The confirmation that Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) has been awarded €2.3 million in funding to purchase the former Pretty Polly site on Upper Park Road has been described as a gamechanger for the town.

The long-awaited development marks a major breakthrough for Killarney, with the site now set to be transformed into a Tourism and Hospitality Training College. T
he announcement was made by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, who confirmed that the project will serve as a centre for skills development in hospitality and tourism.
MAJOR BOOST FOR KILLARNEY
Kerry TD Michael Cahill said the investment was “a gamechanger” for both Killarney and Kerry, describing it as a vital step that will cement the town’s position as Ireland’s tourism capital.
“This is immense news for the town,” said Deputy Cahill. “It will mark Killarney out officially as the tourism capital of Ireland by providing a Hospitality Sector Training College right in the heart of the county. I’ve been raising this issue repeatedly in the Dáil, and I am delighted to see it finally move forward.”
Deputy Cahill said the €2.375m allocation followed years of persistence and lobbying at Government level.
“The Pretty Polly site has been an issue for decades and this investment will be a gamechanger for the hospitality sector in Killarney and Kerry,” he said. “I am absolutely delighted to have played my part in getting this across the line.”
He also referred to the history of hospitality training in the town.
“Some will remember the CERT training centre at the Torc Great Southern Hotel back in the 1970s. It’s fitting that Killarney will once again be a training hub for hospitality professionals,” he said.
SUPPORT FROM MINISTER FOLEY
Minister for Children and Kerry TD Norma Foley also welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “transformative project” for education and tourism in the county.
“This is a transformative project for education in Kerry but also an acknowledgement of the excellence of Kerry in the delivery of hospitality,” said Minister Foley. “Having been involved in the development of this project from the beginning, this is an important next stage in the project for Killarney and County Kerry. I look forward to continuing to work to see the project through to fruition.”
The Pretty Polly site, which covers 3.2 hectares, has been vacant for many years. Under the plan, Kerry ETB will purchase the site from Kerry County Council and submit a business case for a state-of-the-art training campus focused on hospitality skills and education.
CHAMBER WELCOME
The Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce also welcomed the news, describing it as “a major step forward” for the town and its key industries.
“This project will transform a long-vacant site into an active training hub that will strengthen both the local economy and workforce,” the Chamber said in a statement. “It’s a positive development that will benefit Killarney and the wider Kerry region for many years to come.”