News
Kerry hoteliers mark festive season in style
By Sean Moriarty
Some of the best known faces from the Kerry hotel industry gathered on Wednesday night for their first Kerry Hotelier's Ball since before the pandemic.
Niall O'Shea (Hugh Jordans) Kate O'Shea (Dream Jobs) Melinda and Peter Guban (Dream Jobs) pictured at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening at the IHF Ball. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
The O'Donoghue family Gleneagle Hotel Group (left to right) Patrick Margaret Sinead and Eamon enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Bernadette Randles (President of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation) pictured with Denyse Campbell (President of the Irish Hotels Federation) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening at the Dromhall Hotel Marie and Pat Chawke. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
TD Michael Healy Rae Katie Carroll and David Dooley (Dooley's Seafood & Steak House Waterville) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Padraig Casey (Killarney Park Hotel) pictured with his wife Maura (Aghadoe Heights Hotel) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Sharon Dineen (Brehon Hotel) pictured with Valerie Steinbeck (Gleneagle Hotel Group) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
The Dromhall Hotel Killarney host to the Irish Hotels Federation Ball on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Vernerable Lumby pictured at the Dromhall Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball with his wife Noelleen on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney pictured with his wife Linda enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Jason Clifford The Dunloe Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel with his wife Jacqui Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Paul O'Neill and Gemma Ring (O’Donoghue Ring Collection) pictured with Catriona and Mark Scally (Hayfield Family Collection) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Margaret Cahill National President of Skal International pictured with her husband Jimmy Dunne on Wednesday evening enjoying the Irish Hotels Federation Ball at the Dromhall Hotel. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening at the Dromhall Hotel were Mari Kelleher and Cllr John O'Donoghue. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Darren Looney (Cahernane Hotel) pictured with Evan Quinn enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Michelle Rosney Killeen House Hotel (left) and Katie Horgan Castlerosse Hotel (right) pictured at the Dromhall Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Niall O'Shea (Hugh Jordans) Kate O'Shea (Dream Jobs) Melinda and Peter Guban (Dream Jobs) pictured at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening at the IHF Ball. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
The O'Donoghue family Gleneagle Hotel Group (left to right) Patrick Margaret Sinead and Eamon enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Bernadette Randles (President of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation) pictured with Denyse Campbell (President of the Irish Hotels Federation) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening at the Dromhall Hotel Marie and Pat Chawke. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
TD Michael Healy Rae Katie Carroll and David Dooley (Dooley's Seafood & Steak House Waterville) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Padraig Casey (Killarney Park Hotel) pictured with his wife Maura (Aghadoe Heights Hotel) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Sharon Dineen (Brehon Hotel) pictured with Valerie Steinbeck (Gleneagle Hotel Group) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
The Dromhall Hotel Killarney host to the Irish Hotels Federation Ball on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Vernerable Lumby pictured at the Dromhall Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball with his wife Noelleen on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney pictured with his wife Linda enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Jason Clifford The Dunloe Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel with his wife Jacqui Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Paul O'Neill and Gemma Ring (O’Donoghue Ring Collection) pictured with Catriona and Mark Scally (Hayfield Family Collection) enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Margaret Cahill National President of Skal International pictured with her husband Jimmy Dunne on Wednesday evening enjoying the Irish Hotels Federation Ball at the Dromhall Hotel. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening at the Dromhall Hotel were Mari Kelleher and Cllr John O'Donoghue. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Darren Looney (Cahernane Hotel) pictured with Evan Quinn enjoying the IHF Ball at the Dromhall Hotel on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Michelle Rosney Killeen House Hotel (left) and Katie Horgan Castlerosse Hotel (right) pictured at the Dromhall Hotel enjoying the IHF Ball on Wednesday evening. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
Hosted by Kerry branch chair Bernadette Randles at her family-run Dromhall Hotel on the Muckross Road, over 200 people enjoyed a festive get-together to mark the season.
Guests of honour, under the expertise of MC Geraldine Rosney, included the Mayor of Killarney, Niall Kelleher, Deputy Mayor Cllr John O’Donoghue, Conor Hennigan Acting President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Denyse Campbell who is President of the Irish Hotel Federation, Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Order of Innisfallen inductees Donal Ring and Michael O’Donoghue, and Jenny DeSaulles of Fáilte Ireland.
Local clergy included Bishop Ray Browne, Fr Kieran O'Brien and the Venerable Simon J Lumby Rector of Killarney.
Guests were treated to a drinks reception sponsored by the West Cork Distillers and Bibendum Ireland.
Entertainment included a jazz trio, traditional music and a magician while the attendees enjoyed a five-course meal.
Fundraisers on the night raised at least €6,000 which will be divided between Kerry Mountain Rescue and Kerry Mental Health.
“It was an amazing night,” said Emer Corridon of the Cahernane Hotel. “It was wonderful to see so many colleagues and suppliers after three full years.”
Emer was a member of a committee that included, Sinead McCarthy (Brehon), Tracy Coyne (International), Michael Jacobi (Great Southern), Garrett Power (Muckross Park) and Brian Lawlor (O’Donoghue Ring Group).
News
Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.
O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.
Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June
A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.
Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.
Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”
The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.
Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
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