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“Great Friday” turns out to be just average

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Judging by the furore generated by the abolition of the Good Friday drinking ban, a lot of people were expecting carnage when the day finally came around. The reality, however, was a lot less exciting.

Last Friday was the first time Irish bars were officially permitted to serve alcohol in 91 years and critics of the new amendment to the Liquor Act lamented the casting aside of a longstanding religious tradition. Amidst cries of, “Can we not have one day off the beer a year?” others, myself included, hailed another positive step towards personal freedom. To be honest, I did actually think that a lot of people might go on the lash for “Great Friday”, just for the novelty of it more than anything.

From speaking to local publicans, however, predictions of a new national holiday were wide of the mark. “It was business as usual, really,” said Colm Foley of Charlie Foley’s Bar. “There was a lot of talk that it was going to be the best day ever but there wasn’t too much of a change from a normal Friday.”

I spoke to some tourists over the weekend and they couldn’t believe it when I told them it was the first Good Friday in almost a century that the bars were open. If they couldn’t go to the pub, they said, they would have been stuck in their hotel rooms for the night. For a town so dependent on tourism, the new law is clearly good for business and good for the reputation of Killarney.

So, all in all, the day seemed to go off without incident. Contrary to what certain people might think, maybe we are capable of showing some modicum of restraint. Maybe we are smart enough to make these kinds of decisions on our own, without the help of an outside body. I think the most important thing for a town like ours is that if it’s good for tourism, it’s good for all of us

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Community College TY students become qualified baristas

School Dayz Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas. They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make […]

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Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas.

They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make coffee, which could make them very employable in local cafes and restaurants this summer.
Their teachers, who are described as the school’s “resident coffee experts,” were impressed with the students’ hard work and enjoyed the lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos the students made throughout the day.
In addition to their barista training, the TY students also took a trip to Mallow. There, they learned about the rules of the road, practiced the driver theory test, and many got behind the wheel of a car for the first time. They also learned about the dangers of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

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Rising stars Amano and Lillie Foley to share stage in ANAM

Two of Killarney’s rising musical talents, Amano and Lillie Foley, are set to perform their first ever joint headline concert at the ANAM Cultural Centre. Singer-songwriter and sean nós singer […]

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Two of Killarney’s rising musical talents, Amano and Lillie Foley, are set to perform their first ever joint headline concert at the ANAM Cultural Centre.

Singer-songwriter and sean nós singer Amano will bring her ‘Mythilligocial Meitheal Tour’ home for a special live performance of both her contemporary and traditional music.

Joining her on the night is local rising star Lillie Foley, making it a special event to celebrate two young Killarney songwriters making their mark on the Irish music scene. The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office.

Amano, described by Hot Press in 2024 as an “idiosyncratic talent” is comfortable performing in both English and Irish, draws influences from alt-folk, R&B, and traditional sean-nós singing.

Her project THREAD was nominated for Irish language Album and Song of the year at the Gradaim Nós in 2024.

Her recent singles, ‘Burn’ and ‘The Birthing House’, have received airplay on RTÉ Radio 1, Radio Kerry, and Raidió na Life.

Lillie Foley, a 22-year-old singer who recently graduated from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance with a BA in Voice, has released two debut singles in 2025, ‘Someday’ and ‘That’s Life’, which blend pop, soul, and folk genres.

The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office.

The concert will take place on May 23, at the ANAM Cultural Centre in Killarney, starting at 7:00pm. Tickets are available from €15 plus a booking fee on Ticketpass.org.

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