included as bases for the rounds of meetings that are to take place from July 1 to December 312026.”

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