News
Gleneagle turns Inside Out to facilitate outdoor gigs
The Gleneagle INEC Arena has this evening (Friday) announced a series of live outdoor gigs scheduled to take place throughout August and tickets are on sale now.
Artists lined up for the aptly titled 'Inside Out' gigs include the up-and-coming Lyra, Saint Sister, Jyellowl and Kerry Rising, featuring Cathal Flaherty, Seamus Harty, Lorraine Nash and Colin Andrew, each playing under the Future Sounds billing. Ham Sandwich, Aslan, Ryan Sheridan, The Blizzards, The High Kings, Damian Dempsey and Paddy Casey all make a welcome return to the Killarney venue under the Signature Acts billing. While country music stalwarts Derek Ryan, Mike Denver, Johnny Brady and Chantalle Padden, Cliona Hagan and Take It To The Limit round out the line-up of gigs which kick off on Sunday, August 1.
The concerts will take place on a specially constructed outdoor stage located on grounds adjacent to the Gleneagle INEC Arena. In line with Government guidelines, 200 tickets will be available per gig sold in pods of six.
The series of gigs is being funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS).
SAFE RETURN
“We’ve had to really think outside the box in order to make a safe return to live music performance and help get our colleagues in the live entertainment sector back to work," Mark Egan, Director of Gleneagle INEC Arena, said.
"These gigs would not be financially viable under normal circumstances, but thanks to the LPSS scheme we now have 20 live acts lined up to play to intimate audiences of just 200 people per gig.”
The Live Performance Support Scheme was introduced to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters plan live performances across the country over the summer months, with a total of 237 organisations benefiting from the scheme.
The main objective of this scheme is to provide significant employment and well-being opportunities across the live entertainment sector as well as supporting the generation of high-quality artistic output for the general public.
GUIDELINES
The 'Inside Out' gigs are subject to Government guidelines, which currently allow for 200 hundred people to attend outdoor events. Tickets will be sold in pods of six and are non-transferable. Each pod will be allocated a specific arrival time and a pre-allocated, socially distanced table. Face masks are required when arriving at and vacating the venue. Gates will open at 7pm to allow for staggered arrival times and the concert will begin at 8.15pm. Each pod must arrive together at their allocated time. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
In order to facilitate contract tracing contact details for all attendees will be collected and all attendees will be required to have their smartphone switched on and the HSE COVID App installed. Customers are asked not to attend the concert if they have any symptoms of COVID-19. In this scenario, tickets will be fully refundable.
DATES
Sunday, August 1 Ham Sandwich Signature Show
Monday, August 2 Lyra Future Sounds
Thursday, August 5 Saint Sister Future Sounds
Friday, August 6 Derek Ryan Gleneagle Country
Saturday, August 7 Derek Ryan Gleneagle Country
Wednesday, August 11 Mike Denver Gleneagle Country
Thursday, August 12 Aslan Signature Show
Friday, August 13 Ryan Sheridan Signature Show
Tuesday, August 17 Johnny Brady & Chantalle Padden Gleneagle Country
Wednesday, August 18 Cliona Hagan Gleneagle Country
Thursday, August 19 Take it to the Limit Gleneagle Country
Friday, August 20 Jyellowl Future Sounds
Saturday, August 21 The High Kings Signature Show
Sunday, August 22 The High Kings Signature Show
Wednesday, August 25 Kerry Rising Future Sounds
Thursday, August 26 Damian Dempsey Signature Show
Friday, August 27 The Blizzards Signature Show
Saturday, August 28 Paddy Casey Signature Show
There is a reason Killarney is so tidy
By Eamonn Fitzgerald
Killarney won the overall national award as Ireland’s Tidiest town in 2011 and, since then, has consistently won gold medals and several category titles. In 2023, Killarney was Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town.
The 2024 overall winner was Ballincollig on 386 marks, followed by Killarney on 384. We need a two-pointer, so let’s all pull together for that orange flag, as the judges are on the circuit for the 2026 awards.
Winning an All-Ireland title takes a lot of planning, commitment, dedication, and continuous work. That was needed to win the Sam Maguire in 2025. Now the race is on for Sam’s return. Killarney would also cherish winning the overall Tidiest Town in Ireland.
It is a huge challenge for Killarney with so many visitors swelling the resident population of 14,351. Recently, there was Bike Fest, two big games at Fitzgerald Stadium- the Munster football final, with an attendance of close to 33,000, and the Donegal game, which attracted over 22,000. If even 50 % of the people dropped one piece of litter, a wrapping, paper coffee cup, or plastic water bottle, the accumulated litter would be enormous. It is my custom to walk around Killarney, especially on the morning after a big event, but by 10.00 am on Monday mornings, the town is spic and span. All litter disappeared overnight. Magic?
No. Noel O’Leary had his Killarney Town Council staff working from dawn, complemented by Mick Gleeson’s volunteers from Killarney Looking Good. Such cooperation between the statutory body and volunteers is very rare indeed. We should not take it for granted but appreciate this cooperative effort to maintain Killarney as the Town we love so well, just like Phil Coulter appreciates his native Derry. Let us all row in, bring home your own litter or use the bins provided, and if you see a stray piece of litter, put it in the nearest bin. Teams win All-Irelands, not individuals. Let’s all do our bit: it will make a difference. Ní neart go cur le chéile.
HIQA registration delays opening of new hospital
Confusion surrounds the opening date of the new 130-bed Killarney Community Nursing Unit, with a Dáil debate revealing that a previous end-of-June opening target is now dependent on resolving outstanding registration issues with the health watchdog, HIQA.
Speaking in the Dáil this week, Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae criticised the ongoing delays, stating that Kerry TDs were assured by local HSE management on May 29 that the facility would open before the end of June. However, county councillors at a HSE SouthWest Forum were informed a week later that this target would not be met.
“Who is calling the shots? Is it the HSE at national level? Is it the Minister?” Deputy Healy-Rae asked. “The lights have been on in the building since before Christmas and it was cleared to go. We are begging for this on our knees.”
He highlighted that the delay impacts 30 planned dementia-specific beds, as well as broader plans for a minor injuries unit and a primary care centre at the St Columbanus’s site.
Responding on behalf of the government, Deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor maintained that the HSE still expects the unit to open before the end of June, but confirmed the timeline depends entirely on HIQA registration.
“The HSE is engaging with HIQA regarding a small number of outstanding issues,” she said. “Once HIQA registration is granted, the HSE will set a date and move forward with the transfer of residents.”
Deputy Healy-Rae countered that the response was identical to information provided by the government a month ago. He questioned why staffing agreements and HIQA certifications were not finalised sooner, given the building was structurally completed last December.
INMO serves notice of industrial action
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has served notice of industrial action on HSE South West over proposed staffing levels at the new facility.
The union stated that its members are deeply dissatisfied with the proposed rosters, which they claim fall short of the staffing required to deliver safe care on day and night duties.
INMO Industrial Relations Executive Kathryn Courtney said there is a significant staffing gap compared to similar facilities, leaving members with no choice but to take action.
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