News
Great Southern tractor goes home
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WIN THIS TRACTOR: This Ford 2600 tractor, once owned by the Great Southern Killarney, is up for grabs in a raffle to raise funds for the Killarney Micro Track and Meningitis Ireland.
By Sean Moriarty
A tractor that once belonged to the Great Southern Hotel returned to its spiritual home for the first time in 12 years this week.
The 1979 Ford 2600 was used by the Killarney Great Southern Hotel between 1979 to 2007. It was a familiar sight around the streets of Killarney during this time as it was used to transport furniture and other equipment between the hotel and its now closed sister premises the Torc Great Southern Hotel on Park Road with well-known local gardener Con Lyne behind the wheel.
The tractor is now owned by Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club, and after a restoration project by the club it is being raffled to raise funds for Meningitis Ireland and the Killarney Micro Track Project.
When the hotel ownership changed hands in 2007 the tractor was sold to a vintage collector near Tralee.
The club bought it back off the collector earlier this year and it is now the centrepiece of its annual fundraising raffle. Over the years the club has raffled other tractors and a Land Rover to raise funds for local causes.
Earlier this week the club returned the tractor to the GSH. It brought back memories for PRO Tom Leslie who worked as the hotel’s leisure centre manager for 16 years.
“This is close to my heart,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “I would have seen that tractor working every day for 16 years. It is well-known around Killarney as back then hotels would share tables and furniture, depending on who was hosting a big event, and the tractor would be seen around town pulling trailers of furniture. It also transported kegs of beer between the Great Southern and the Torc.”
The club has three more prizes as part of the fundraising raffle; second prize: Bed & Breakfast and an evening meal at the five-star Killarney Park Hotel, third prize: €400 voucher from Killarney Oils, and fourth prize: a two night pitch at Beech Grove Caravan and Camping Park, Killarney.
Tickets can be purchased from www.killarneyvintage.com or directly from the beneficiaries and are €10 each. The draw will take place on November 16 at the Innisfallen Hotel in Fossa.
ANAM Centre launches packed summer cultural programme for locals and visitors
Kerry County Council’s Arts Service, in association with the Killarney Arts Working Group, has officially launched the 2026 ANAM Summer Arts Programme (ASAP).
The dedicated arts and cultural space on East Avenue Road is set to host a vibrant mix of live music, theatre, film, and youth competitions designed to appeal to both local residents and tourists throughout the peak holiday season.
The summer lineup aims to provide artists with critical platforms to showcase their work while giving audiences accessible opportunities to experience live art. Councillor Martin O’Grady noted that the programme includes a multitude of performances, offering an important platform for all ages to enjoy the arts. Mary Murphy of the Killarney Arts Working Group added that utilizing the ANAM space successfully draws new audiences to the Killarney arts scene.
Featured events include “Bog Jazz,” an innovative project by musicians Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan and Shane Murphy that reworks traditional Sliabh Luachra fiddle music using electric guitar and drums. Additionally, Sliabh Luachra Musician in Residence Aidan Connolly will lead a two-night concert series in late July alongside Bryan O’Leary, Colm Guilfoyle, and Charlie O’Brien, exploring the unique history, songs, and folklore of the region.
The programme also features “The Anam Sessions,” a series of five free bi-weekly evening concerts directed by Tim O’Shea. These sessions will showcase emerging local talent across Irish folk, singer-songwriter, and Afro-Irish genres. For younger musicians, the popular “Battle of the Bands” competition returns in August. Organised in partnership with Music Generation Kerry, it will feature separate junior and senior categories to highlight local youth talent.
The summer performance series is fully sponsored by the Kerry Arts Service. For further queries, the public can contact arts@kerrycoco.ie or call 066 7183541.
ANAM Summer Arts Event Calendar
Traditional and Folk Music (The Anam Sessions with Tim O’Shea) Dates: ; Wednesday, July 15; Wednesday, July 29; Wednesday, August 12; Wednesday, August 26 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Sliabh Luachra Traditional Music Concert Series (Aidan Connolly and Guests) Dates: Wednesday, July 29; Thursday, July 30 Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Battle of the Bands (Senior Competition) Dates: Friday, August 7; Friday, August 14; Friday, August 21; Friday, August 28 Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Battle of the Bands (Junior Competition) Dates: Sunday, August 9; Sunday, August 16; Sunday, August 23; Sunday, August 30 Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Bog Jazz Performance (Eoin O’Sullivan & Shane Murphy) Date: Thursday, August 20 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
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