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MayFest got the season off to a flying start at Killarney Racecourse

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Killarney Racecourse Ambassador Bryan Cooper enjoying Killarney Races. Dominck Walsh

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Pictured at Killarney Races on Sunday were Tralee punters Eric Boylan Sean Rutland Kelvin Reidy and Paul Lenihan. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at Killarney Races on Sunday were Edyta Hernas and Con Duggan from Killarney. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Des Grace and his grandaughter Hannah Garvey from Tralee County Kerry pictured at Killarney Races Family Fun Day on Sunday Photo: Don MacMonagle

Enjoying the bubble fountain at Killarney Races Family Day on Sunday were Daniel Thelma and Katie O'Donoghue from Killarney.Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at Killarney Races on Sunday were Gillian O'Keeffe and Elaine Kelly from Killarney. Photo: Don MacMonagle

MayFest at Killarney Racecourse took place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, kicking off the season at the popular track in great style.

Sunday was an all jump racecard with the feature race being the Tote Killarney National, won in impressive fashion by Pont Aval. Sean O'Keefe rode a patient race, making steady headway before racing away after the last fence. This was the final leg of Willie Mullins' treble on the card.

The opening day of the festival was also Family Day which saw record-breaking crowds, where The Art House got all the kids involved in the activities on offer and Racecourse Ambassador Bryan Cooper was on hand to meet all the upcoming junior jockeys in attendance.

Shecouldbeanything won the Easy Clean Tourist Attraction Mares Hurdle (Listed). On her previous start, she won at the Punchestown Festival, while before that she was sixth in the Jack De Bromhead Mares' Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. Shecouldbeanything is a quality mare and looks to have a bright future ahead of her. The valuable Oyster Tavern Handicap Hurdle went the way of Mighty Tom, who is trained by Kerry native Cian Collins. The Galway Hurdle is the next big target for the horse.

Monday was an evening meeting, all jump racing again with the feature race being the An Riocht Steeplechase won by Saint Sam, who is likely to receive an entry in the Galway Plate and there is plenty more improvement to come from this six year-old. Willie Mullins went one better on Monday and enjoyed a fantastic four-timer. Absurde, a €260,000 purchase from France, made a successful start over hurdles and looks to be an exciting prospect.

Tuesday closed MayFest in fine style with an all-flat card and beautiful sunshine. Trainer Joseph O’Brien won the opening three races on the card, completing the feat in the Fesco Maiden aith Arniemac at 4/1. The feature race The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race was won in dramatic style with Ma Belle Artiste winning by just a head in the end to beat the 2/1 favourite in the race Impact Warrior.

Chairman of Killarney Races, Billy O’Sullivan said: “What a start to the season here at Killarney Races, a great few days were enjoyed by all. There was a real sense of community, lots of families enjoying the facilities and top-class racing, it was superb. Now it’s onwards and upwards for our July Festival."

With three more festivals to look forward to in July, August and October if you haven’t been it is well worth checking out, visit Killarneyraces.ie where you can book tickets, hospitality, group packages, club membership and more.

Photos by Domnic Walsh and Don McMonagle

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Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

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The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

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Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

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Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

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