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Fashion and fun to get free rein in Killarney for July racing festival
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STYLISH ladies take note – Thursday, July 20, is set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year as it’s Dawn Milk Ladies Day at Killarney Races. Champion dancer and Kerry GAA hero Aidan O’Mahony will join top Irish model and fellow Dancing With The Stars contestant Thalia Heffernan as the celebrity adjudicators and the judging process will commence at 2pm sharp.
The Queen of Fashion winner will receive a trip for two to Paris while the best-dressed gent will win a trip for two to Milan.
Chic ladies, dapper gents and a beautiful bouquet of Roses will be mingling with hugely popular Kerry GAA legends at Killarney’s July Racing Festival which is unquestionably one of the sporting and social highlights of the year.
The four-day festival will commence on Monday, July 17, with a family evening which will feature a very special celebration to pay tribute to Kerry football great Colm Cooper who will be the guest of honour.
Punters and supporters can enjoy what promises to be a very memorable occasion with hospitality tickets available for the event as Killarney Race Company pays tribute to the holder of five All-Ireland medals, one All-Ireland Club title and an incredible eight All-Star awards.
The racing highlight on the Monday will be the Cairn Rouge Stakes – a listed race – worth €55,000.
Another evening of great racing will follow on Tuesday, July 18, with locals and visitors from all around the globe expected to flock to the Ross Road track where the atmosphere is matched only by the spectacular views at Ireland’s most scenic racecourse. Tuesday’s highlight out on the course will be the Richard and Mary Butler Memorial Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) worth €50,000.
There will be added glamour on Wednesday, July 19 – another evening meeting – when several of this year’s Rose of Tralee finalists will mingle with the racegoers, posing for selfies and signing autographs as a little bit of festival fever transfers from Tralee to Killarney.
Admission prices are €20 for the evening meetings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and €25 on ladies day on Thursday. Concessions are available for students and OAPs and children under the age of 12 will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult.
To ensure an even more wonderful experience at the races, special hospitality packages are available so that guests can enjoy fine food, fine wines and a great atmosphere while viewing the action from the VIP grandstands. For restaurant and barbecue packages call 064-6631125.
Above: Agne Krememskiene from Killarney was the winner of the Dawn Milk Queen of Fashion last year. PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH
Killarney hosted the largest orienteering festival ever held on Irish soil this past week, bringing over 2,000 international competitors and generating more than 10,000 bednights for the local area.
Organised by Kerry Orienteers, the week-long event drew participants from 35 countries to take on a series of technical courses across local mountain terrain, indoor spaces, and town streets. Organisers claimed the gathering was the largest of its kind globally.
The festival kicked off at St Brendan’s College with Ireland’s first-ever indoor orienteering event. Competitors then moved into the wild for five days of open mountain challenges around Glenflesk and Kilgarvan, tackling the rugged slopes of Crohane Mountain and Black Lakes.
The action will draw to a close today (Friday) following a high-speed urban street event through the centre of town.
Athlete ages ranged from under 10 to over 80, with Switzerland bringing the largest international group of nearly 300 entrants, alongside major teams from the UK, Finland, France, and Czechia.
Brendan O’Brien of Kerry Orienteers said the club was thrilled with the turnout, noting that the week provided a massive economic boost for local accommodation and tourism while putting Killarney on the global orienteering map.
John O’Donoghue begins 3,000km coastal cycle around Ireland
Killarney man John O’Donoghue set off yesterday on a demanding 3,166km cycle around the entire coast of Ireland to raise vital funds for St. Francis Special School.
John aims to complete the extensive coastal journey over 17 days of continuous cycling, with a target finish date of August 15. The challenge will see him take on changing weather conditions and long hours in the saddle every day as he navigates the perimeter of the country.
All proceeds raised from the fundraiser will go directly to St. Francis Special School to support their ongoing work with children and young people with additional needs. The school provides a caring, inclusive learning environment featuring specialized teaching, therapies, and tailored supports designed to help pupils reach their full potential.
Members of the public can make a donation online to support the cause, and followers can track John’s daily progress along the route via his Instagram page, @kerryjohncycles.
Killarney welcomes 2,000 orienteers for record-breaking world festival
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