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New winning team for Killarney Race Company

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It’s certainly a case of winner alright at Killarney Race Company where a top class new team has been appointed to spearhead on track and off course developments into the future.

The progressive board of directors, under chairman Gerard Coughlan, has announced the appointment of a new Racing Manager, a new Financial Controller and a new Conference and Events Manager to build on the facility’s strengths and to implement a number of exciting new developments to maximise the potential of the scenic course.

“Our new team will bring real focus going forward and we have very high expectations. It is a very exciting time for all involved,” Mr Coughlan said.

The new Racing Manager, Philip O’Brien, is no stranger to the world of horseracing as he has enjoyed a very successful career as an amateur and professional jockey.

A native of Rathkeale, Co Limerick, he received his jockey’s licence at the age of 16 and rode well over 100 winners in a career in the saddle that saw him compete in the 2002 Aintree Grand National and at Cheltenham on a number of occasions.

An Equine Science graduate from the University of Limerick and an established horse trainer, Philip insists there isn’t a racecourse in the world that can match the natural beauty of Killarney and he said the team at the Ross Road facility has worked tirelessly to ensure the course is in pristine condition for the July and August racing festivals.

“The potential for future development is absolutely enormous and there is plenty of scope to move forward,” he said.

“The Board of Directors has put great faith in the new team and we will certainly work hard to bring Killarney Racecourse to new heights,” Philip said.

The new Financial Controller, Jennifer Pyne, also brings great experience to the racecourse following a very successful career in high-level finance.

A Commerce and Spanish graduate from University College Cork, she spent four years with Curran and Moore Accountants in Killarney and the past nine years with Monex Financial Services in Killarney.

“Working with Killarney Race Company is a wonderful challenge and it’s great to be part of a new team with some very exciting plans in the pipeline,” said Jennifer, a native of Killarney who is married to Derek. They have two children, Ollie (3) and one-year-old Alice.

Megan Daly Tyrell, the newly appointed Conference and Events Manager, has been at the cutting edge of the industry for many years and she has spent the past seven years managing key accounts for the INEC and Killarney Convention Centre

Megan was responsible for submitting the successful tender for the Irish citizenship ceremony which attracted thousands of people to Killarney last May and, in fact, that contract is for two ceremonies a year for two years.

Involved in the hospitality industry since she was 14 years of age, she previously worked in the former Malton Hotel – now the Great Southern Killarney – and The Brehon Hotel and her speciality is attracting high-end conference and events business to town.

A mother of an eight-year-old boy, Joseph, Megan said there is huge potential to further develop the facilities and the offering at Killarney Racecourse and the possibilities for the short and long-term future are limitless.

“The backdrop is just spectacular and the whole place is under-ultilsed. My intention is to make it the go-to destination in Killarney for events and conferences,” she said.

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Parnell commemorated in Beaufort on 125th Anniversary of Land League meeting

A special ceremony was held in Beaufort to mark the 125th anniversary of Charles Stewart Parnell’s historic visit to the village in 1880, when the Irish nationalist leader addressed thousands […]

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A special ceremony was held in Beaufort to mark the 125th anniversary of Charles Stewart Parnell’s historic visit to the village in 1880, when the Irish nationalist leader addressed thousands at a pivotal land reform meeting.

The commemoration, which took place beside the Beaufort Bar, honoured the legacy of the former MP and founder of the Irish National Land League.
The original meeting was held in a field belonging to Patrick O’Sullivan and attracted a crowd of approximately 3,000, defying the orders of local landlord ‘The O’Mahony’ of Dunloe Castle, who had threatened eviction to any tenant who supported the gathering.
Padruig O’Sullivan, proprietor of the Beaufort Bar and a direct descendant of Patrick O’Sullivan, addressed attendees at the unveiling of a new monument to mark the occasion.
The stone was designed by renowned uilleann piper and artist Tomás O’Sullivan, who also composed a special piece of music titled Parnell’s Blackbird to honour the occasion.
The original 1880 meeting was reported in publications such as the ‘Dundalk Democrat’, which gave a vivid account of the powerful speeches delivered that day.

Extract from the Dundalk Democrat – May 1880

The meeting, held on Sunday, May 16, 1880 in Patrick O’Sullivan’s field south of the Beaufort Hotel, was arranged in defiance of local landlord ‘The O’Mahony,’ who warned tenants they would be evicted for taking part. Nevertheless, the turnout was overwhelming.
Parnell arrived by special train and travelled by carriage from Killarney with fellow MP ‘The O’Donoghue’. The two were met by a band and a large welcoming crowd. Police and a Government reporter were present, but the atmosphere remained peaceful and spirited.
Speakers rallied against the unjust land laws of the time. ‘The O’Donoghue’ praised Parnell as the “shining star” of Irish nationalism and stated that “Kerry desired that her meeting should partake of a national character.”
When Parnell spoke, he described it as “the largest land meeting he had attended since County Mayo” and declared the movement to reclaim Irish land as one of the greatest undertakings in Irish history. He condemned the laws that allowed landlords to evict tenants and seize food as rent payment, noting that 600,000 farmers were subject to the whims of just 10,000 landlords.
He called for legislative reform, including the suspension of evictions and Government-backed tenant purchase schemes, warning that if Parliament failed to act, “the people will do for themselves what the Legislature refuses to do for them.”
He concluded by proposing the first resolution.
“That in the opinion of this meeting, the eviction of occupiers of land for non-payment of rent arbitrarily fixed by the landlord is unjust, subversive of the true interests of the country and calls for the emphatic condemnation of all lovers of justice.”

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St Pauls sign American Maisie Burnham

Killarney’s Utility Trust St Pauls women’s basketball team has announced the signing of American player Maisie Burnham for the upcoming 2025/2026 season. The club, who performed strongly in the latter […]

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Killarney’s Utility Trust St Pauls women’s basketball team has announced the signing of American player Maisie Burnham for the upcoming 2025/2026 season.

The club, who performed strongly in the latter part of the recent season and reached the league final, is looking to build on that success.
Maisie Burnham, a 24-year-old, six-foot-tall guard from Spangle City, Washington, comes to Killarney with a strong playing record. During her time at Liberty High School, where she also played volleyball, she was a high-scoring player.
She then went to Eastern Washington University, where in the 2020/2021 season, she led the team in scoring with over 14 points per game, a record for a freshman player at the university.
Burnham later moved to the University of Portland, where her scoring average continued to improve, reaching a peak of 16.3 points per game in the 2024/2025 season.
Utility Trust St Pauls say they are looking forward to welcoming Maisie to Killarney well in advance of the new season.

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