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Four-day national orienteering championships hailed a success

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4 years ago

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WILD THING: Christian Wehrli competing in the grounds of Killarney Demesne Killarney National Park in the Irish Orienteering Championships.

by Sean Moriarty

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ALL AGE GROUPS: A young competitor in the ancient woodlands of Killarney Demesne Killarney National Park.

AWAKE: A competitor passes by the site of Cloch Mochuda where Bro. Mochuda of Innisfallen Island fell asleep for 200 years.

MAP CHECK: A competitor in the ancient woodlands of Killarney Demesne during the Irish Orienteering Championships last weekend.

MAPS: Over 500 people took part in the four-day event.

NAVIGATION: Ivan Vasilkov finds his way through Killarney National Park during the Irish Orienteering Championships last weekend.

PARK RUN: Michael O'Brien in action during the Irish Orienteering Championships.

RUNNING FREE: Aine Rickard was one of 500 athletes competing in the event organised by Kerry Orienteering Club.

RUNNING: Patrick Ryan was among the 500 athletes who competed in the championships organised by Kerry Orienteering Club.

SEARCHING: A competitor deep in the woods of Killarney National Park during the Irish Orienteering Championships.

Photos: Valerie O’Sullivan

Organisers of the Irish Orienteering Championships which took place last weekend have praised Killarney which hosted the four-day event.

Over 500 athletes competed in the championships which were organised by Orienteering Ireland and facilitated by Kerry Orienteering Club. The event started with a sprint race in Muckross House Estate on Friday. Saturday’s action took place near Cappanalea on the shores of Caragh Lake. Sunday the competitors visited Crohane Lake near Kilgarvan for their classic event. The action concluded on Monday with a relay race on the grounds of Knockreer House. Registration and prizegiving took place at the ANAM Arts Centre on East Avenue and the same venue hosted Orienteering Ireland’s AGM on Saturday. Following the events the organisers contacted Mayor Marie Moloney to praise the facilities on offer in Killarney. “The AGM was followed by an Irish music session and a demonstration of Irish dancing which was held both within the centre and outside,” Mayor Moloney said. “On Sunday, Dr. Una May, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Ireland, addressed the association. “Since this event, the organisers have contacted Killarney Municipal District to express their delight with how this event went and to compliment the functionality of the ANAM Centre.”

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Sarah Leahy breaks 21-year-old Irish 50m record

Killarney Valley Athletic Club sprinter Sarah Leahy has made history by setting a new Irish Women’s Indoor 50m record. Competing at the Meeting Indoor Locarnese in Switzerland on Wednesday evening, […]

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15 hours ago

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15 January 2026

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Killarney Valley Athletic Club sprinter Sarah Leahy has made history by setting a new Irish Women’s Indoor 50m record.

Competing at the Meeting Indoor Locarnese in Switzerland on Wednesday evening, Leahy clocked a blistering time of 6.41 seconds to take the top spot.
The performance eclipses the previous national record of 6.44 seconds, which had been held by Ailish McSweeney since 2005. Leahy, a member of the national women’s 4x100m relay team that famously set a new record at the London Diamond League last year, has started her 2026 indoor campaign in exceptional form.
Known for her explosive power out of the blocks, the Killarney athlete is now using the international circuit to prepare for the National Indoor Championships.
These are scheduled to take place in seven weeks at the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown, where Leahy aims to defend the 60m title she has won for the past two years.
It is a busy period for Killarney Valley AC, as fellow club member Maria Murnane travels to Boston next week to compete in the 800m. Murnane is hoping to secure a scholarship in the United States following a highly successful 2025 season for the club, which saw its members secure 46 national and 96 Munster medals.
Local runners are also preparing for the return of the ‘Streets of Killarney’ 5-mile road race, which will take place on Good Friday, April 3.
The fast, flat course through Killarney House and the National Park serves as a major fundraiser for the Killarney Valley AC Arena. Entries are already open, with a strong field expected from across the country.

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Junior Brother to make Mike the Pies debut this May

Kilcummin musician Junior Brother is set to play Mike the Pies for the first time when he takes to the stage at the popular Listowel venue on May 21. The […]

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2 days ago

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14 January 2026

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Kilcummin musician Junior Brother is set to play Mike the Pies for the first time when he takes to the stage at the popular Listowel venue on May 21.

The local artist has built a strong reputation on the Irish folk and alternative scene and released his third album, The End, last September. The record followed a steady rise in profile since the release of his debut album Pull The Right Rope, which was nominated for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year.
Junior Brother also picked up two nominations at the 2019 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, where he was shortlisted for Best Folk Album and Best Emerging Folk Act. His distinctive songwriting and live performances have since seen him share stages with a range of well-known acts, including The Proclaimers and Glen Hansard.
Hansard later invited the Kilcummin man to join him on a tour of the east coast of the United States.
Tickets for the show are priced at €20 and are available through the Mike the Pies website.

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