It has been a particularly busy and a hugely progressive and positive year for Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce in 2025 with many highlights that have helped maintain Killarney’s reputation as a great town to live in, a wonderful town to do business in and a fabulous town to visit.

A number of senior chamber members achieved great success throughout the year, including Patrick O’Donoghue of the Gleneagle Group being named Kerry Business Leader of the Year, Pat O’Leary, of the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation and formerly of Liebherr Container Cranes, joining the board of Tourism Ireland and KWD Recycling winning a national environmental award for its waste recovery practices.
Killarney also performed exceptionally well in both the national tidy towns competition, winning a gold medal, and the Irish Business Against Litter League and Chamber played a very active part in both.
Killarney, of course, could not achieve what it does without the wonderful contribution of volunteers, right throughout the community, including those who help out with the numerous festivals, parades and events that chamber hosts every year.
Thanks are due also to tidy towns and the Mountain Meitheal volunteers who took to the woods to continue the fight against rhododendron – in association with the National Parks and Wildlife Service – an impressive 50 times this year.
In an ongoing effort to keep members fully briefed, Chamber also hosted some very engaging guest speakers at many of its gatherings throughout 2025, including retail consultant Eddie Shanahan, IBEC chief Danny McCoy, Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, Kerry County Council chief executive Fearghal Reidy and cyber security experts Mike Dennehy and Ger McAuliffe from progressive local company Tricel.
In a new departure this year chamber published informative monthly newsletters for members to keep them fully briefed on events happening in Killarney, what the chamber has been doing and what is in the pipeline.
Con and Anne Stack, founders of Tricel, were the recipients of the 2025 Order of Inisfallen Award, which is organised by Chamber and Kerry County Council.
Active Chamber members, the Randles family of the Dromhall and Randles Hotels, celebrated 60 years in business in the company of the Taoiseach.
Our big events, the St Patrick’s Festival, Wander Wild, the Celebration of Irish-American Friendship and, of course, Christmas in Killarney continue to grow and prosper and we thank all those involved for their hard work and dedication in ensuring they are such a big success.
This year the Chamber, in association with the Killarney Parish, chose to honour the memory of the late Donal Grady, a former Mayor of Killarney, by dedicating the star at the top of the Tree of Light on the grounds of St Mary’s Cathedral in his name and we would encourage everybody to pay a visit, to remember Donal and to marvel at the magnificent spectacle that the Tree of Light actually is.
Towards the end of 2025, Chamber welcomed a new chamber vice president, Carol Dempsey and we all look forward to her input and to working closely with her on several projects as the new year unfolds.
It is important to acknowledge the long-serving co-president Padraig Treacy for his remarkable contribution to chamber and we are delighted to confirm that Padraig will remain on in the wings which is where he always likes to be.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce takes great heart from comments made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Dromhall Hotel 60th celebrations when he described Killarney as being a great town for getting things done and just getting on with it and as a location that had tourism in its DNA.
On the same day Chamber representatives had a private meeting with Mr Martin at which we lobbied him to introduce the long-promised latte levy so that the coffee cup initiative first introduced in Killarney can get a new lease of life and go on to thrive on a nationwide basis, just like the plastic bag levy introduced some years ago.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce wishes everybody in Killarney, our members, the local people visitors and those who are home for Christmas a very happy, peaceful and safe festive season and every blessing and good wish for the year ahead.

A charity walk along the Old Kenmare Road will take place on Saturday, December 27, to raise funds for Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, with the Sam Maguire Cup set to join walkers for the day.

The 17km trek is being organised by well known fundraiser and musician Derry Healy, James Cahill and their supporters.

The event was inspired by Killarney man James Cahill, who was seriously injured in a fall while descending Carrauntoohil in July 2016 and was rescued by Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.

He was treated at the scene before being airlifted to University Hospital Kerry and later spent months in rehabilitation.

Walkers will set off from the Upper Torc Car Park at 9.30am and follow the Old Kenmare Road to Kenmare.

Along the route, there will be a stop at the restored Sheep Shed at Eskamucky Glen for music and a set dance with the Sam Maguire Cup.

A free bus transfer will be available from Kenmare back to Killarney, with booking required in advance.

Donations can also be made directly to Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, which operates on a voluntary basis and relies heavily on fundraising and public support.