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Local credit unions launch new agri loan product

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7 years ago

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Six credit unions in the Kerry/Cork region have launched new agri loan product ‘Cultivate’.
The new credit union farm lending offering was officially launched on Wednesday, by IFA National Chairman - Farm Business, Martin Stapleton. It will be available at Killarney Credit Union, Listowel Credit Union and Cara Credit Union in Kerry, as well as Ballincollig Credit Union, Bantry Credit Union and Kanturk Credit Union in Cork.
The credit union farm lending project is modelled on a pilot initiative by four credit unions in Galway, who launched the Cultivate brand in 2017. Since then, 20 credit unions throughout Ireland have introduced the agri loan product to members.
Since its introduction, Cultivate has proved very popular with farmers with nearly €20m in loans issued to farmers. The Cultivate farm loans are for a wide variety of purposes, everything from working capital, cash flow, farm development, livestock purchase, farm machinery purchase, rural enterprise funding, and start up farm finance.
“We are delighted to officially launch the Cultivate agri loan products to credit union members in the Cork and Kerry areas,” Brendan Heneghan, former Regional Manager with Teagasc, and project manager of the Cultivate brand, said.
“We have been working hard on this project for the past number of months. Credit Union agri loan staff have completed a bespoke five-day course on Farm and Finance organised by Teagasc in association with Pallaskenry Agricultural College. Credit unions are now open and ready for business.”
The Cultivate farm loan package will offer loans up to €50,000 for a variety of purposes with a competitive loan rate. The term of the loan can be up to seven years. Loan protection insurance is also provided on the loan at no additional charge.
“We hope that farmers will look to their local credit unions as an alternative for farm finance,” Mark Murphy, CEO, Killarney Credit Union said.
“After all, credit unions are embedded in their local communities and are in a position to lend to those living or working locally. Our loans are unsecured, and we can offer a variety of repayment schedules to suit farmer’s needs.”
Appointments can be made to meet a Cultivate Farm Advisor on 064 6631344 ext. 2 or loans@killarneycu.ie. Further information on Cultivate farm loans is available from any of the credit union branches or on www.cultivate-cu.ie.

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Sinn Féin to host public meeting on cost of living at Killarney Heights Hotel

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm. […]

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4 hours ago

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25 May 2026

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Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm.

The Donegal TD will be joined by Kerry TD Pa Daly to discuss the economic pressures facing local households and the policy changes needed to provide financial relief. The main focus of the evening will center on the barriers preventing local people from buying their own homes, alongside broader costs of living challenges.
Speaking exclusively to the Killarney Advertiser ahead of his visit, Deputy Doherty said workers and families across Kerry are being squeezed from every direction by rising weekly shops, high energy bills, increasing insurance premiums, and substantial housing costs.
“Young people are losing hope that they will ever own a home in the county where they were raised,” Deputy Doherty said. “And while all of this is happening, the government is sitting on billions in budget surpluses while telling struggling families to wait. It is simply not good enough.”
The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson highlighted specific regional factors making the crisis acute in County Kerry, particularly regarding home heating costs.
“Almost 59% of homes in Kerry rely on home heating oil, which is nearly double the state average of 34%,” he said. “That means families across the county are far more exposed to soaring fuel costs than households in many other parts of the state. Yet the government withdrew supports that were helping households keep the lights on and heat their homes.”
Deputy Doherty noted that the housing situation in Kerry has moved beyond a social issue and is now impacting the local economy and communities. He pointed to figures showing average rents in the county have reached €1,493 per month, with exceptionally low market availability.
“At the time of writing, there were only 27 properties available online to rent across the entire county. Only 19 were below €2,000 a month and just five were available for less than €1,500. A county the size of Kerry, and only five rental properties affordable to someone on an ordinary income,” he said.
He also raised concerns for first-time buyers, noting that average house prices in Kerry have climbed to €296,000, representing an increase of €33,500 in a single year.
During the meeting, the Sinn Féin representatives will outline their party’s alternative proposals. These include a state-led program of affordable home building, a ban on excessive rent increases, enhanced protections for renters, and immediate energy credits and tax relief for workers.
“The resources exist to do this,” Deputy Doherty added. “The government’s own figures show billions in surplus funds available to the state. The issue is not a lack of money. The issue is political choice.”
The meeting is open to all members of the public, and a discussion session will follow the main presentations.

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National Park hosts weekend Bioblitz for National Biodiversity Week

Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment. Today, Friday, […]

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6 hours ago

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25 May 2026

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Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment.

Today, Friday, May 22, marks the UN International Day for Biological Diversity, and a series of free events will run across the park until the national celebration concludes this Sunday, May 24.
The highlight of the weekend is the Killarney National Park Bioblitz. This event brings families, nature lovers, and community volunteers together to find, identify, and record as many different plant and animal species as possible across the park’s diverse habitats over the next three days.
Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, encouraged locals and visitors alike to utiliSe the final days of the festival to experience the area’s unique wildlife, referencing Killarney’s native habitats as key areas the state is working to protect.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), noted that the week is designed to remind people that native plants, woodlands, and rivers are vital systems that make life possible. OrganiSers are encouraging anyone in the locality to head out to Killarney National Park before Sunday evening to participate in the species count and support local conservation efforts.

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