News
KDYS Youngsters lead the way in Building Futures
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As part of the KDYS Building Futures campaign, 112 inspirational young people from all across Kerry developed over 60 social action projects that have made a huge difference to their local communities in the last year.
A wide range of projects and events were created and developed by young leaders as part of the KDYS Youth Participation Training. The young leaders were acknowledged and celebrated at a special night in Killarney, where they were presented with certs and their fantastic contributions were showcased.
The Youth Participation Training equips young people with a set of critical skills which will last them a lifetime, skills including: leadership, negotiation, budgeting, project management and teamwork, communication and presentation skills.
The training also provided a platform for young people to make a positive contribution to their local community by organising events and projects. From north to south Kerry young people involved this year contributed over 4,500 hours of their time to make their community a better place for everyone!
Mr Tim O Donoghue (CEO) said: “Giving young people a voice and the opportunity to make a positive contribution is what youth participation is all about. Despite all the challenges facing young people today, KDYS is committed to building futures for all young people and the communities where they live. This is a great example of what results from providing young people with the spaces, skills and opportunities to create change. Through our partnership with the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle we are hoping to extend opportunities and programmes such as this to even more young people. We are asking everybody to get behind #teamKDYS this year so that we can make this a reality.”
People can help by signing up to cycle, sponsor a KDYS cyclist or volunteer with the KDYS to assist in the Ring of Kerry event.
KDYS has an exciting vision for young people in Kerry. A future where all young people can realise their potential, a future where young people can learn the skills needed for their lives today, and to ensure a healthy and successful future.
News
Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney
The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.
Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.
He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.
At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.
“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.
“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”
In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.
“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.
“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”
News
Ballymac charity vintage run on October 1
The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1. The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac. Registration […]

The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1.
The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac.
Registration begins at 9:30am and sets off at 11am.
“There will be two separate routes with one for tractors and the other for cars and motorbikes. Proceeds on the day are in aid of Castleisland Day Care Centre and we’ll have plenty of spot prizes to giveaway too in the morning,” said the club’s PRO Kieran Glover.
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