Killarney was strongly represented among the award recipients at the 29th annual Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards, held at the Rose Hotel in Tralee on Friday, September 18.

Over 200 guests attended the ceremony to celebrate young people aged between 13 and 21 from across the county.

A total of 25 awards were presented during the event, recognizing community involvement, leadership, and personal resilience.

Kacper Robak from Killarney was named the recipient of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Special Achievement Award.

Killarney youths also featured prominently among the Merit Award winners.

Certificates of Merit were awarded to Nathan O’Brien, Oisín Doyle, the team from St Brigid’s Killarney (comprising Fiona Brunner, Blaithnaid O’Connell, Keelin O’Shea, Hannah Kelliher, Lucy Lenihan, Rachel Clifford, Sophie Duke, and Tara O’Sullivan), and the Killarney Order of Malta group (Faye Sparling O’Riordan, Michael O’Donovan, and Eoin Cremin).

Speaking at the event, Superintendent John Ryan commended the recipients for identifying needs within their local communities and stepping up to address them. Ronan Savage, Chairperson of Lee Strand, noted the co-operative’s ongoing commitment to supporting the youth initiatives alongside An Garda Síochána since the scheme began in 1998.

St Michael’s Church in Killorglin hosted an evening with renowned Irish artist Liam O’Neill and former Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, raising vital funds for Kiltallagh National School.

The special community event brought together art lovers, local families, and school supporters for an insightful discussion featuring the acclaimed Dingle peninsula painter.

Griffin led the conversation with O’Neill, exploring his celebrated career, artistic inspirations, and his distinctive palette-knife technique depicting rural Irish landscapes and heritage.

All proceeds raised from ticket sales and donations on the night go directly toward supporting educational initiatives and facilities at Kiltallagh National School in Castlemaine.