News
Killarney students amongst winners in Garda Youth Achievement Awards
OVERALL WINNER: 21-year-old Amy Roche (right) from Tralee was announced as the Overall Winner of the Lee Strand and Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Award. Amy was nominated by Lisa Curran (left) for all her amazing help with Lisa’s 10-year-old son Christopher who has autism. Photo: Domnick Walsh
MERIT: Michelle Hickey, Ellen Farndon, Emma Affonso, Rebecca Kenny and Katie O'Connor all received Merit Awards in the Garda Youth Achievement Awards on Saturday Night.
AWARD: Killarney Community College Transition Year student Rachel Griffin has been awarded a Garda Youth Achievement Award.
By Michelle Crean
Killarney was represented well in this year's Lee Strand and Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards which were announced on Saturday night. As with most events this year it was a virtual affair and took place live on Radio Kerry hosted by Alan Finn with listeners tuning in from all over Kerry, across Ireland and abroad.
The awards show recognised the great contribution young people have made and continue to make to their communities in Kerry. A total of 25 awards were presented with each nominator reading a citation for each of the award winners. The award show also included interviews, music and a host of celebrity guests also paid tribute to this year’s award winners.
Killarney Community College Transition Year student Rachel Griffin was announced a winner and celebrated with her family in the comfort of her own home.
Rachel was nominated for her award by her music teacher Ms Hughes who stated that "Rachel is an unbelievably talented musician who plays guitar, sings, writes and composes her own songs".
Rachel has stood out as an exceptional musician the moment she came into the school as a First Year. She has always had an amazing work ethic and selflessly helps others in her class. Rachel is a member of our school choir, won our annual 'Who's Got Talent Competition' in 2018 and starred in the lead role of Beauty in our 'Beauty and the Beast' show in 2019. We are so proud of her," Ms Hughes said.
Rachel performed a pre-recorded song in her kitchen which was harmonised by her mother and sister and played during the ceremony. Huge numbers from the school tuned in to celebrate in Rachel's success.
St Brigid's students Michelle Hickey, Ellen Farndon, Emma Affonso, Rebecca Kenny and Katie O'Connor also all received Merit awards on the night.
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MERIT: Michelle Hickey, Ellen Farndon, Emma Affonso, Rebecca Kenny and Katie O'Connor all received Merit Awards in the Garda Youth Achievement Awards on Saturday Night.[/caption]
The overall winner was named as 21-year-old Amy Roche from Tralee. Amy was nominated by Lisa Curran for all her amazing help with Lisa’s 10-year-old son Christopher who is autistic.
[caption id="attachment_36846" align="aligncenter" width="636"]
OVERALL WINNER: 21-year-old Amy Roche (right) from Tralee was announced as the Overall Winner of the Lee Strand and Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Award. Amy was nominated by Lisa Curran (left) for all her amazing help with Lisa’s 10-year-old son Christopher who has autism. Photo: Domnick Walsh[/caption]
WINNERS
The Special Achievement Award Winner was Emma Kerin, Scartaglen nominated by St Mary Basketball Castleisland. Faye Greely and Molly Ní Shé from Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in Dingle were announced as the Group Award Winners. Lifesavers CCC from Castleisland Community College were winners of the Community Safety Award.
The 21 merit award winners were: Caoimhe Harte, Duagh; Lisa Flynn, Cordal; Ronan Foley, Killorglin; Maisie and Edie Hall, Castlegregory; Rebecca Kenny, Katie O’Connor, Michelle Hickey, Ellen Farndon, St Brigid's Presentation Secondary Killarney; Emma Affonso, St Brigid's Presentation Secondary Killarney; Adam Cronin, Killarney No Name Club; Natasha Myers, Killorglin Community College; Conor Flaherty, Ethan Ward, Philip Tracey, CBS The Green, Tralee; Ethan Slattery, Killarney Order of Malta; Mounthawk Transition Year Fashion Show Students, Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee; Bradleigh Smith, Killorglin Community College; Alison O'Sullivan, Killarney No Name Club; Aoise Healy, Presentation Secondary, Tralee; Currow Community Clean-Up Transition Year Group, Presentation Secondary Castleisland; Troy Kennedy, St Michael’s College Listowel; Rachel Griffin, Killarney Community College, Thomas White and Anna-Marie O'Donnell, Tralee Red Cross; Hannah O'Sullivan, Colaiste na Sceilge, Caherciveen, Holly O'Brien, Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee, and Tyler O’Sullivan, Killorglin Community College.
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak Resource Awards, securing a spot on the national shortlist for environmental achievement.
The local waste management company has been nominated in the Best Recovery Operator Innovation category, sponsored by DNV, for its state-of-the-art residual waste recovery system.
The Killarney facility utilizes optical sorting, screening, and mechanical processing to extract recyclable plastics and organic material from municipal waste. In its first year of operation, the technology recovered more than 10 per cent of plastic packaging from residual waste for recycling and diverted almost 50 per cent of organic material toward composting.
KWD Recycling will compete alongside Dublin operators Panda and Thorntons Recycling for the category title.
Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh commended the Kerry firm for demonstrating environmental leadership and bringing local ambition to the national awards.
Category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, October 23, where each winner will also compete for the Overall Repak Resource Award.
Local businesses have a strong track record at the national event, with Killarney town venue The Killarney Park and The Ross previously taking home the overall title in 2023.
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
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