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Glorious weather for Kerry County Coastal Rowing championships

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3 years ago

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John Fleming and Tadgh Kelly getting Flesk Valley RC crew ready at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

It was a day of glorious sunshine yesterday (Sunday) as Flesk Valley Rowing Club hosted the 2022 Kerry County Coastal Rowing championships for the very first time in beautiful Castlelough Bay on Lough Lein.

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT: Colm Ó' Súilleabháin Flesk Valley Rowing Club helping out at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Flesk Valley Rowing Club Killarney competing at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

STARTERS ORDERS: Under starters orders at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

READY: Mary B Teahan calling boats and crews to their lines at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park Hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Denis O'Donoghue Templemore RC with his crew at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

ON THE WATER: Rounding the bouy at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Action at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

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LUNCH: Gillian O'Neill and Donal Kelly Flesk Valley RC after delivering lunch to safety crews at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Kieran Counihan calling the strokes for Workmen's Rowing Club Killarney competing at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Fossa Rowing Club competing at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

COMPETING: Blathnáid O'Connell Flesk Valley Rowing Club competing in the U12 race hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT: Colm Ó Súilleabháin Flesk Valley Rowing Club helping out at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Tadgh Kelly and Gillian O'Neill organising members of the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Seamie Morrissey getting ready for his daughter Siún's race in the U12 Girls at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Templenoe Rowing Club ready for action at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

SAFETY FIRST: Timmy Counihan guarding the shores at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

HEAVE: Sive Rowing Club Cahersiveen in action at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

U12s at the start line at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta hosted by Flesk Rowing Club on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

PUPPY LOVE: William Wharton and Mia McCormack taking great care of their friends puppy at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

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Hundreds flocked to the Valley shore to see the coastal clubs of Kerry race in crews from Under 12 to Masters. As well as clubs from around the Ring of Kerry, there was a strong representation from the Killarney clubs with the Workmen, Commercials and Fossa wearing their colours with pride. The atmosphere, colour, fun and fierce competition produced a spectacular day that will live long in the memory.

The event was opened by the Councillor John O’Donoghue, vice chair of the Killarney Municipal District who congratulated Flesk Valley on their centenary, which occurred during 1920, and wished all of the clubs a successful day’s racing.

The first race was preceded by a special blessing of the boats by Fr Eugene McGillycuddy, who also remembered Brendan Teahan of Cromane Rowing Club in his prayers.

Afterwards John Fleming, chair of Flesk Valley, expressed his immense pride and satisfaction with the success of the regatta.

“It’s our first time ever hosting a regatta, but we wanted to do something special to mark our 102 years in existence," he said.

"It was a lot of work, but we have a fantastic hard-working committee in Flesk Valley who really pulled out all the stops to make it happen, and we received fantastic support from our members, parents, other clubs and local businesses."

John also thanked the Kerry Coastal Rowing Association, in particular Mary B Teahan and Andrew Wharton, and the staff of the Killarney National Park for all their support and encouragement in hosting this event.

This was a qualifying event and the Kerry clubs will be heading to Wexford next weekend to complete for honours at the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.

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Tree of Light ceremony on Monday

The spectacular 100ft Tree of Light in Killarney, festooned with close on 3,000 lights and topped with a giant star, will again illuminate the town this Christmas with the official […]

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3 hours ago

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7 December 2025

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The spectacular 100ft Tree of Light in Killarney, festooned with close on 3,000 lights and topped with a giant star, will again illuminate the town this Christmas with the official switch-on date planned for Monday next, December 8.

