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New playground opened in Ballyfinane

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PLAY TIME: Ballyfinane locals are delighted with their brand new community playground which was officially opened recently.  

 

By Michelle Crean

There’s great excitement in one local community with the official opening of their brand new playground.

Ballyfinane National School in partnership with Ballyfinane Hall Committee received CLÁR Funding for a community playground.

The initiative is a partnership with the local school, the hall committee and Kerry County Council, who joined together to secure a suitable site. Funding for the playground was provided through the CLÁR initiative and from the local Tour de Ballyfinane which is organised by Ballyfinane NS Parents Association annually.

All the young boys and girls in Ballyfinane NS and the local community are overjoyed to have a playground on their doorstep and have given it the big thumbs ups.

Brendan Griffin TD officially cut the ribbon at 1pm on Friday, and those in attendance were entertained by traditional music and Irish dancing by the pupils of Ballyfinane NS.

Principal Catherine O’Shea said she is delighted with this new addition to the locality as it provides a great social outlet for families and gives the boys and girls a safe and fun place to play during breaks. “I know that this new playground has involved a tremendous amount of work and commitment – where enormous praise and gratitude must be given to the many people who have played a part in making this wonderful dream and facility come through for the children and community of Ballyfinane.”

Marie Edwards, Ballyfinane Parents Association, added that the playground is a great asset to their small rural community.

“It’s lovely for the children and people of Ballyfinane to have a focal point to meet. This would not have been achieved only for the fantastic community spirit and the hard work of the school, Board of Management, Parent’s Association, Kerry County Council and Ballyfinane Hall Committee.”

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Rewild Festival organisers reveal expanded line-up for 2026 event

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Organisers of the Rewild Festival have unveiled the official details for the 2026 event, which returns to the old Dunloe Golf Course on July 11.

Building on the success of previous years, the festival has expanded its schedule to include early Friday camping on 10 July, transforming the event into a multi-day experience.

The weekend begins on Friday evening with storytelling, candlelit tales, fireside sessions, and two on-site saunas.

The event will also feature an Irish festival first, offering attendees the opportunity to experience being buried in mycelium.

Saturday features 15 live acts across the main stages, all-day DJ sets, and over 20 wellness workshops covering sound baths and breathwork.

The day’s activities also include a céilí on the hill, market stalls, educational talks, children’s entertainment, fire shows, and art installations.

Live music performances will continue through Sunday, 12 July until lunchtime.

A wide selection of regional food and drink vendors will be available on-site, featuring local businesses such as Muckross Ice Cream, The Black Sheep, and Pigs Lane.

The festival bar will serve draught beers from Killarney’s newest brewery, Loinnir Brewing.

Additionally, organisers have confirmed that if the Kerry GAA team plays during the weekend, the match will be broadcast live on a big screen.

Festival co-founder Kevin Leahy noted that the crew has thoroughly enjoyed watching the community grow.

“We’ve sold over 70% of tickets and expect to sell out, so we won’t be selling tickets on the gate,” Leahy stated.

Information and remaining tickets are available on the official website at www.rewildfestival.ie, and physical tickets can be purchased directly at the Black Sheep Hostel.

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Lions Club Donates €11.5k to Community groups and schools

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Killarney Lions Club has donated €11,500 to seven community groups and schools in the Killarney area and Childhood Cancer in Cork.

The money was raised through a variety of Lions activities and events during the year, in particular the Club’s Annual Golf Classic and Scrap Metal Collection.

The local organisations that received donations were Kerry Hospice Foundation, Irish Kidney Association, Kerry Cancer Support Group, Killarney Cardiac Response Unit, Kerry Mental Health Association, Killarney Community College and St. Brendan’s College Killarney.

“We had great support for our Golf Classic this year, with 26 teams taking part at Killarney Golf Club on April 24th, and the Scrap Metal Collection was supported by MF Quirke’s Sand and Gravel, builder Keith McMahon and our partners KWD Recycling” said Jason Higgins, President, Killarney Lions Club. “Thanks to everyone’s generosity we are now able to make these donations to a variety of organisations in the local area, and we hope it will help them to continue providing great support and services in our community.”

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