News
Get ready for Good Friday Hospice Walks

By Michelle Crean
Members of the Killarney branch of Kerry Hospice Foundation are all set for their annual fundraising walks next week.
The popular fundraising walk on Good Friday April 7, will once again be in memory of the late Vivien O’Shea and Sheila McGillycuddy and all who have passed with life limiting illnesses.
Registration takes place from 9.30am at the Garden Restaurant, Muckross House and the walk commences at 10.30am.
There is a choice of two walks, a 10km and a 5km.
The 10km goes from the Garden Restaurant via Dinis Cottage and a section of Torc Trail and will return to the starting point. The route will be signposted.
The 5km walk also leaves and returns to Garden Restaurant, and is suitable for walkers with young children/buggies.
This year the Student Council of Scoil Bhríde Loreto National School will be setting the adult/kids quizzes.
There is no registration fee but there will be a bucket collection on the day. Tickets will be on sale for some lovely spot prizes and are €5 for three strips of five tickets. There'll be complimentary takeaway tea/coffee also available at Dinis Cottage by kind permission of the proprietor for participants.
"Killarney sprinter Sarah Leahy, who is making a name for herself in the athletics world, is our ambassador this year and will be cutting the tape to start the walk," Pat Doolan, Chair of the Kerry Hospice Foundation Killarney Branch, explained.
Suitable footwear is advisable in the interests of health and safety, especially along the section of Torc Trail.
Kerry Hospice Foundation is a voluntary organisation dedicated to providing palliative care services to people with life limiting illnesses. This care, which is free of charge, is provided at their 15 bed inpatient unit and Palliative Day Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry and also through the home nursing scheme. Presently it costs in excess of €10,000 a week to fund their services.
The people of Kerry have been very generous supporters and the magnificent facilities now available at University Hospital Kerry are testament to their generosity.
"The ongoing support of the people of Kerry is vital in maintaining these facilities. As our late departed County Fundraising Chairman, Ted Moynihan used to say: “You may never need the hospice, but the hospice needs you”. Looking forward to seeing you all on the day."
In Kilcummin on the same day a hospice walk will also take place starting from the recreation hall at 10am. The family friendly walk has a choice of 5km or 10km. Refreshments will be provided in the hall afterwards. Alan Oliver of Lir has again generously sponsored a large Easter Egg which will be raffled among participants. All money raised through donations on the day will be forwarded to the Palliative Care Unit, Kerry Hospice Association.
GOOD FRIDAY WALKS IN KERRY
Ballinskelligs: 11am – 1pm Ballinskelligs CC Reen and Back
Caherciveen: 11am Caherciveen CC fair field - Rockey Road back to C/Civeen
Chapeltown: 11am Chapeltown Football field – middle road, Batchelors Walk shore road and home
Portmagee: 11am Portmagee CC – Doora back to Portmagee
The Glen: 11am The Glen Day Care Centre – The Bridge return to Day Care.
Waterville: 11am IRD car park to Rineen Pier and return
Castlegregory: 11am Bowlers Corner, Castlegregory
Tarbert: (15/4/23) 10.30am Tarbert Comprehensive School to the Pier at Tarbert
Tralee: (Ted Moynihan Memorial Walk) 10am Denny Street - Blennerville – Denny Street
Lixnaw: 11am Lixnaw Church and back
Glenbeigh: 10am Rossbeigh Beach Glenbeigh
Listowel: 10am St. Patrick’s Hall – Charles Street, Library Road, Church Street, Greenway, back by Greenway – Church Street – William Street.
Milltown: 10.45am Milltown Muintir Na Tire Hall, Lyre, Ballyvarrane Cross- Nauntane – Milltown.
Castleisland: 11am C/Island Library, (Black Road) back to Library
Ballyduff: 5pm Cashen Pier to Lacca Cross via Knopogue Road, Coast road to Dowd’s Cross, returning to Cashen Pier.
Killarney: 10am Muckross House via Dinis Cottage and Torc Trail – return to Muckross House.
Annascaul: 11am Inch Beach
Killorglin: 10am Plaza Killorglin – Laharn, Ceanovree – Old Glenbeigh Road – Library Place/Plaza.
Spa Fenit: 10.30am Tankard Kilfenora, Fenit – Kilfenora.
Ballyheigue: 11am Castlegate Ballyheigue
Kilcummin: 10.30am Kilcummin Recreational Hall, Old Creamery, Keane's Cross – Kilcummin Hall.
Ballybunion: 11:00am Barracks to Cashen car park back to Barracks

