News
Geraldine is no longer at your service

By Michelle Crean
For almost four decades Geraldine Tangney has been one of the friendly faces in the Gleneagle Hotel but this week she decided to hang up her uniform.
It was an emotional day on Tuesday for the Duty Manager from Ballyspillane as she bid farewell to her colleagues and bosses after a wonderful career after 39 years there.
Geraldine started in the Gleneagle Hotel in 1982 first as a waitress before working her way up through to management.
"It was very emotional, a bit nostalgic," Geraldine said when speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week.
"I was talking about it [retirement] for a while. It didn't even feel like 39 years. It hit me really for the last time crossing the car park going in to work on Tuesday."
Geraldine was 24 when she started her career in hospitality and has been behind many of the big events in the hotel over the decades including AIMS which would have crowds of over one thousand to serve over four days. She was also delighted to end her career serving President Michael D. Higgins after a recent stay at the hotel.
She said she has seen many changes during this time as the hotel grew.
She also worked for four generations of the O'Donoghues, first with Mrs Sheila O'Donoghue, Maurice and Margaret, Patrick and Eileen, and more recently their son Peter.
"I worked with four generations of O'Donoghues, they are a lovely crowd. I saw the INEC being built, and I have a lot of fond memories of the people I would have worked with. One of her colleagues she'll miss - but will see often is Maura O'Connor, who also has 39 years service with the hotel.
"Maura and I have worked together for 39 years, we started around the same time," she added.
Being retired means the 63-year-old will now have more time with her partner Ger, as well as a chance to visit her children and grandchildren more often including her son Bryan in Sydney and his two children, her daughter Valerie and grandchildren in New York, and she's very excited for the birth of her eight grandchild in Barraduff which her son Ivan and his wife are expecting any day now.
"I did the Ring of Kerry many times as well and I still have the bike so I might do that again," she said.
News
Start clocking up those ‘Kingdom Kilometres’
With an increase in daylight hours there’s no better time to clock up the ‘Kingdom Kilometres’ on foot or by cycling along the county’s two new Greenways. The recently opened […]

With an increase in daylight hours there’s no better time to clock up the ‘Kingdom Kilometres’ on foot or by cycling along the county’s two new Greenways.
The recently opened Kingdom of Kerry Greenways between Tralee and Fenit and between Listowel and Abbeyfeale are already proving hugely popular with locals and visitors to Kerry.
Representatives of the tourism Industry, local public representatives, travel writers and influencers gathered in Kerry on Monday to experience the exciting new tourist attractions and welcome the arrival of the longer daylight hours as the clocks changed over to summertime.
Sarah Hanrahan, a social media influencer who posts about Irish travel and has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, described the experience.
“Ireland has some of the most amazing outdoor spaces. For a lot of my followers and other people, connecting with green spaces has become much more important to their overall sense of well-being as well as their health and fitness. It’s been really gorgeous to experience the Tralee to Fenit, and Listowel to Limerick Kingdom of Kerry Greenways; a fantastic trip sampling the warm hospitality of Kerry and a great reminder of the active holiday options that are right on our doorstep.”
The new purpose-built trails provide an accessible and inclusive experience for visitors of all abilities.
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy and the Mayor of Listowel, Cllr Aoife Thornton, said that the greenways offer an exceptional recreational amenity for everyone to enjoy.
“The greenways are situated in some of Kerry’s most scenic landscapes and offer spectacular and safe off-road facilities for people of all ages to enjoy as the landscape comes into bloom. They also offer warm hospitality at the trail head towns of each route.”
Visit www.kerrygreenways.ie to find out more.
News
St Patrick’s Day parade winners announced
Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney. Delighted […]

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.
Delighted club representatives were presented with the Seán O’Keeffe Perpetual Trophy – in memory of the former Mayor of Killarney and parade stalwart – at a gala presentation of prizes in the International Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday night.
The award for the Best Interpretation of the Theme, which was Killarney: Experience More, went to the Wander Wild Festival who received the Michael Courtney Perpetual Trophy which is dedicated to the memory of another former mayor of the town who spearheaded the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations for many years.
The John ‘Killer’ O’Callaghan Perpetual Trophy for the Best Sporting Entry was won by Killarney Athletic AFC and the Peter Irwin Memorial Trophy for the Best Marching Group and Cultural/Arts Entry went to Millstreet Pipe Band.
The Best Sports Club was Spa GAA, the Best Children’s Group prize was won by Kilcummin Comhaltas and the Best New Entry was Killarney Rugby Football Club.
There was an international flavour to the Best Musical Entry which was scooped by the Glenridge High School Marching Band from New Jersey.
The prize for the Best Voluntary Group went to the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, the Best School Award went to the Fiona Crowley Stage School and the Best Activity Group was deemed to be Scorchers Cheerleading Club.
The Most Entertaining Entry went to the Killarney Tidy Towns group, the prize for the Most Original Entry was won by Liebherr Container Cranes and the Most Imaginative Entry in the parade was the Art House, Killarney.
The Most Stylish Entry prize was awarded to the Ukrainian community whose representative said they were delighted to play a part in Ireland’s national holiday and thanked the people of Killarney for the warm welcome they have received.
Other prizes presented on the night included the Best Window Display which went to Christy Healy’s on New Street who were celebrating 100 years in business on St Patrick’s Day, while the Europe Hotel and Resort won the Best Green-Themed Building prize.
The judges for the parade were Br Pat Lynch, Guardian, Franciscan Friary, Pam Brosnan, Killarney Musical Society and Denis McMahon.
The awards were presented by Killarney St Patrick’s Festival Chairman Paul Sherry, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive Bridget O’Keeffe, and parade grand marshal Cathal P Walshe.
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