A husband and wife who built a hugely successful international business from humble beginnings in a shed at the rear of their home have been inducted into the Order of Inisfallen.

The award is considered the highest honour that  Killarney can bestow.
Con and Anne Stack saw their company grow from very humble beginnings to a multi-national enterprise that now employs over 600 people.
That remarkable success story was recognised at a ceremony in the historic Muckross House on Thursday afternoon when they received the Order of Inisfallen civic honour which is a joint initiative between Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Kerry County Council.
It recognises those who have made an exceptional contribution to the local economy and to the tourism industry.
When they moved to Killarney over 50 years ago, Moyvane native Con and his Ballyduff native wife, Anne, set up Killarney Plastics, having identified a market for fibre glass and glass enforced products.
The company later moved operations to an IDA supported, purpose-built unit and the remarkable dedication shown and groundwork put in by Con and Anne Stack paid handsome dividends as Killarney Plastics became global engineering company Tricel.
It evolved into a major family-led firm, delivering performance and innovation-driven solutions across the water, environmental, construction and distribution industries.
With 14 companies within the group, Tricel currently employs 620 people, 200 of whom are based in Killarney, and the company is now run by Con and Anne’s sons Michael, Con, Richard and Robert.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Martin Grady  said the story of Tricel is inspiring as it went from modest beginnings to international innovation, nurtured by vision, hard work, resilience and innovation.
“Despite this remarkable expansion, the Stack family has never lost sight of their roots. They have remained humble and steadfast supporters of local employment, local investment and local opportunity.
“Their commitment has ensured that generations of families in Killarney, Kerry and beyond have had the ability to thrive close to home,” the mayor said.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President Johnny McGuire said all the comments he has heard since it was first announced that Con and Anne Stack were to be honoured had one common theme: It couldn’t happen to a nicer couple or a nicer family.
“No words of mine could adequately describe the impact the company has made, both as a manufacturer and as an employer of over 600 people.
“Everything Con and Anne Stack have achieved in business and in life can be attributed to their dignity, their dedication, their commitment, their will to succeed and their incredible work ethic,” he said.

Killarney on Ice has officially opened for the festive season, with Mayor Martin Grady joining Tim O’Donoghue and Tim Alcott to launch this year’s rink.

The opening event drew strong support from local families, teenagers and businesses, who turned out to mark the return of one of the town’s most popular winter attractions.

The organisers thanked everyone who attended and said they were delighted to see such a positive community response.

The rink is now open from November 28 until January 4, offering several weeks of skating in the lead-up to Christmas and into the New Year.

Those wishing to book sessions can do so online at killarneyonice.com.