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One of the fastest cars ever seen in Kerry set for Ballyfinnane

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One of Ireland’s top hillclimb racers has confirmed his participation in the Brian O’Neill Garden Equipment and Trailers Ballyfinnane Festival of Speed. Ben O’Brien from Limerick will race his Gould GR37 Hillclimb Special in Kerry on July 16.

This new event is jointly organised by Kerry Motor Club and The Ballyfinnane Community Association. It will celebrate 120 years of closed-road motorsport in County Kerry. The first-ever event in the Kingdom was won by Charles Rolls, who later became a founder of the Rolls Royce Motor Company, on July 15, 1903.
Almost 120 years to the day, racing cars and rally cars will once again go against the clock on a closed road in the famous mid-Kerry village.

O’Brien will drive his 600bhp – fitted with a Judd Formula 1 spec engine in the commemoration event.The former Irish hillclimb saloon class champion is one of the first drivers to commit to the event.

“It has over 600 bhp on tap and weighing in at just over 500kgs it’s a ball of fun to drive and certainly keeps me on my toes,” said O’Brien.

“I have only recently purchased the car and pre-Ballyfinnane only competed in one Hillclimb in it, a masters’ event in France where I came first overall and was the first Irish person to win this event. No pressure in Ballyfinnane then!”

“I love the ultimate and extreme cars that Hillclimbing attracts and allows."

“In a day and age where such strict guidelines are enforced in so many motorsport disciplines, it’s amazing to see these cars out in force and being used as they were designed.”

“This is sure to be an unforgettable weekend of motorsport.”

As well as the speed hillclimb the organisers have laid on a host of other activities in the village on the day including an extensive classic car display laid on by the Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club.

A massive parking and traffic management plan will be put in place on the day and access to the parking zones will only be available to patrons who purchase an official programme from the car park attendants.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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