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Multi-award winning musician to perform on home soil 

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A very talented musician from Killarney, who has not only toured with Riverdance but also won multiple awards for her fiddle and concertina playing, will perform locally this Saturday night. 

Niamh Ní Charra toured from 1998 to 2006 as a soloist with Riverdance, before returning to Ireland where she is now based. Her recently released fifth album 'Donnelly’s Arm', recorded under challenging circumstance during the COVID-19 and several lockdowns, has none-the-less received much critical and public acclaim.

Niamh will be joined by regular bandmates Kevin Corbett on guitar, and Dom Keogh on bodhran at 9pm in the INEC Acoustic Club, Gleneagle Hotel.

"The album, my fifth, was recorded in between lockdowns, and released just over a year ago," Niamh said.
"It's only now I'm finally getting to perform on home soil. The gig was moved from January because of restrictions that came in December."

Niamh will be performing material from all five of her albums. 2022 will mark 15 years since she released her first album 'Ón Dá Thaobh/From Both Sides' to critical acclaim, and her most recent album was just crowned Number 1 Trad album of 2021 in reviewer Alex Monaghan’s Top Ten. Alex is a reviewer for several publications including Irish Music Magazine, Living Tradition and FolkWorld.

Niamh is strongly influenced by a wealth of local Sliabh Luachra musicians, she started playing music at the early age of four.

AWARDS

She is the recipient of several awards including 'Instrumental Album of the Year' in 2014 in the Chicago Irish American News’ TIR awards for her previous album 'Cuz', 'Female Musician of the Year' in 2012 and 2014, in the Live Ireland Music Awards, 'Best Trad Music Act 2008' from UK publication The Irish World, and 'Best Fiddle/Violin 2008' from the American based Irish Music Association. Her music also featured on the programme 'Ireland in Song' which aired on Aer Lingus transatlantic flights.

Along with touring extensively as a solo artist and with her own band, Niamh has also performed and recorded with The Chieftains, Carlos Núñez, and in 2011 released an album 'The Basque Irish Connection', in collaboration with Basque musician Ibon Koteron. She regularly gives workshops and masterclasses on both fiddle and concertina, has performed for several presidents and members of royalty and has additionally coordinated concerts hosted by the Irish embassy, on behalf of the Government.

Niamh is also a professional archivist and is currently project manager and project archivist for the Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) and Mary Robinson Collections in the National University of Ireland, Galway.

She is also the Communications and Campaigns officer for the Archives and Records Association, Ireland, and regularly gives presentations on her work in this field. She is a founding member and archivist for the volunteer campaign group FairPlé established in 2018, which aims to achieve gender balance in production, performance, promotion and development of Irish traditional and folk music.

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Camera Club exhibition opens at Killarney House

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Camera Club exhibition opens at Killarney House



Killarney Camera Club’s 25th anniversary exhibition is open to the public at Killarney House until Sunday, October 4.



Mayor of Killarney Councillor John O’Donoghue officially opened the event, which features a wide range of work from local photographers capturing landscapes, people, and moments from home and abroad.

Speaking at the opening, Mayor O’Donoghue highlighted the rich natural surroundings available to local photographers. “We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world, with dramatic mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and a vibrant town centre, as well as beaches and open sea just a short distance away,” he said.

In a lighthearted admission, the Mayor admitted to storing hundreds of photos on his phone, adding that seeing the standard of work on display inspired him “to finally print some of my own photographs for posterity.”

The club was founded in 2001 as the Photographic Society of Killarney at the Park Place Hotel before adopting its current name in 2006. Founding member Seamus Long recalled starting with just eight members, contrasting it with today’s membership of over 30 photographers who meet at the ANAM Arts and Cultural Centre.

“There is nothing better than seeing your images in print, mounted and framed and hanging on a wall,” Mr Long said, referencing the club’s shift from traditional darkrooms to modern digital photography.

To mark the anniversary, the club has published a commemorative booklet featuring 25 select images from members past and present. The limited-edition booklet is available at Eason’s and directly from the club.

The exhibition runs daily at Killarney House until October 4. Admission is free and all are welcome.

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Chamber schedules future talks with Minister Foley

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has agreed two further meetings for 2027 with Minister Norma Foley following a positive discussion on local infrastructure last week.

Executive committee members met with Minister Foley on Thursday, August 27, to present priority projects affecting Killarney and the wider region.


The discussion focused primarily on securing Urban Regeneration and Development Fund allocations for Killarney town center and advancing plans for the Kerry-Cork economic corridor link.


Minister Foley emphasized the need for local stakeholders, elected representatives, state agencies, and government departments to maintain a unified approach when seeking state backing for strategic regional developments.


Following the discussion, Minister Foley committed to closer communication with the chamber office, alongside two formal follow-up meetings scheduled for 2027 to monitor project progress and address ongoing commercial issues.


Chamber representatives welcomed the commitment to regular dialogue, noting that structured updates will help ensure key local infrastructure projects remain active on the government agenda.


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STRATEGIC TALKS: Members of the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Executive Committee who met with Minister Norma Foley to discuss URDF funding and regional infrastructure links for the town. Photo: Don MacMonagle.

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