News
Pádraig Harnett remembered at special musical event
By Sean Moriarty
Liam O’Connor is instantly recognised as one of Killarney’s top musicians but the man who put him on the road to stardom was honoured on Friday night.
Liam O'Connor Oisin O'Connor and Lisa Aherne performing at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Deputy Michael Healy Rae Paudie Eileen and Niall O'Callaghan and Deputy Danny Healy Rae at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in The Fáilte Bar on Friday night with proceeds going to Killarney Celtic 'Football for All'. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Bridget and Liam McGuire Bridget O'Keeffe and Paul Byrne at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Saoirse Cillian Oisin and Liam O'Connor performing at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Deputy Danny Healy Rae Cllr Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan Eileen Healy Rae Cllr Johnny Healy Rae Tim Coffey Brendan Harnett Cllr Maura Healy Rae and Mark Harnett at the Fáilte Bar on Friday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Mary Murphy Patsy Cusack and Ita Looney at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Liam O'Connor entertaining the crowd: Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Dancer Michael Cahill and Liam O'Connor performing at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
At the Liam O'Connor music tribute on Friday night were front from left: Noreen O'Connor Cillian O'Connor Edel Harnett and Oisin O'Connor. Seated in centre are: Saoirse O'Connor Maura Daly Harnett Liam O'Connor and Brendan Harnett. Back from left are: John Don O'Donoghue Sean Daly David Harnett Kathleen Harnett Mark Harnett Mary Lyne Jane O'Donoghue Paul Sherry Robbie Harnett and Michelle Hurley. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Seated in front are Paul Sherry Maura Daly Harnett Sean Daly and Mary Lyne. Back from left are: Michelle Hurley John and Jane O'Donoghue and Noreen O'Connor at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in the Fáilte Bar. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Packie O'Connor Joanie O'Donoghue Noreen O'Connor and Billy O'Donoghue at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in the Fáilte Bar on Friday night with proceeds going to Killarney Celtic 'Football for All'. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Shirley O'Sullivan Dorothy O'Grady Guerin Lisa Hegarty Lisa Aherne and Elaine Price at the Fáilte Bar on Friday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
A section of the crowd enjoying the night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in the Fáilte Bar. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Liz Moloney Edel Harnett Oisin Doherty and Zara Blackwell at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Pauline Sheehy celebrating her 60th birthday with family and friends at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night. From left are: Siobhan Murphy Aoife Brosnan Dolly and Katie Mangan Pauline Sheehy Gemma Mangan Amy Lennon Lisa O'Regan and Helen Brosnan. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Liam O'Connor Oisin O'Connor and Lisa Aherne performing at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Deputy Michael Healy Rae Paudie Eileen and Niall O'Callaghan and Deputy Danny Healy Rae at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in The Fáilte Bar on Friday night with proceeds going to Killarney Celtic 'Football for All'. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Bridget and Liam McGuire Bridget O'Keeffe and Paul Byrne at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Saoirse Cillian Oisin and Liam O'Connor performing at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Deputy Danny Healy Rae Cllr Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan Eileen Healy Rae Cllr Johnny Healy Rae Tim Coffey Brendan Harnett Cllr Maura Healy Rae and Mark Harnett at the Fáilte Bar on Friday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Mary Murphy Patsy Cusack and Ita Looney at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Liam O'Connor entertaining the crowd: Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Dancer Michael Cahill and Liam O'Connor performing at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
At the Liam O'Connor music tribute on Friday night were front from left: Noreen O'Connor Cillian O'Connor Edel Harnett and Oisin O'Connor. Seated in centre are: Saoirse O'Connor Maura Daly Harnett Liam O'Connor and Brendan Harnett. Back from left are: John Don O'Donoghue Sean Daly David Harnett Kathleen Harnett Mark Harnett Mary Lyne Jane O'Donoghue Paul Sherry Robbie Harnett and Michelle Hurley. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Seated in front are Paul Sherry Maura Daly Harnett Sean Daly and Mary Lyne. Back from left are: Michelle Hurley John and Jane O'Donoghue and Noreen O'Connor at the tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in the Fáilte Bar. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Packie O'Connor Joanie O'Donoghue Noreen O'Connor and Billy O'Donoghue at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in the Fáilte Bar on Friday night with proceeds going to Killarney Celtic 'Football for All'. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Shirley O'Sullivan Dorothy O'Grady Guerin Lisa Hegarty Lisa Aherne and Elaine Price at the Fáilte Bar on Friday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
A section of the crowd enjoying the night in memory of Pádraig Harnett in the Fáilte Bar. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Liz Moloney Edel Harnett Oisin Doherty and Zara Blackwell at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night on Friday. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
Pauline Sheehy celebrating her 60th birthday with family and friends at the Liam O'Connor music tribute night. From left are: Siobhan Murphy Aoife Brosnan Dolly and Katie Mangan Pauline Sheehy Gemma Mangan Amy Lennon Lisa O'Regan and Helen Brosnan. Photo: Eamonn Keogh
The late Pádraig Harnett wore many hats in town but was better known as one of the town’s best sports journalists as he was a cycling, soccer and basketball expert.
The Park Road native devoted a huge amount of his time voluntarily to Celtic Football Club and St Paul’s Basket Club.
He was a founding member of the local Nottingham Forrest FC Supporter's Club.
A former hotel and cinema manager, Pádraig Harnett’s sudden passing last October left a gaping hole in all facets of Killarney society.
One man who is missing his late friend more than most is the world champion accordionist Liam O’Connor.
He wanted to do something to celebrate Pádraig’s contribution to the town he loved so well.
On Friday night last, Liam organised a special gig at the Fáilte Hotel in memory of the man who once acted as tour manager for his band.
The concert, which also raised money for Killarney Celtic 'Football for All', was attended by close to 300 people.
These included members of the extended Harnett families, politicians, sports stars and friends of the very well-known Killarney man.
“Not many people know that around 25 years ago, Pádraig introduced me to Paudie O’Callaghan of the Fáilte Hotel,” Liam explained.
“Paudie was very busy with gigs at the time but he offered me a Wednesday night slot and the rest, as they say, is history. He was a loyal friend, so honest and very intelligent and down to earth and was a larger-than-life character.”
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak Resource Awards, securing a spot on the national shortlist for environmental achievement.
The local waste management company has been nominated in the Best Recovery Operator Innovation category, sponsored by DNV, for its state-of-the-art residual waste recovery system.
The Killarney facility utilizes optical sorting, screening, and mechanical processing to extract recyclable plastics and organic material from municipal waste. In its first year of operation, the technology recovered more than 10 per cent of plastic packaging from residual waste for recycling and diverted almost 50 per cent of organic material toward composting.
KWD Recycling will compete alongside Dublin operators Panda and Thorntons Recycling for the category title.
Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh commended the Kerry firm for demonstrating environmental leadership and bringing local ambition to the national awards.
Category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, October 23, where each winner will also compete for the Overall Repak Resource Award.
Local businesses have a strong track record at the national event, with Killarney town venue The Killarney Park and The Ross previously taking home the overall title in 2023.
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
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