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Local mountain runner preparing for 176km French race

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By Sean Moriarty

Killarney-based mountain runner Joe O’Leary used last weekend’s Skyline Reeks race as one of his preparation events for next month’s Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.

Competitive mountain running returned to the McGillcuddy Reeks last Saturday and while the 30km course may sound difficult to the uninitiated, O’Leary has his eye on the 176km French classic which takes place from August 22 to 29.

On Saturday members of the Irish Mountain Runners Association ran, climbed and scrambled from Cronin’s Yard, in blistering heat over Cruach Mhór (933m), The Big Gun, Cnoc na Péiste, (988m), Maolán Buí (973m), Cnoc an Chuillinn (926m), summiting Carrauntoohil (1039m), in blistering heat, and onto Binn Chaorach (1010m) and back to Cronin’s Yard via Croc Broinne (854m).

The event was hosted by Munster Mountain Runners Association and organised by Robbie Williams and his volunteer crew.

O’Leary completed the course in 05hrs 05mins 08secs.

Such was the heat and conditions, his time was considerably slower than his previous efforts in the race.

“I easily lost 20 minutes, maybe 30,” O’Leary told the Killarney Advertiser. “It was horrendous, everyone suffered [in the heat].”

The event was won by Ruairí Long in a time of 03hrs 58mins and 41 seconds.

Rosy Temple was the first lady competitor to finish in an unbelievable time of 05hrs 41mins 33secs.
Kevin Leahy was the best local in a time of 04hrs 51mins 08secs.

O’Leary is one of Ireland’s top mountain runners. He is currently preparing for the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc a 176km mountain race in the French, Italian and Swiss Alps. He will race as high a 10,000 metres during that event and it is his second time competing in it having previously done the 160km version two years ago. On that occasion he ran for 28 hours almost non-stop.

He also tackled a night marathon in the Ballyhoura Forest Complex on Friday night before repeating the same course in daylight on Saturday morning.

“I'm doing the night race and the day race back-to-back as practice,” he added.

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10-minute plays will linger in the memory

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The West End House School of Arts is delighted to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Festival with a special evening of entertaining readings on Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm.

It promises to be a vibrant showcase of five original 10-minute plays written by emerging local playwrights, each of whom has recently completed a playwriting course with Fiona Doyle (pictured).


Diverse in style and subject matter, these beautifully crafted pieces promise an evening of laughter, tears, and powerful storytelling and each reading will be performed by West End House actors from Kerry.


Together, they highlight the remarkable talent of these up-and-coming writers and actors, who are the future of theatre in our community.

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Get your scrap together

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Following the success of the first ever Killarney Lions Club scrap metal collection in 2025, the Club will again run the event this year in partnership with KWD Recycling on March 28, at Killarney Racecourse.

Similar to 2025, money raised through recycling the metal will go towards improving facilities for families attending the children’s cancer unit in Cork University Hospital, as part of an overall fundraising drive being coordinated by Lions Clubs all over Munster.

The Club is asking people to bring non-ferrous scrap metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, zinc and stainless steel (no white goods such as fridges/cookers washing machines). Volunteers will be on hand from 9am until 4pm to take donations of scrap and work with KWD Recycling to remove it for processing.

“Although Lions Clubs in Munster have already raised some funds for CUH, more is still needed, so we’re delighted that KWD Recycling is working with us again to support this very worthwhile cause”, said Jason Higgins, President of Killarney Lions Club. “We’re asking anyone who has scrap metal at home, at work or on the farm now or in the next few weeks to please bring it to the Racecourse on the day because everything we collect will make a difference.”

Tadhg Healy, Sales Manager at KWD Recycling added that “We will recycle any high quality scrap metal that we collect – it can be quite valuable and of course it’s better for the environment if it’s recycled instead of being dumped. On top of that, the main thing with this collection is to help families of children with cancer, so hopefully we’ll get a good response from everyone and raise as much money as possible through this event”.

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