Former President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, is scheduled to visit Killarney next week to address the 158th Annual Congress of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO).

The conference will take place at the Gleneagle Arena from Monday, April 6 to Wednesday, April 8.

The former President, whose second term in office concluded late last year, is set to address delegates on the final morning of the congress, Wednesday, at 10:45 am.

As the largest primary school teachers’ union in Ireland, the INTO expects a significant turnout for the three-day event.

This year’s agenda is dominated by several high-profile issues, including teachers’ pay, industrial relations, and school funding.

Delegates will also discuss teacher supply, special education supports, and the new primary school curriculum.

The congress officially opens at 2:00 pm on Monday with an address from INTO President Anne Horan.

On Tuesday morning at 9:00 am, the Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, is scheduled to speak, followed by a response from INTO General Secretary John Boyle.

The arrival of hundreds of delegates is expected to provide a significant boost to the local Killarney economy during the Easter period.

Killarney will take centre stage this Easter Saturday as the town hosts the start of the second stage of the 2026 Dornan Rás Mumhan.

Cycling fans and locals are expected to gather in large numbers to witness the departure of over 170 elite riders for what is widely considered the “Queen Stage” of the international race.
The official stage start is set for the Gap of Dunloe road on Saturday morning. From there, the international peloton, including teams from Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Britain, will head toward the challenging Bealach Oisín. The route will take the riders across the Iveragh Peninsula and onto the Skellig Ring, before a dramatic finish in Portmagee later that afternoon.
Race Director John Breen said that the event continues to be a proving ground for future World Tour stars, following in the footsteps of 2019 winner Ben Healy. “The unpredictability and the unforgiving terrain of these Kerry roads make it a massive test for the riders,” Breen said.
Local supporters are encouraged to come out early to the Gap of Dunloe road to support the riders before they tackle the mountain passes of South Kerry.

Killarney to host spectacular Saturday morning start for Rás Mumhan