News
Pádraig Harnett honoured posthumously by club he loved

Lifelong soccer stalwart and sports reporter Pádraig Harnett, who passed away in October following a brief illness, has been honoured posthumously by the club to which he devoted much of his life.

Killarney Celtic FC Achievement Awards were presented to Diarmuid Daly Brian Spillane and Gary Keane by (left) Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and (right) Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Killarney Celtic FC Committee Paul Sherry (Vice Chairman) Jane O'Donoghue Tim Jones (Club Chairman) Michelle Kennelly Hurley and John Somers at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Under 17 Manager presenting the Killarney Celtic U17 Player of the Year Award to winner Eoghan Crowley with his parents John and Desireee Crowley at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Senior 'B' management team presenting the Killarney Celtic Senior 'B' Player of the Year Award to winner Adam McMahon with Stephen Hayes Management team at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Alan Doyle (back centre) presenting the Aiden Cronin Memorial Perpetual Shield to Senior 'A' team Player of the Year Stephen McCarthy with (left) Brian Spillane (Senior Team Manager) Sarah and Aiden Cronin (back from left) Diarmuid Daly Stephen Hayes Alan Cronin Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Jerry and Maria Falvey (seated left) presenting the Jimmy Falvey Perpetual Cup Killarney Celtic Youth Player of The Year to Darragh O'Shea who accepted the cup on behalf of winner Sean Fitzgerald with Killarney Celtic FC Youth players (front) Karl Kalvin O'Sullivan, Cathal Kelly (back) Liam Brosnan Murphy, Liam O'Donoghue, Shay O'Meara, Tim Jones (Club Chairman), Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman), Robbie Harnett, Eoghan Crowley, Luke Costello and Diarmuid Daly (Team Manager) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel, Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Killarney Celtic FC Achievement Awards were presented to Diarmuid Daly Brian Spillane and Gary Keane by (left) Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and (right) Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Killarney Celtic FC Committee Paul Sherry (Vice Chairman) Jane O'Donoghue Tim Jones (Club Chairman) Michelle Kennelly Hurley and John Somers at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Under 17 Manager presenting the Killarney Celtic U17 Player of the Year Award to winner Eoghan Crowley with his parents John and Desireee Crowley at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Diarmuid Daly (second from left) Senior 'B' management team presenting the Killarney Celtic Senior 'B' Player of the Year Award to winner Adam McMahon with Stephen Hayes Management team at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Alan Doyle (back centre) presenting the Aiden Cronin Memorial Perpetual Shield to Senior 'A' team Player of the Year Stephen McCarthy with (left) Brian Spillane (Senior Team Manager) Sarah and Aiden Cronin (back from left) Diarmuid Daly Stephen Hayes Alan Cronin Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman) and Tim Jones (Club Chairman) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin

Jerry and Maria Falvey (seated left) presenting the Jimmy Falvey Perpetual Cup Killarney Celtic Youth Player of The Year to Darragh O'Shea who accepted the cup on behalf of winner Sean Fitzgerald with Killarney Celtic FC Youth players (front) Karl Kalvin O'Sullivan, Cathal Kelly (back) Liam Brosnan Murphy, Liam O'Donoghue, Shay O'Meara, Tim Jones (Club Chairman), Paul Sherry (Club Vice Chairman), Robbie Harnett, Eoghan Crowley, Luke Costello and Diarmuid Daly (Team Manager) at the Killarney Celtic FC Awards ceremony in the East Avenue Hotel, Killarney on Friday. Photo: Michelle Cooper Galvin
Pádraig was named 'Club Person of the Year' by Kerry soccer kingpins Killarney Celtic FC at their annual awards ceremony to a mark outstanding contributions and achievements.
Pádraig served in several positions with the club and he always worked tirelessly and passionately for Celtic and Kerry soccer at many levels.
When Pádraig passed away last October, his coffin was draped in the green and white flag of Celtic and club officials, members and players staged a very moving guard of honour as the cortege wound its way through the streets of Killarney.
At a reception in the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Friday night, the award was accepted by Pádraig’s wife, Maura and also in attendance were his stepson Seán Daly, his brother Brendan, sister-in-law Kathleen and nephews Mark and Robbie Harnett.
The awards were presented by club Chairman Tim Jones and Vice Chairman Paul Sherry.
Another recipient on the night was former senior manager Brian Spillane who received an 'Outstanding Achievement' award for his record-breaking exploits on the sidelines.
During his tenure, Celtic won an unprecedented four Premier League and cup doubles in a row as well as the coveted Munster League of Champions trophy.
A key member of that all-conquering Celtic squad was the outstanding Gary Keane who won every honour in the domestic game and is considered a Celtic legend who has been part of the club since he was a schoolboy.
Gary, who recently hung up his boots, was also presented with an outstanding achievement award as was club mentor Diarmuid Daly who was the kitman for the four-in-a-row squad and managed teams at senior B, youth and Under 17 level.
Other awards presented on the night were:
Senior A Player of the Year: Stephen McCarthy
Senior B Player of the Year: Adam McMahon
Youth Player of the Year: Seán Fitzgerald
Under 17 Boys’ Player of the Year: Eoghan Crowley
News
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”