News
Finalise CAO choices ahead of Change of Mind deadline

By Niamh Dwyer, Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors
The remaining Leaving Cert exams are the priority at the moment but with the CAO Change of Mind deadline approaching on July 1, it is really important that you take some time to look at the details of your CAO application, particularly your course choices.
July 1 at 5pm is the final deadline by which you will need to have made changes to CAO course choices. To use the Change of Mind facility you simply log on to www.cao.ie, click on ‘My Application’ and log in with your CAO number, date of birth and account password. You can add, take out and amend your course choices with the exception of ‘Restricted’ courses which can’t be added in at this stage. There are exceptions to this in that you may be permitted to introduce a restricted course which shares the exact same assessment procedures with a course you had applied for by February 1 at 5pm - you should consult with the relevant Higher Education Institution (HEI) before introducing such a course.
As you review your CAO choices in the coming weeks, make sure of the following:
Check that all your details are correct including personal details, qualifications and assessment (including educational and exemption) details and course choices.
Include courses on both categories, Level 8 and Level 7/6. This gives you the best chance of getting two offers when the Round 1 Offers come out (the top choice that you qualify for on each list). You will then have to choose which one you prefer.
Fill in as many of the 20 choices as you can. You have the option to fill up to 10 on both sides, giving you 20 possible options for college in the new academic year which gives you 20 chances of getting a college place.
Check the Alert Lists on www.cao.ie. Some very interesting new courses have been added in several colleges since the CAO Handbook was published last September. Take out courses that you are no longer interested in.
RESEARCH
Research the detail of every course that you are including on your CAO application – take particular note of entry requirements and modules. By doing so you are giving yourself the best chance of choosing courses that you are able for, that suit you and that you are interested in, minimising the chance of making the wrong choice.
ORDER OF PREFERENCE
List your courses in Order of Preference. This is the golden rule of CAO. No one knows what the points will be for 2022 until the day the Round 1 offers come out and equally you won’t know your results of exams until they are issued. My advice is don’t try to second guess either of them and before 5pm on July 1 make sure that your course choices are list in Order of Preference! This means listing your favourite course in your favourite college first, your second favourite next and so on down to number 10.
Make sure to include courses that you have a good chance of getting – ‘banker courses’ but make sure you are interested in the course content. While you must apply the order of preference rule when filling the courses and place the courses you really want at the top of your list, you also need to keep in mind how you think you might do and the past points for the courses you are interested in so that you include courses that you are confident of getting. There is no point in filling all your choices with courses that tend to come in over 500 points if your target is 400 so be sensible about your choices.
In the two weeks leading up to the deadline the HEIs will be running CAO Information and Q&A sessions so check the college websites and their social media as well as the events guide on www.careersportal.ie and www.qualifax.ie for further details. You can also get lots of helpful information resources and video guides on the ‘Applicants’ section of www.cao.ie.
An Exceptional Late Application facility opens on July 5 at 12pm. This facility applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on May 1, 2022 in any year in any one of the participating HEI. The closing date for such applications is July 22 at 5pm.
Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, and Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She is also a Career Consultant. See www.mycareerplan.ie or follow @mycareerplan on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
News
Start clocking up those ‘Kingdom Kilometres’
With an increase in daylight hours there’s no better time to clock up the ‘Kingdom Kilometres’ on foot or by cycling along the county’s two new Greenways. The recently opened […]

With an increase in daylight hours there’s no better time to clock up the ‘Kingdom Kilometres’ on foot or by cycling along the county’s two new Greenways.
The recently opened Kingdom of Kerry Greenways between Tralee and Fenit and between Listowel and Abbeyfeale are already proving hugely popular with locals and visitors to Kerry.
Representatives of the tourism Industry, local public representatives, travel writers and influencers gathered in Kerry on Monday to experience the exciting new tourist attractions and welcome the arrival of the longer daylight hours as the clocks changed over to summertime.
Sarah Hanrahan, a social media influencer who posts about Irish travel and has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, described the experience.
“Ireland has some of the most amazing outdoor spaces. For a lot of my followers and other people, connecting with green spaces has become much more important to their overall sense of well-being as well as their health and fitness. It’s been really gorgeous to experience the Tralee to Fenit, and Listowel to Limerick Kingdom of Kerry Greenways; a fantastic trip sampling the warm hospitality of Kerry and a great reminder of the active holiday options that are right on our doorstep.”
The new purpose-built trails provide an accessible and inclusive experience for visitors of all abilities.
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy and the Mayor of Listowel, Cllr Aoife Thornton, said that the greenways offer an exceptional recreational amenity for everyone to enjoy.
“The greenways are situated in some of Kerry’s most scenic landscapes and offer spectacular and safe off-road facilities for people of all ages to enjoy as the landscape comes into bloom. They also offer warm hospitality at the trail head towns of each route.”
Visit www.kerrygreenways.ie to find out more.
News
St Patrick’s Day parade winners announced
Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney. Delighted […]

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.
Delighted club representatives were presented with the Seán O’Keeffe Perpetual Trophy – in memory of the former Mayor of Killarney and parade stalwart – at a gala presentation of prizes in the International Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday night.
The award for the Best Interpretation of the Theme, which was Killarney: Experience More, went to the Wander Wild Festival who received the Michael Courtney Perpetual Trophy which is dedicated to the memory of another former mayor of the town who spearheaded the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations for many years.
The John ‘Killer’ O’Callaghan Perpetual Trophy for the Best Sporting Entry was won by Killarney Athletic AFC and the Peter Irwin Memorial Trophy for the Best Marching Group and Cultural/Arts Entry went to Millstreet Pipe Band.
The Best Sports Club was Spa GAA, the Best Children’s Group prize was won by Kilcummin Comhaltas and the Best New Entry was Killarney Rugby Football Club.
There was an international flavour to the Best Musical Entry which was scooped by the Glenridge High School Marching Band from New Jersey.
The prize for the Best Voluntary Group went to the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, the Best School Award went to the Fiona Crowley Stage School and the Best Activity Group was deemed to be Scorchers Cheerleading Club.
The Most Entertaining Entry went to the Killarney Tidy Towns group, the prize for the Most Original Entry was won by Liebherr Container Cranes and the Most Imaginative Entry in the parade was the Art House, Killarney.
The Most Stylish Entry prize was awarded to the Ukrainian community whose representative said they were delighted to play a part in Ireland’s national holiday and thanked the people of Killarney for the warm welcome they have received.
Other prizes presented on the night included the Best Window Display which went to Christy Healy’s on New Street who were celebrating 100 years in business on St Patrick’s Day, while the Europe Hotel and Resort won the Best Green-Themed Building prize.
The judges for the parade were Br Pat Lynch, Guardian, Franciscan Friary, Pam Brosnan, Killarney Musical Society and Denis McMahon.
The awards were presented by Killarney St Patrick’s Festival Chairman Paul Sherry, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive Bridget O’Keeffe, and parade grand marshal Cathal P Walshe.
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