News
Football for all launched by Killarney Celtic

A wonderful initiative by Killarney Celtic FC to ensure inclusiveness and to guarantee game-time opportunities for players with intellectual, physical and sensory needs has just celebrated a landmark birthday.
The Football for All project is aimed at players aged between six and 18 and a special celebration has been held to mark 10 years of great success.
The final training session of the season at Celtic Park was followed by a fun-filled birthday party with games, treats and novelties, and club members turned out in force for the occasion.
Also in attendance was the outgoing FAI regional development officer Chelsea Noonan.
The project commenced in February 2013 when the club, determined to be fully inclusive, organised a six-week pilot programme with the FAI, spearheaded by Football for All Development Officer for Munster Nick Harrison.
Celtic then appointed its own specialist coaches, including John Don and Jane O’Donoghue, whose youngest daughter has autism and dyspraxia, and other parents Denis and Amelia Tucker, Claire Doherty and Denise O’Regan.
The programme grew year on year and several specialist soccer blitzes were attended in Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Dublin where all Football for All clubs came together to play non-competitive matches.
“As much as it is about soccer, it is also about social skills and friendships,” said organiser Jane O’Donoghue.
“In the earlier years, we travelled by bus to away blitzes and we also had overnight stays in Dublin and Youghal and we did this as whole-family events,” she added.
Killarney Celtic’s Football for All stars also highlighted their skills at half-time at Turners Cross for high-profile Cork City FC League of Ireland games.
“Cork City FC have been extremely good to our FFA team and 10 years on, we are still in contact with them,” said Jane.
"Football for All is for players that want the competition but also those that just want a kick around for an hour on a Wednesday evening.
One high-achieving player was Fiana Bradley who started out with Celtic’s Football for All team and progressed on to mainstream soccer with Cork City FC and the Ireland under 16 and under 17 women’s teams."
The clubhouse at Celtic Park features a mural featuring Fiana’s achievements.
In 2016 Killarney Celtic’s Football for All squad were runners-up in a national competitionto find the best sports club in Ireland, despite incredible competition from 3,000 entries. That achievement earned the club €1,000 towards equipment."
Training will recommence in September and new members always welcome. Contact Jane O’Donoghue on 086-2243435.
News
One of Killarney’s great motorsport legends passes awayBy Cormac Casey
Dermot O’Sullivan, of Ardshanavooly, Killarney, sadly passed away this week. This popular Killarney businessman started in motorsport in 1968 participating in tarmac and forestry rallying and later in hot rod […]

Dermot O’Sullivan, of Ardshanavooly, Killarney, sadly passed away this week.
This popular Killarney businessman started in motorsport in 1968 participating in tarmac and forestry rallying and later in hot rod racing.
A high point in his motorsport career was competing on the 1982 Circuit of Ireland in his Datsun Sunny, at a time when competitors had no pacenotes, relying on sheer wit and skill.
In 2005, after a 23-year gap, he returned to rallying in a Talbot Sunbeam competing in the Killarney Historic Rally with his son Paul in the navigator’s seat, and competed in various events till 2009.
Whenever the glory of days of Kerry rallying are discussed in local pubs during the wee hours, it was certain that Dermot’s name would be mentioned. He had a sideways style of driving that kept every spectator entertained.
As much a flamboyant competitor behind the wheel of his Datsun, his ability to tell a good story was equally entertaining.
As a young motorsport enthusiast, I waited with anticipation each week as Dermot called to the ‘Advertiser’ office in Woodlawn to placing his weekly advert, to hear his animated description of his exploits on the rallying stages. As time went on, the stories never faded, and I always enjoyed our encounters.
Dermot establishing a successful chainsaw and lawnmower business in the 1970’s, down Pawn Office Lane, off High Street, Killarney. In true entrepreneurial spirit he saw a gap in the market, soon after establishing O’Sullivan’s Cycles as one of the first to introduce bike rental to Killarney, a business venture that is still successful today under the guidance of the current O’Sullivan generations.
A true character and an absolute gentleman. May he rest in peace.
Our sincere condolences to wife, Mary, sons Paul, Derry and David, daughters-in-law Barbara, Denise and Fiona, grandchildren Megan, Luke, Kate and Ciara and his great granddaughter Ava, his sisters Breda and Maureen and brother John, brother-in-law Bill, sister-in-law Ann, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, and many great friends.
News
Kerry’s youth celebrated at the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards
This year’s overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement is Ryan Griffin from Waterville who was nominated by Mairead O’Sullivan from Killorglin Family Resource Centre. Ryan Griffin […]

This year’s overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement is Ryan Griffin from Waterville who was nominated by Mairead O’Sullivan from Killorglin Family Resource Centre.
Ryan Griffin is a member of the Skellig Stars and was chosen to represent Kerry at the Special Olympics.
Ryan’s biggest hurdle is communication and he had to overcome this during his trip to Berlin for the big event.
Ryan has overcome his disabilities by focusing on all the great abilities he has. Ryan attends mainstream school in Coláiste na Sceilge where he is a very respected member of the School Community. He is a member of Kerry Stars and also Downs Syndrome Kerry.
Ryan has always had a keen interest in sport and even played with the local team in Waterville, but now Ryan thinks it’s too fast for him so he prefers to cheer them on from the side-lines.
Ryan has always been involved with the Community and they have never left him out. Ryan started out his athletics career with Skellig Stars and without them he would have gone to the Special Olympics and he has never forgotten when he came from.
Ryan and his family are very grateful to the local community in Waterville and the surrounding area for all the support they have given them over the years and especially now with the Special Olympics coming closer.
The whole community from Waterville to Mid-Kerry got behind Ryan, raising funds to help his family go to Berlin for 2 weeks. Ryan is now an inspiration to others to overcome difficulties and “go for gold”.
Ryan was the only representative from Kerry on this years Irish Special Olympics Team and in fact one of the Youngest Athletes on Team Ireland at only 16yrs of age, which was a great honour for him.
This in itself is a great achievement but it also shows his friends at Skellig Stars, Downs Syndrome Kerry and in the wider community that dreams do come true.
It took a lot of hard work and determination on Ryan’s behalf to make these dreams come true, not least the long journey he had to make from South Kerry to Dublin once a month since last January to train for the Special Olympics. He also trained weekly with the Skellig Stars.
At the 2023 Special Olympics in Berlin Ryan took part in the 100m run and the relay but his biggest achievement was winning the Silver Medal in the mini javelin. This showed others that overcoming difficulties can be possible and you can achieve your goals with hard work and determination, which Ryan has in abundance.
Local Merit Awards
Aliza Gul, Killarney
Joey McCarthy, Killarney
John O’Connor, Killarney
Nattagun Ryan, Killarney
Samuel Behal, Killarney
St Brendan’s Choir, Killarney