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New Chairman appointed at Killarney Racecourse

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After six years at the helm of Killarney Racecourse and Ross Golf Course, Gerard Coughlan has stepped down as Chairman of Killarney Race Company.

PRESENTATION: Killarney Racecourse Board of Directors management and staff presented outgoing Chairman Gerard Coughlan (3rd right) and outgoing Secretary Con O'Mahony (1st right) with gifts for their long service of dedication to Killarney Race Company. From left: Terrence Mulcahy Padraig Bruton Pam Treacy Tadgh Kelly Niall Brosnan Philip O'Brien Áine O'Donoghue and Jennifer Pyne. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

He will however remain an active Director on the Board of Management. Leading property consultant, Billy O’Sullivan who has served as Vice Chairman for the duration of Coughlan’s term will take over the role of Chairman.

Gerard has embraced a great deal of change and unprecedented uncertainty. During this period his commitment has been unwavering as he guided Killarney Race Company through testing times and the business has not only survived but thrived as a result.

Incoming Chairman, Billy O’Sullivan has served on the board at Killarney Race Company for 15 years. A keen golfer and horse racing enthusiast, he is eager to hit the ground running in his new role.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the team and my fellow board members to build on the achievements of recent years," he said.

"I would like to thank our outgoing Chairman Gerard Coughlan and former company secretary Con O’Mahony in particular for their sterling work and dedication. In recent years we have expended in excess of €10m on capital development projects to enhance our offering at Killarney Racecourse. In 2022, we hosted 13 quality race days with €1.68m in prize money which encompassed 1,200 runners, over 91 races. We, as a team, are ambitious to build on the quality of our racing, increase prize money and the overall racegoer experience at Killarney.”

Killarney Race Company is a flourishing commercial enterprise. The most recent capital project has been the opening of the impressive new aesthetic entrance to Killarney Racecourse and Ross Golf Course.

“I am delighted to hand the reins over to Billy, it has been a tough few years without crowds at our track for almost two years but we have pulled through the pandemic well and maintained a healthy balance sheet," Gerard said.

"Billy’s family have been steeped in the history of the town, in fact his grandfather Dr Bill O’Sullivan Snr. was one of our founders. Billy and wife Hilary and their grown-up family live in Dublin but spend a great deal of time in Killarney, have a home here which they regularly frequent and they are very much part of the fabric of the local and sporting community here. Billy will be a wonderful asset to Killarney Race Company as Chairman and I look forward to continuing to work with him at board level.”

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Film Festival launches new monthly film club

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The Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) has announced the launch of the KIFF Film Club, a new initiative bringing modern Irish cinema and documentaries to the big screen at Cinema Killarney.

Supported by Screen Ireland through the Audience Development Fund, the club aims to foster local audience engagement with high-quality domestic filmmaking.

The series will debut on Wednesday, March 25, at 8pm with a screening of Christy. The film arrives in Killarney following significant critical success, having recently secured IFTA awards for both Best Film and Best Director.

Set on the northside of Cork city, the drama follows the titular character as he moves in with his estranged brother and begins to find his place within the local community.

The club’s second instalment is scheduled for April 22 at 8pm, featuring the documentary Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man.

This production offers a perspective on the conflict in Northern Ireland through previously unseen footage and photographs, alongside exclusive interviews.


Tickets for the screenings are priced at €8 per person, plus a booking fee. As part of the club experience, attendees will be offered a complimentary cup of tea or coffee before each film begins.

Tickets for the March and April screenings are currently available for purchase through the official festival website at kerryfilmfestival.com.

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Scorchers Florida bound for All-Star Worlds final

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Excitement is building in Killarney as the Scorchers Cheerleading Team, Code Black, have received a major boost ahead of next month’s All Star World Championships in Orlando.

Securing a prestigious bid, after taking home first place at their most recent competition, which allows them to bypass the preliminary ‘Battle Round’ and advance directly to the semi-finals of the All Star World Championships.

“Receiving a bid like this is recognition of the hard work, discipline and teamwork the squad has shown all season. said Katlyn Moynihan “It puts them in a strong position heading into the championships.”

The All Star World Championships brings together the very best teams from all over the world to compete and celebrate cheer. The judging panel, in Orlando, is made up of the most respected and experienced figures in global cheerleading, and whose expertise shape the sport at the highest level.

With the competition just weeks away, the athletes remain focused on refining their routine and strengthening their performance before proudly representing their club and Kerry in Florida next month. Now, they’re hoping the county will rally behind them, sharing their story, cheering them on, and celebrating these remarkable young athletes carrying the Kerry name with pride.

The team will also host a Fundraising Quiz Night on Friday, March 27 at the Killarney Avenue Hotel.


Teams of four can enter for €40; come along, enjoy the night and help this talented team turn their world championship dream into reality.

The team are continuing their fundraising drive ahead of the All Star World Championships in Orlando, with donations – big or small – welcomed through their iDonate page https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/scorcherscheerleading.

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