News
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
250th anniversary of Arthur Young’s Muckross visit
A special commemorative walk will take place on the Muckross Peninsula this Sunday, September 27, to mark the 250th anniversary of English writer and agriculturist Arthur Young’s historic visit to Killarney.
Young stayed with the Herbert family at the Muckross Estate for four nights in September 1776 while researching his book A Tour Of Ireland. During his stay, he explored the native oak woods, the rare Reenadinna Yew Wood, limestone rock formations, and local flora along the peninsula.
His detailed accounts of the landscape led to the formal naming of the “Arthur Young Walk” on September 27, 1776.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Conservation Ranger Shonagh Gray will lead the anniversary walk, guiding participants through the historical route while outlining the ecology and heritage of the peninsula.
The walk begins at 10.30am this Sunday, outside the Garden Restaurant at Muckross House.
Concerns over suicide prevention funding
Killarney councillor Marie Moloney has expressed serious concerns regarding mental health provision and localised suicide prevention services across South Kerry, following figures released at the Regional Health Forum South West this week.
Data provided by HSE Kerry Integrated Care Area Manager Julie O’Neill revealed that while overall mental health funding for Kerry grew from €40 million in 2024 to €52.1 million in 2026, targeted direct funding for suicide prevention dropped from €84,335 in 2024 to €74,558 in 2026.
In response to a motion raised by Cllr Moloney, the HSE confirmed that a countywide Crisis Resolution Team (CRT) is currently being established, with five full-time equivalent Crisis Intervention Nurse posts reconfigured from existing adult community mental health teams.
A Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) commenced duties recently, with a second appointee set to take up position shortly. The HSE confirmed that the Crisis Nurse for South Kerry is already in post, and a Consultant Psychiatrist is expected to be appointed by year-end.
However, Cllr Moloney highlighted regional inequities within the service, pointing out that the base for the new crisis team has been located in Tralee, despite high local demand and recent community concerns over male suicide rates in the Killarney region.
“While the appointment of dedicated crisis nurses is a welcome step, the actual direct funding for suicide prevention in the region shows a clear decline over the three-year period,” Cllr Moloney said.
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