News
New council report tackles key issues
The latest Kerry County Council Chief Executive’s report outlines concrete action on pressing challenges facing Killarney, including recent flood events, long-term housing targets, road upgrades, and upcoming cultural developments.
Flooding
Following last month's severe rainfall event, where 58 mm of rain fell in four hours and 30 mm hit within a single hour, an operational review is actively shaping Killarney's future drainage strategy.
Council crews, Kerry Civil Defence, and Kerry Fire Service deployed emergency pumps and sandbags during the deluge, which flooded local businesses and the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre.
The current review analyses drainage capacity and rainfall intensity to build long-term capital drainage proposals for the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Affected property owners are receiving support via the Department of Social Protection, while emergency services also recently contained a 20-hectare wildfire at Five Mile Bridge/Moll's Gap.
Housing
On housing, 30 social units were recently handed over at Cronin’s Wood in partnership with Cooperative Housing Ireland.
Looking to the future, the council is now preparing the Kerry Housing Delivery Action Plan 2027–2030, with online briefings planned for elected members to detail future social and starter home projects.
Following news of €150,000 in Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund funding for St. Finan’s, the report clarifies exactly how that money will be spent.
Partnering with the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Health Service Executive (HSE), the council will design a masterplan for a compact, mixed-use development comprising residential units, community space, active travel routes, and public realm improvements.
Road works
While current road surface work provides immediate relief, the report leaves broader questions open regarding Killarney’s chronic traffic congestion.
Road improvements continue across local networks, including the skid resistance scheme on 8.1 km of the N22 bypass, Pavement rehabilitation on the N72 between Killorglin and Rathmore is moving ahead, and parapet bridge repairs are slated for the N22 Garries Bridge and Brewsterfield Bridge.
Meanwhile, public realm upgrades at Kenmare Place and Main Street have restarted, with teams coordinating alongside local traders to manage disruption.
Culture
On the cultural front, Killarney will host a dedicated seminar on the Annals of Inisfallen as part of a national historical series with University College Cork.
Support schemes like the €100,000 Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF), the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, and the Historic Structures Fund remain open for local applications.
Additionally, the town is preparing to welcome over 250 female entrepreneurs for Southwest Regional National Women’s Enterprise Day, building on a busy cultural season highlighted by the ANAM Summer Programme and Spraoi Chiarraí performances at St. Mary’s Church
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak Resource Awards, securing a spot on the national shortlist for environmental achievement.
The local waste management company has been nominated in the Best Recovery Operator Innovation category, sponsored by DNV, for its state-of-the-art residual waste recovery system.
The Killarney facility utilizes optical sorting, screening, and mechanical processing to extract recyclable plastics and organic material from municipal waste. In its first year of operation, the technology recovered more than 10 per cent of plastic packaging from residual waste for recycling and diverted almost 50 per cent of organic material toward composting.
KWD Recycling will compete alongside Dublin operators Panda and Thorntons Recycling for the category title.
Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh commended the Kerry firm for demonstrating environmental leadership and bringing local ambition to the national awards.
Category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, October 23, where each winner will also compete for the Overall Repak Resource Award.
Local businesses have a strong track record at the national event, with Killarney town venue The Killarney Park and The Ross previously taking home the overall title in 2023.
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak...
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
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