News
Killarney Garda saves son’s life with CPR
It was just after 4pm last Sunday when the O’Sullivan family were pottering around their home in Whitebridge, as many other families would have been doing before busy week of work, school and college. Dad, Sean had settled down to watch the Cork vs. Tipperary hurling match. The local Garda is a native of West Cork so the hurling is always high on the agenda in the household.
His 24-year-old son, Seán Óg, had just returned from walking the family dog, Finn. The pair were catching up on the earlier Waterford vs. Offaly result when something suddenly changed in Seán Óg’s demeanour. He had slumped into his seat, and his father immediately noticed something was wrong when his son's breathing had turned erratic, and he was gasping for air.
Within seconds, the situation escalated. Seán Óg became unresponsive. Just as his younger brother Conor (15) walked into the room, he asked his father, “Is Seán asleep?” But Seán Sr. already knew something was very wrong. Panic set in, but training and instinct took over.
Calling emergency services, Seán followed the dispatcher’s instructions, laying his son on the ground and his brother Conor began CPR with dad quickly taking over. For nine relentless minutes, he kept going with compressions until paramedics arrived at 4:10 pm. His middle son, Gary, had come down from upstairs where he’d been studying for his final year primary school teaching exams in the middle of it all and described the traumatic experience as “a bit of a blur.”
Despite being a fit, healthy 6’1” non-smoker with no known medical history, Seán Óg had gone into cardiac arrest. The first responders took over, deploying a defibrillator and working on him for a further 20 minutes before the air ambulance landed in a nearby field in Whitebridge. He was flown to Cork University Hospital in just 15 minutes.
“The paramedics told us that Dad’s CPR is what kept the oxygen flowing - it’s what saved Seán’s life,” said Gary.
Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, Gary expressed deep gratitude for his father’s quick-thinking actions and paid tribute to the emergency teams whose rapid response made all the difference. He also wanted to highlight the importance of CPR training.
“You never think it’ll happen to you, or in your house,” Gary said. “But it can. And thanks to Dad and the emergency services, Seán is still with us.”
Seán Óg, who works as a HR professional with Jones Engineering in Cork, remains in CUH for observation. Early tests suggest a thickening of the heart wall, which may have disrupted oxygen flow during the incident but doctors will conduct further examinations in the coming days.
The O’Sullivans say they have been overwhelmed by the kindness of neighbours, friends, and extended family since the event.
“On behalf of our family that we also want to express our deepest gratitude to Advanced Paramedic Brian Kelly and his incredible team for their swift and professional response. We’ll never forget the compassion and urgency they showed during such a terrifying moments, we are truly grateful beyond words”.
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
Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June
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