Connect with us

News

Oireachtas festival attracts over 12,000 to Killarney

Published

9 years ago

on

Ferdia Ó Braonáin and Caoilte Canny (9) take a break from the Oireachtas Festival competitions to play in the autumn leaves. PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH
Ferdia Ó Braonáin and Caoilte Canny (9) take a break from the Oireachtas Festival competitions to play in the autumn leaves. PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH

A

ALTHOUGH the tourist season has drawn to a close, Killarney has been welcoming thousands of visitors this week, with an estimated 12,000 people making tracks for the town for the Oireachtas Festival.

Ray Mac Máinais, president of An tOireachtas officially launched this year’s Oireachtas Festival in the INEC on Wednesday and festival events will take place both in the INEC and across other venues in the town between until Sunday.

The annual Oireachtas Festival is a mecca for lovers and performers of the traditional arts and this year’s competitions include storytelling, sean-nós dancing and singing, and the famous Lúibíní competition in which two people perform a rhyming story through song.

A specially composed piece by Peadar Ó Riada, entitled I gCuimhne Laochra (Remembering Heroes), was commissioned by An tOireachtas as part of their 1916 commemorations. Ó Riada debuted his composition live on TG4 on Thursday evening from the Oireachtas Festival accompanied by renowned musician Seán Ó Sé and Cór Chúil Aodha.
 

 
Ferdia Ó Braonáin and Caoilte Canny (9) take a break from the Oireachtas Festival competitions to play in the autumn leaves.
PICTURE: DOMNICK WALSH

Related Topics:
Advertisement

News

Minister Niall Collins visits KCYS Youth Diversion Project

Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS) was pleased to welcome Minister Niall Collins to its Youth Diversion Project in Kilarney last week. The visit gave the Minister an opportunity to meet […]

Published

2 days ago

on

28 April 2026

By

Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS) was pleased to welcome Minister Niall Collins to its Youth Diversion Project in Kilarney last week.

The visit gave the Minister an opportunity to meet staff and hear directly about the work of the Kerry Youth Diversion Project, including early intervention, family support, court accompaniment and wider youth justice practice across the county.
KCYS supports young people across a broad continuum of services in Kerry, from preventative and developmental youth work through to highly targeted interventions for young people and families facing significant challenge and complexity. The Youth Diversion Project forms an important part of that wider continuum of support.
Speaking following the visit, Seamus Whitty, CEO of KCYS, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Minister Collins to Kerry and to have the opportunity to give him a sense of the breadth and depth of the work being carried by the Youth Diversion Project here.
The Youth Diversion Project in Kerry is a strong and well-developed intervention, grounded in practice, informed by evidence, and marked by innovation in how it supports young people and families. It is part of a broader continuum of supports provided by KCYS, and it depends on strong collaboration across teams, services and community partners to make a real difference in people’s lives.
It is also important to acknowledge the Department’s continued commitment to youth justice. The policy direction in this area has been a progressive one, and that has created space for work of this kind to develop and respond to need in a meaningful way.”
The visit highlighted the scale and complexity of the work being carried by the KCYS team, and the importance of sustained investment in youth work responses for young people and families.

Continue Reading

News

Cllr O’Callaghan highlights deep-rooted bond between town and rally

Representing the Killarney Municipal District at Sunday’s Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch, Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan praised the enduring partnership between the Rally of the Lakes and the […]

Published

2 days ago

on

28 April 2026

By

Representing the Killarney Municipal District at Sunday’s Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch, Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan praised the enduring partnership between the Rally of the Lakes and the local community.

For the O’Callaghan family, the event is deeply personal; they own and operate the Failte Hotel on College Street, a landmark business that has grown alongside the rally for decades.
Cllr O’Callaghan noted that the history of the Failte Hotel is inextricably linked with the rally’s heritage, serving as a hub for competitors and fans since the early days of the event.
He said that the rally has become a vital part of the fabric of Killarney life, providing a massive economic and social boost to the town. “The rally has been part of the hotel’s history as much as the hotel has been part of the rally’s history,” he told the gathered crowd, expressing his pride in seeing the tradition continue.
He welcomed the organisers and sponsors to Gleneagle, wishing the event continued success as it remains a cornerstone of the Killarney sporting calendar.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

News2 days ago

Minister Niall Collins visits KCYS Youth Diversion Project

Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS) was pleased to welcome Minister Niall Collins to its Youth Diversion Project in Kilarney last...
News2 days ago

Cllr O’Callaghan highlights deep-rooted bond between town and rally

Representing the Killarney Municipal District at Sunday’s Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes launch, Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan praised the...
News3 days ago

Kerry GAA stars on hand to launch May Festival at Racecourse

Live horse racing returns to Ireland’s most scenic track this May for the highly anticipated Killarney Races May Festival. The...
News3 days ago

‘Wheels on the Bus’ sing-song for mental health fundraiser

Main Street will become the stage for Kerry’s largest sing-song next Friday, May 1, as the public gathers to raise...
News4 days ago

Marie Meets: Cyril Boggins Cooking up tunes and stirring the soul

There are some people you meet in life who don’t just live in a place; they become part of its...

Sport

News2 months ago

Fossa Swimmers make a splash at County Finals

The Fossa Swim team pictured at the Tralee Sports Complex following their successful outing at the County Finals of the...
News3 months ago

On the Ball Part 2 of the Mikey Daly Interview

Éamonn Fitzgerald EF: Killarney Celtic are invited to participate in an Irish competition. That has big financial implications for travel,...
News3 months ago

LUKE MANGAN recently caught up with Kerry FC’s manager, Colin Healy. 

  He spoke to him about his careers as a player and manager. Here’s how it went: When you began your...
News6 months ago

Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1) Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell Saturday 7.30pm Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre...
News6 months ago

Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork...