News
Pictorial history of St. Brendan’s College unveiled

On Wednesday, last week St. Brendan’s College played host to a wonderful occasion when current teacher, Michael Leahy and past teachers, Billy Condon and Denis O’Donoghue presented an archive of visual and written material, photographs, articles and jerseys to Ms. Lorna Larkin, Chairperson of our Board of Management.

Brid O’Donoghue Mary O’Donoghue and Eileen Kennelly at the presentation of the Archive Collection to Board of Management in a special ceremoney at St Brendan’s College Killarney on Wednesday. Mike Leahy Denis O’Donoghue and Billy Condon gathered and collated the Archive Collection. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Mike Leahy (left) and (right) Denis O’Donoghue presenting the Archive Collection to the St Brendan’s Chairperson Board of Management Lorna Larkin and Principal Sean Coffey in a special ceremony at St Brendan’s College Killarney on Wednesday. Mike Leahy Denis O’Donoghue and Billy Condon gathered and collated the Archive Collection. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Pat Lucid Haulie Clifford John O’Shea and Hugh Rudden Deputy Principal at the presentation of the Archive Collection to Board of Management in a special ceremoney at St Brendan’s College Killarney on Wednesday. Mike Leahy Denis O’Donoghue and Billy Condon gathered and collated the Archive Collection. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Brid O’Donoghue Mary O’Donoghue and Eileen Kennelly at the presentation of the Archive Collection to Board of Management in a special ceremoney at St Brendan’s College Killarney on Wednesday. Mike Leahy Denis O’Donoghue and Billy Condon gathered and collated the Archive Collection. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Mike Leahy (left) and (right) Denis O’Donoghue presenting the Archive Collection to the St Brendan’s Chairperson Board of Management Lorna Larkin and Principal Sean Coffey in a special ceremony at St Brendan’s College Killarney on Wednesday. Mike Leahy Denis O’Donoghue and Billy Condon gathered and collated the Archive Collection. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Pat Lucid Haulie Clifford John O’Shea and Hugh Rudden Deputy Principal at the presentation of the Archive Collection to Board of Management in a special ceremoney at St Brendan’s College Killarney on Wednesday. Mike Leahy Denis O’Donoghue and Billy Condon gathered and collated the Archive Collection. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin
Over a ten-year period Mike and Billy gathered, collated and catalogued a photographic collection of school images stretching back to the 19th century.
These images – in their hundreds – are a compendium of life in the College since its foundation.
Denis O’Donoghue began to research the past presidents of the school in the late 1990s.
This initial research led to a detailed document on the social history of the school from the 1850’s through to the 1970s.
They are a rich and valuable storehouse of the school’s traditions and storied past and a treasure throve for the curious past pupil, the historian or indeed our future students and teachers.
The school hopes to place the archive on permanent display in the near future.
News
Fassbender ready for second Le Mans appearance
Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The iconic endurance race is celebrating its […]

Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The iconic endurance race is celebrating its 100th edition next weekend.
The Fossa star has already arrived in the famous French twon where he is involved in a week-long series of engagements including drivers’ parades, autograph sessions and more serious appointments like car safety checks, practice and qualifying.
Like last year, when he finished 16th in the LMGTE Am class, Fassbender has been entered in to the event by the German Proton Competition team with Estonian Martin Rump and the Austrian Richard Lietz.
Fassbender dreams of following the trajectory of fellow Hollywood actors Patrick Dempsey who was second in LMGTE Am class in 2016 and Paul Newman who finished second overall in 1979.
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.