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Quest Kenmare a runaway success!

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More than 1,400 adventure racers kicked off the first Quest Adventure Race of the year with Quest Kenmare on Saturday.

Quest Kenmare cyclists cross Our Lady's Bridge Kenmare.

Participants, who arrived in Kenmare with friends and family from all over Ireland and the UK, were treated to the stunning local scenery of Molls Gap, Kerry Way, Esk Mountain, Muckross Park and Kenmare town, along three different routes: 28km Challenge route, 43km Sport route and 79km Expert route.

Kenmare enjoyed up to 3,000 visitors over the weekend for Quest Kenmare, staying in accommodation locally and enjoying the atmosphere in Kenmare’s bars and restaurants on the Friday and Saturday evenings. As always, participants were encouraged to embrace the idea of using the event to stay longer in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Locals made visitors extremely welcome, and businesses went the extra mile to open outside their usual operating hours to accommodate the event.

Taking part in Quest Kenmare this year were Kerry’s own Tadgh Fleming and Rory O’Connor of Rory’s Stories, both adventure race enthusiasts since taking part in RTÉ’s Hell Week.

A jubilant Tadgh who completed the Expert route with fiancé Alannah Bradley, said after the race: “We made it! We did the 55k last year and we did the 78k this year – no better feeling than going over that finish line. We trained together and we stuck it out together. Can’t wait for the next one!”

Rory O’Connor was equally happy with his performance, and his inimitable style had this to say: “It was tough. Coming down the hill at the top - God help anybody in front of me, you’re 19 stone coming down and I had no control of my body, and I was just like, ‘Move!’ But I really enjoyed it and feel great now, it was very enjoyable.”

Race Organiser Oliver Kirwan said the continued popularity of Quest Kenmare is testament to peoples' love of the event and adventure racing.

“We hold some incredible events in Kenmare in addition to Quest, including the Ring of Beara Cycle and Velo Kenmare. We therefore have a special affinity with the town, and are delighted to always hold our first adventure race of the season here. Thank you to all the businesses who operated outside their normal hours to accommodate participants and their supporters, KMEG and the volunteers who continue to give up their valuable time to make this event possible.”

Jerry O’Sullivan of Kenmare Marketing and Events Group (KMEG) said, "Kenmare is very pleased to welcome the wonderful Quest Adventure series, competitors and spectators to town. The colour, vibrancy and business they bring to town is a very welcome boost as we enter a new tourist season."

Winners of the Expert route were Sebastien Giraud and local Kenmare woman Ellen Vitting, who defended her title successfully from 2022. Winners of the Sport route were David Hickey and Rhianna Henaghan. Winners of the Challenge route were Sheldon Kirkwood and Louise Fogarty.

In addition, adventure racers were treated to the first ever Rave ar Róthar – or party on a bike, on the Friday before the event. Participants cycled a circuit of Kenmare '80s style, with glow in the dark accessories, led by the Rave ar Róthar mobile DJ deck to a secret party location, ready for race kick-off on Saturday!

A fun concept to continually enhance the experience of those taking part and their stay in the local area, Rave ar Róthar was born at Quest Kenmare, and plans to be a feature of many future events.

Quest Kenmare and Elite Event Management are grateful for the ongoing support and partnership for this event from Kerry Marketing and Events Group, Kerry County Council, and local groups and clubs.

"We are grateful to main Quest Adventure Series sponsor Volvo Ireland Cars, official snack partner All Real, event partners Nuasan, Gnarly Peaks, and Conor Sur Bicicleta."

Quest Kenmare will be back in 2024 with a provisional date of Saturday, March 9.

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School Dayz St Brendan’s students donate to Kerry Hospice

Students from St Brendan’s College have given €600 to Kerry Hospice. The money was raised from their book, ‘Futures from the Past’ which was published in April 2024. Teacher Mary […]

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Students from St Brendan’s College have given €600 to Kerry Hospice.

The money was raised from their book, ‘Futures from the Past’ which was published in April 2024.
Teacher Mary Denise Lyons and students Divo Lucic Kovacevii, Michéal McElligott, and Jaroslav Stetsenko handed over the funds to Cathal Walshe of Kerry Hospice.
‘Futures from the Past’ is a book written by current and retired writers, as well as students from St Brendan’s College.
This donation is the second from the book, with €800 donated last year and €600 this year.
The book was created to allow students to use their imaginations to explore the past and think about the future. It involved students from Poetry Ireland’s Writers-In-Schools Programme and adult learners from Kerry Education & Training Board’s Community Education Creative Writing group.
The book was launched at St Brendan’s College in April last year and was made possible with support from Poetry Ireland and the Arts Office of Kerry County Council.
‘Futures from the Past’ is available for sale at St Brendan’s College for €9.

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Community College TY students become qualified baristas

School Dayz Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas. They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make […]

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School Dayz

Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas.

They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make coffee, which could make them very employable in local cafes and restaurants this summer.
Their teachers, who are described as the school’s “resident coffee experts,” were impressed with the students’ hard work and enjoyed the lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos the students made throughout the day.
In addition to their barista training, the TY students also took a trip to Mallow. There, they learned about the rules of the road, practiced the driver theory test, and many got behind the wheel of a car for the first time. They also learned about the dangers of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

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