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Kilcummin dumping puts water network at risk

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ENVIRONMENTAL RISK: Cllr Marie Moloney with some of the light bulbs found in a secluded area of Kilcummin this week.

 

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By Sean Moriarty

 

Illegal dumping in the Kilcummin area has reached a new level of irresponsibility after hundreds of florescent lighting tubes were found discarded in a secluded area this week.

Dumping has been an on-going issue for the people of Kilcummin for many years but the latest discovery could cause serious environmental damage as the tubes contain mercury and would have a devastating effect on the water supply network.

The tubes were discovered by local Councillor Marie Moloney in Knocklebede, a back road between Kilcummin and Scartaglin, in an area known locally as ‘The Leaps’.

She said she was going to do everything possible to identify the perpetrators.

“This is someone with local knowledge, very few people use this road, or need to use this road,” she said. “The lights have a Stock Keeping Unit number, so the brand, the supplier and place of sale will be identifiable. Household dumping is bad enough but this is a new low – and there is a big ‘No Dumping’ sign within feet of where it was dumped. It is, obviously, from a large scale renovation of a building and the people who dumped this knew what they were dealing with and the risks involved.”

Mercury is extremely toxic and must be handled with care. In cases of spills involving mercury from fluorescent light bulbs, specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid exposure and to contain the spill.

Broken light bulbs emit a mercury dust adding to the environmental risk caused by such dumping and Kerry County Council will need to dispatch a specialised cleaning unit to the site to remove the tubes and contain the possible spread of mercury into the eco-system.

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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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.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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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.

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