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Newly-completed Killarney Micro Track now taking bookings

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By Sean Moriarty

The eagerly awaited Killarney Micro Track is now fully operational and is preparing to open its doors to the wider public.

In recent weeks, children between the ages of 12 and 18 have been allowed use the facility under current COVID-19 restrictions but the officials from Killarney Valley Athletics Club are preparing to open the track for further use once current restrictions are eased.

Now renamed as the Killarney Valley Athletics Arena, the €517,000 project boasts an Astro turf playing pitch, a four-lane 200m running track which incorporates an additional 100m four-lane sprint straight and high-class long jump, and triple jump facilities.

Other features include a shot-putt area and flood lighting to allow winter training.

The opening of the track marks the end of nine years of voluntary work by the club, but fundraising will continue to allow them to pay off a €100,000 loan.

Local Paralympic high-jump hopeful Jordan Lee is using the facility in preparation for Tokyo 2021.

“A world class sustainable facility is now in place in the centre of Killarney town and its environs,” committee member Jer Griffin said. “The group would like to particularly thank Kerry County Council, South Kerry Development Partnership (LEADER) and the Department of Sport for the necessary capital grant aid, required to bring such a great facility to life. These funds were in addition to private donations and many fundraising activities over the years and the group will highlight all of these groups at another time in the future, to thank them for their support.”

Bookings for the facility can be made via killarneyvalleyac@gmail.com.

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Joey Sheehan wins historic sixth Dr Crokes Captain’s Prize

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Accomplished golfer Joey Sheehan scooped the Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Society Captain’s Prize for the sixth time following the outing at The Killeen Course at Killarney Golf Club on Friday.

Society Captain Niall Botty O’Callaghan and his mother Eileen O’Callaghan hosted the prizegiving function in The Failte Hotel, where Joey was presented with a painting of the fourth hole at Killeen by local artist and Dr Crokes member Paul Downey.


Joey Sheehan won his first Dr Crokes Captain’s prize back in 1997, which was the start of an historic four-in-a-row.

He collected his fifth Captain’s prize in 2006 before adding his sixth with the 2026 title last Friday.

Over the years, he has also won two Dr Crokes Presidents prizes, numerous other society outings, and the Eddie Barry Memorial Cup three times as player of the year.


The prize giving function in The Failte featured speeches from society officer Brendan Keogh, Captain Niall Botty O’Callaghan, and overall winner Joey Sheehan.

During the speeches, a number of recently deceased local people and others from recent years associated with the Dr Crokes Golf Society were remembered.

Among those fondly remembered were Brian O’Regan, John O’Mahony, Ewan MacIndoe, Gerry Collins, Paudie O’Callaghan, Malachy Walsh, and Seani McCarthy.


The Dr Crokes Captains Prize was once again sponsored by Mike Buckley of Kerry Coaches. Following overall winner Joey Sheehan, the full list of prize winners included John Lynch in second, Finian Moran in third, and Liam Hartnett in fourth. Sean Brosnan took fifth place, followed by Maurice O’Donoghue in sixth, John O’Leary in seventh, Paudie Sheahan in eighth, Colm Galvin in ninth, and Eamonn Fitzgerald in tenth.

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Discussion on Irish-American literary voices

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The second series of talks for the new ‘Summer in Killarney’ festival took place at Killarney House in Killarney National Park, focusing on the lives and work of literary figures F. Scott Fitzgerald and Mary Lavin.

The event, titled ‘The Great Irish-American Voices of F. Scott Fitzgerald & Mary Lavin’, featured presentations by authors Gráinne Hurley, writer of Gratefully and Affectionately: Mary Lavin and The New Yorker, and Killarney native Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, author of Gatsby: Death of an Irishman.

Following their presentations, both authors joined Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy for a panel conversation exploring the impact of both writers on American literature.

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