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Healy-Raes join Killarney Advertiser McShain Campaign

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The Healy-Raes have thrown their considerable political weight behind Killarney Advertiser’s ongoing McShain Campaign with Maura, Danny and Michael all coming together at Killarney House this week to show their collective support.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser yesterday, Maura agreed that John and Mary McShain should be honoured for their contributions to the town. She also confirmed that she intends to raise the issue at the next Killarney Municipal District meeting in September.

“I’ll be asking Kerry County Council to liaise with the relevant agencies with the intention of honouring the McShains in a meaningful way given their most generous contribution to Killarney and, indeed, Kerry,” she said. “I will be seeking the support of other members.”

Our campaign to recognise the philanthropic American couple, who came to own a large part of Killarney National Park before giving it back to the State for virtually nothing, has gained considerable momentum since the idea was first floated by Kilalrney Advertiser's resident historian Damien Switzer earlier this summer. The reaction locally has been overwhelmingly positive with many Killarney people left scratching their heads as to why the former owners of Killarney House haven’t been honoured in the years since their death. John died in 1989 and Mary died nine years later in 1998.

When asked if they would prefer to see busts/statues erected or Killarney House & Gardens renamed ‘McShain Memorial Park’, 81% of our readers voted in favour of the latter. This may prove difficult, however, with General Manager of Killarney House & Gardens Pat Dawson saying that such a move is “unlikely to be a runner”.

For her part, Cllr Healy-Rae said she was “surprised” that people wanted to change the name but added that she would be supportive of renaming the park if it was the best option.

“There are many ways they could be honoured,” she said. “A monument, a bust, possibly renaming Killarney House & Gardens… I think it’s important to suggest all options and then hopefully come to the most realistic, appropriate and satisfactory one.”

She added that she is optimistic of making this a reality. “I don’t think anyone could be opposed to this justifiably. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, meanwhile, stated he would be in favour of erecting monuments to the McShains inside the Golden Gates. “This would be a proper and rightful testament to their memory and thank them for the massive contribution that they gave to Killarney town,” he said.

Many other prominent officials have also expressed their support for our campaign, including Mayor John Sheahan, Cllr Michael Gleeson, and President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Paul O’Neill.

The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, also reached out to me this week to confirm that he will speak to officials in the Department of Tourism about the matter.

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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