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Áras Phádraig – Think of the traffic as councillors set to vote today on its future

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By Sean Moriarty

Opinion: Áras Phádraig – Think of the traffic as councillors set to vote today on its future , the seven elected members of the Killarney Municipal District will vote on the future of Áras Phádraig.

The decision they make will shape the centre of our town for decades to come. But as they prepare to cast their votes, we must ask but at what cost?
On the table is a plan that includes the development of a large medical centre on the site.
Councillors may claim their hands are tied. They may say it’s the only way to fund the long-awaited redevelopment.
But since when does the HSE have the final say over a town-owned site?
After all, we’ve been repeatedly told that sites like St. Finan’s cannot be transferred to agencies like the Land Development Agency. Why is this any different?
There is already a suitable option for a modern Primary Care Centre. the soon-to-be-vacated District hospital on St Margaret’s just outside town.
That is where it belongs. Not in the middle of a congested area like Lewis Road.
Let’s be clear: a six-storey development in the centre of Killarney would be a disaster for traffic.
The town is already gridlocked on busy days.
Adding a major new medical facility to an already strained area will only make things worse.
And what about the residents of the Lewis Road cottages? The impact on their homes and daily lives hasn’t been seriously considered.
Killarney has a long history of letting state-owned buildings rot while plans go nowhere.
Just look at St Finan’s or Pretty Polly.
Yes, the Aras has to be redeveloped, and it is long overdue, but its purpose is better served as a cultural centre (at the same height as the current building) and not as a medical centre.
It’s time for our councillors to stop rubber-stamping bad decisions and start fighting for sensible planning.
Killarney deserves better. Today’s vote should be about more than ticking boxes,
It should be about protecting the future of the town.

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Musical Society announces ‘Sister Act’ as 2027 production

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Killarney Musical Society has announced that its 2027 musical production will be the comedy Sister Act.

The show will run at the Gleneagle Arena from Tuesday, March 2nd to Thursday, March 4th, 2027.

Based on the film, the musical tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer placed in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a crime. While there, she helps transform the parish choir.


Society Chairperson Derek O’Leary expressed excitement about the selection. “It is a show that combines humour, heart, spectacular music and an inspiring story, making it a perfect fit for Killarney Musical Society and our audiences,”

O’Leary said. He also confirmed that award-winning director Oliver Hurley and musical director Jimmy Brockie will return for the production.


The society, which draws performers, musicians, and backstage volunteers from across Kerry and neighbouring counties, will release details regarding auditions and production updates in the coming months.

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Killarney retains top ten position in national litter rankings

Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The […]

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Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The town was officially deemed to be ‘Cleaner than European Norms’.

The accompanying report by An Taisce praised Killarney for delivering a solid performance, noting that there were no heavily littered sites found within the town boundaries.
Several local areas received top marks for maintenance and presentation. Main Street was highlighted as exceptionally well-presented, while Park Road, Muckross Road, and the Knockreer Playground and environs were also singled out for praise. The report noted that the playground area was in very good order across all elements.
However, the inspectors did highlight some areas for improvement. The JYSK site showed slight progress compared to the previous survey but remained classified as moderately littered. The report warned that care must be taken to prevent the location from deteriorating further.
On a national level, IBAL representative Conor Horgan noted that entering the peak tourist season, the country has fewer littered areas than at any time in the past 25 years.
Despite the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the survey highlighted a national rise in specific waste items. Plastic bottles were found in 19% of all surveyed sites across the country, and drinks cans were present in 22%. The prevalence of coffee cups also reached its highest level since 2023, alongside an increase in cigarette butt litter.

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