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Kerry tourism reaches new galaxies  

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Harrison Ford attends the Star Wars: The Force Awakens fan event at Sydney Opera House. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios

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TOURISM IRELAND this week launched phase two of its special Star Wars campaign, targeting fans of the science fiction franchise around the world. It involves a specially-commissioned behind-the-scenes film, created during filming in 2014 on Skellig Michael.

Tourism Ireland commissioned Lucasfilm – the company which produced Star Wars: The Force Awakens – to create the short film, in which Star Wars director JJ Abrams and other crew members discuss why they chose this special location for filming. Tourism Ireland will share the film in 14 different markets – including Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, the Nordic region, Australia, New Zealand, India, the GCC and South Africa. It will be shared via social media – including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – targeting Tourism Ireland’s digital audience of 600+ million around the world.

To view the film, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjnGRTATRdg.

The Star Wars: The Force Awakens film has been setting records everywhere – with a $120 million dollar opening day release and fantastic reviews. Skellig Michael looks spectacular in the film and its appearance has already generated extensive, positive headlines and stories in media outlets right around the world – such as the New Zealand Herald, the Boston Globe, CNBC, the Toronto Sun and Radio Times. Tourism Ireland plans to capitalise on this positive exposure, highlighting the Star Wars connection with Kerry and Ireland over the coming weeks and months.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, said: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been the most anticipated and publicity generating movie for years. The fact that Skellig Michael features in all its glory brings the dramatic scenery of Co Kerry and the broader Wild Atlantic Way to an audience of potentially hundreds of millions of people.”

 

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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