Killarney sprinter Sarah Leahy
News
Fire warning in National Park
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places […]

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places this summer.
As they appeal to the public to exercise renewed care and responsibility when outdoors the National Parks and Wildlife Service has increased ground crews on fire patrol and has ramped up aerial monitoring with helicopters and drones.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said:
“If you notice a fire, please call the emergency services on 112 immediately. NPWS teams are upping their patrols to identify potential fire incidents and act quickly should one break out. However as we know, prevention is better than cure, and we’re asking all members of the public to avoid lighting fires in open areas.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD commented further:
“Our National Parks and Nature Reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks are all places where we enjoy spending time in nature, but they are also home to our precious wildlife and their vulnerable young. This is a really important time of year for wildlife, especially vulnerable ground-nesting birds and mammals who are now rearing their young. We all want to get out and enjoy the good weather but let’s do it responsibly – without putting nature at risk.”
The Director General of the NPWS, Niall O Donnchú, has also asked for everybody’s cooperation to protect nature and said:
“While NPWS has increased ground crews and monitoring from the air this week, we still need to enlist your help to protect nature at this high risk time. We ask that members of the public not light fires or barbecues in any National Parks or Nature Reserves, or indeed in nature generally. We are also asking that the public be vigilant and report any fire activity without delay.”
News
Killarney Looking Good Competition returns
Over three decades after it was first initiated, to help improve the aesthetic values of the town, the Killarney Looking Good Competition is back with a vengeance with a new […]

Over three decades after it was first initiated, to help improve the aesthetic values of the town, the Killarney Looking Good Competition is back with a vengeance with a new committee, new categories, new sponsors and a whole new approach.
When the project was first launched in 1991 it was a relatively low-key community event but it grew in importance with each passing year, culminating in some style when Killarney won the prestigious overall award in the national tidy towns competition in 2011.
After an enforced three-year absence since 2019, due to the pandemic, the competition has now been given a whole new lease of life and the 2023 version was officially launched this week by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Niall Kelleher.
Awards will be presented in 26 different categories and high achievers in the business and residential community will be honoured at a gala prizegiving ceremony at the close of the tourist season.
This year two new categories are being introduced in memory of two remarkable people who played massive roles in keeping Killarney looking its best down through the years.
Yvonne Quill, who passed away last October, was the driving force behind the Killarney tidy towns campaign for several years and she was at the helm when the sought-after overall award was secured 12 years ago.
This year the Yvonne Quill Memorial Award will be presented to the volunteer of the year – a person who the adjudicators consider to be a standout contributor – in the overall effort to keep Killarney tidy.
Up to the time of his death in January 2020, Fr Michael Murphy was the public face of tidy towns and he played a huge part in Killarney, Kenmare and Sneem winning the overall national award in 2011, 2000 and 1987 respectively. Affectionately known as Fr Tidy, this year the Killarney Looking Good Competition will honour his memory with a special Pride of Place award.
In the business community, there will be awards for the best large and small commercial premises, best newly painted premises, best signage and the best retail award with prizes also for the most impressive hotel, public house, restaurant, café, guesthouse and best public building as well as the most improved premises.
In the residential categories awards will go to the best large and small estates, best private residence, best roadside garden, best floral display and best friendly planting award.
Other categories include a green hospitality award, a corporate special responsibility award, a restoration award, best school and a special biodiversity award.
Several highly commended awards will also be up for grabs and the winner of the prestigious overall award will be announced at the prizegiving ceremony.
The Killarney Looking Good Competition is organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Killarney Municipal District Council and the new committee comprises Sandra Dunlea – a daughter of the late Yvonne Quill – Kathleen Foley, John O’Mahony and Johnny McGuire who is spearheading the project.
MD O’Shea & Sons are the new overall sponsors of the competition and O’Mahony Media Ltd is the media sponsor.
The competition will run throughout the tourist season and businesses and residential areas will be monitored on an ongoing basis.