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Fr Tom calls time after more than 50 years in the priesthood

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FAMILY: At the Golden Jubilee celebration Mass for Fr Tom Looney at the Prince of Peace Church Fossa last June were from left: James Looney, Fr Donal Looney, Mary Looney, Fr Tom Looney and Sean Looney. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Sean Moriarty

Tributes have been paid to Canon Tom Looney who has announced his retirement from the priesthood after over 50 years of service.

Fr Tom served as the parish priest of Fossa since 2015 but his contribution to Killarney life stretches from London to Peru and back.

He announced his retirement via the Prince of Peace Church’s parish newsletter which, due to the current crisis, is only published online.

Fr Tom will turn 75 later this year but the double cancer survivor will continue to play a scaled-back role both in the parish and in the Diocese of Kerry.

“After my 41 years of Priestly Ministry in Kerry Diocese together with 10 years Overseas’ Mission in London and Peru I take this opportunity of expressing my sincerest míle, míle buíochas to all who have inspired, encouraged, accompanied and supported me since 1962 when I entered St Patrick’s College, Maynooth,” he said. “To all of you here in Fossa I offer my heartfelt gratitude and in particular since my surgery, Golden Jubilee and recovery journey last year.”

Last June he and his family celebrated his 50th anniversary in the priesthood.

After leaving St Patrick’s College in Maynooth his first role was as a chaplain to Irish Immigrants in the Wembley area of North London.

He is one of the founding members of the Killarney-London Reunion, another association that celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

Cllr Donal Grady is another longstanding member of the same organisation.

“He was, and still is, highly respected over there. He did some wonderful work, not just for Kerry emigrants but for Irish immigrants as a whole,” Cllr Grady told the Killarney Advertiser.
Fr Tom was the guest of honour at the Killarney-London Reunion in the Crown Hotel Cricklewood last October.

“I would like to wish Fr Tom all the best on his retirement,” said long-time Killarney-London Reunion committee member Noel O’Sullivan. “We had the pleasure of having Fr Tom at our 50th-anniversary dinner in Cricklewood last October and I would like to thank him for all he has done for the reunion over the years. As a founding member, he has made an enormous contribution to Kerry life in London.”

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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