News
Killarney cleans up in IBAL results
CLEANING UP: Volunteers from the Killarney Tidy Towns Meitheal group at Pike Hill, Killarney, on Monday evening. Picture: Eamonn Keogh
By Sean Moriarty
Killarney is one of the cleanest towns in Ireland after being named third cleanest out of 40 towns nationally in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey published this week.
Only Kilkenny and Athlone are deemed cleaner than Killarney, with Tralee jumping a massive 25 places to fifth.
The news was welcomed by the Killarney Looking Good Committee and Kerry County Council who said they were very pleased with the An Taisce report which stated that Killarney streetscapes were completely litter free.
“What sets Killarney and other top-ranking towns apart is not just the lack of litter but the overall presentation and maintenance of the town centre environment like paving, seating, bollards, planted areas, visitor information notice boards. Evidence of this was particularly noticeable along High Street, Plunkett Street and College Street,” the report stated.
“The fact that the town was judged Cleaner than European norms is a great tribute to the Council staff and to the very generous Looking Good and Meitheal volunteers who give so much of their time,” Councillor Michael Gleeson, from the Killarney Looking Good Committee, said.
“This is the result of a great co-operative spirit and it shows that Killarney cares deeply about the environment.”
Yvonne Quill, Chairperson of the Looking Good Committee added that a huge effort has again been put in by the volunteers who participate in the organised clean-ups along with those who maintain their own areas in their own time.
“An extra effort was put into the Tralee Road this year with 10 volunteers in recent weeks targeting Killarney to Farranfore on a Monday evening. It was particularly gratifying to see this getting Grade A status. We cannot be complacent though, litter and dumping is an ongoing battle that we have to keep fighting. We must continue to ensure that our town maintains the highest standards of cleanliness and welcome.”
Eileen O’Donoghue, Killarney Municipal District Council Officer congratulated all those involved in achieving such high standards.
Scairt an Dúchais…Call of the wild:
Fine art photographic artist Micheál O Sullivan launched his sole landscape photographic exhibition in Killarney House this week.
On hand with Micheál at Killarney House were from left, Conor Hennigan and Paul O’Neill, Wander Wild Festival, Diana Fawsitt, Supervisor Killarney House, Rachel Kavanagh, Killarney House, Veronica O’Connor, Fáilte Ireland and Nikki Wissell, Killarney House.
In this exhibition Scairt an Dúchais, which is part of the Wander Wild Festival, Killarney, (April 17-12) Micheál presents a curated selection of his archival work alongside previously unseen photographic images.
Micheál does not merely document the landscape; he interprets it, using light, shadow, and classic composition to transform his natural environment into emotive works of art.
His Internationally recognised photographic work is driven by a deep-seated passion for the craft of photography and a lifelong connection to Killarney and beautiful Irish landscapes.
Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
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.
Scairt an Dúchais…Call of the wild:
Scairt an Dúchais…Call of the wild: Fine art photographic artist Micheál O Sullivan launched his sole landscape photographic exhibition in...
Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship
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