The lighting up ceremony will take place after a community Mass in the adjacent St Mary’s Cathedral at 6.15pm and a short prayer service will mark the big switch-on.
The towering Tree of Light is a landmark giant Californian Redwood tree located just outside the main door of the Pugin-designed building.
The project is an collaboration between a sub-committee of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and the Killarney parish and it creates a wonderful focal point in the town in the lead up to and during the festive season.
Killarney Parish Administrator, Fr Kieran O’Brien and Christmas in Killarney Chairman, Cllr Niall Kelleher extend a warm invitation to all community groups, schools, clubs and organisations, families and individuals to attend the special Mass next Monday evening or to visit the tree this Christmastime.
The feature star on the spectacular tree will take on an extra special meaning this year as it will be dedicated to the late Donal Grady, a long-serving local councillor and former Mayor of Killarney who worked diligently and passionately for the community.
Donal, who passed away in 2024, was a dedicated public representative who worked with great passion and a real sense of purpose on behalf of his loyal supporters.
Through his work as a long-serving chief fire officer in Killarney, he helped so many families at a time when they most needed assistance and reassurance and he brought a great sense of calm and responsibility to the position
The Tree of Light was first lit to mark the millennium year when it commemorated all those who lost their lives in the conflict in Northern Ireland and it was again illuminated in the mid-2000s to remember those who had been killed on Irish roads.
Since then the project is all about community and it celebrates the fact that Killarney is such a wonderful town to live in.
In the past, the star at the top of the tree has been dedicated to great community activists Johnny Hickey, Yvonne Quill, Paul Coghlan and Rena Kennelly.

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O’Donoghue planning National Rally Championship campaign

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4 hours ago

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7 December 2025

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Killarney’s Colin and Kieran O’Donoghue claimed victory in the Modified section of the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally, delivering a controlled run in their Ford Escort Mk2 to secure Colin’s second win in the category and Kieran’s first.


At the finish ramp outside the Plaza Hotel on Saturday evening, Colin O’Donoghue confirmed he is considering a step into the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship next season.

He said he plans to travel to Mayo in March to see how the opening round suits before making a decision.

O’Donoghue set the fastest time on all nine stages to secure the win over second-placed Chris Armstrong/Conor Smith, also in a Ford Escort.


Third place went to Gary McPhillips and Conor Mohan, 17.9 seconds further back in their Escort.


The Modified section also featured the battle for the Carrick Cup, awarded in memory of Mike Gaine to the fastest Kenmare-based crew over Moll’s Gap.


This year it went to Tommy Randles/Darragh Lynch, who set the pace among the local contenders and finished 35th overall.

Randles, a long-serving club official, has hinted this could be one of his final competitive outings.


The best Kerry Motor Club crew was John Michael Kennelly / Dylan Harrington, who took fifth overall in the Modified division.

Dave Slattery / Denis Coffey continued their strong season with 13th overall (Class 6, 4th), while Hugh McQuaid and Rathmore school teacher Declan Casey placed 15th overall and sixth in Class 6.

Other locals included Seán Enright / Kevin Doherty who were Class 3 winners on the recent Thomond Rally and backed that up here with another steady finish in 26th.


Tadhg O’Sullivan /Frank Byrnes, Seán Hartnett/Kieran Doherty, Raymond O’Neill/Jason O’Connor, Cyril Wharton/Donal Falvey and Ray Stack/Gene Stack brought their Escorts home safely inside the top 40.

Gary Healy/Niall Myers, switching from a Civic to a Toyota Twin Cam 20V, took third in Class 5.


Paudie O’Callaghan/Daniel Murphy brought their Starlet home fourth in Class 4.


Noel O’Sullivan/Nicholas Burke, one of the few crews to have contested every Historic Rally since it began in 1996, finished 50th overall.


Killarney father-and-son team Tom and Mark O’Sullivan completed the demanding event in their Peugeot 205 GTi.

Representing Kerry Motor Club, Ken McKenna / PJ O’Dowd reached the finish in their Peugeot 205.

Kevin O’Donoghue / John McElhinney used Super Rally to return to the stages after mechanical trouble, as did Kenmare’s Shane McCarthy / Eamonn Creedon who were among several crews targeting future Carrick Cup success and completed their Honda EG6’s run under Super Rally as well.

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