The town centre is set to play host to a vibrant street spectacle this weekend as West Kerry performance group MOTHÚ returns to mark the end of the summer season.

Taking place on Saturday, August 22, the free outdoor event will feature giant puppets, fire dancers, musicians, and lantern displays, bringing music, magic, and theatrical performance directly to the heart of the town.

The production, titled The Seeker or An Cuardaitheoir, draws inspiration from the writings of renowned 20th-century Irish language poet Seán Ó Ríordáin.

The performance explores themes of the soul, isolation, and rebirth, bringing the poet’s work to life through large-scale creative arts.

MOTHÚ is well known to local audiences following previous acclaimed street performances in Killarney, including Peig Mór and Aisling Ghobnait.

The spectacle will begin at Market Cross at 8.45pm, with the performance leading a parade through Main Street before finishing in College Square.
Organisers expect a large turnout for the free family event and recommend that attendees arrive early to secure a good viewing spot along the route.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) hosted a weekend of free events at Ross Castle on August 15 and 16 to mark the start of National Heritage Week.

On Saturday, OPW guide Conal Guilfoyle led a walking tour of Ross Island, sharing insights into the area’s natural history and its copper mining heritage.

The following day, guide Noreen Brosnan hosted a talk covering the history of Ross Castle, detailing the lives of former residents.

She then led attendees to the nearby Ross Cottage ruins to explore its origins.
Both tours drew strong attendances across the weekend. Local attendee John Fitzgerald, who went to both events, praised the initiative:

“I had only intended to go on Saturday, but it was so interesting that I made plans to also attend the Sunday event,” he said. “The OPW deserve great credit for making their guides available, who made the events so interesting and informative.”