News
Racist stickers removed from Muckross Road
ANGRY: Gearoid Murphy, Deputy General Manager of the Riverside Hotel, was disgusted to see racist stickers stuck to lamp posts along Muckross Road this week. Photo: Michelle Crean
By Michelle Crean
A local hotel worker has branded xenophobic stickers - stuck to approximately 20 lamp posts along the Muckross Road - as “vile” and “disgusting” this week.
Gearoid Murphy, Deputy General Manager at the Riverside Hotel, who popped in to check emails on Tuesday morning, was alerted to the notebook sized stickers depicting an image of five non-nationals resembling Muslims, Asians and Romanians, with a sign pointing towards the Convention Centre brandishing the words ‘YOU’LL NEVER BE IRISH’, which left two foreign members of staff visibly upset.
“I wanted to do something, so I immediately rang the Gardai and another Manager rang the Council,” Gearoid told the Killarney Advertiser.
However, he says coming to work at 2.30pm for his shift, the stickers were still there from Flesk Bridge down to the turnoff at Woodlawn, and he got angry.
“I ripped a few of them off. The Council later removed the rest. I think we do need to make a massive deal out of this. I’ve never seen anything like this happen before. Someone printed these and they are professional.”
He added that he believes this is a once off and does not represent the people of Killarney.
“Killarney is the most welcoming and diverse town in the country. It has never happened before. I think it needs to be made a major issue so that it doesn’t become common place.”
Appeal for information
Killarney Gardai are also appealing to the public for information on the incident.
“We are appealing to anyone who may know something to let us know,” a Garda spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.
“Someone must know something. They were put up in a number of places and someone may have witnessed that or know where they were printed.”
Mayor of Kerry, Niall Kelleher, condemned the incident saying he is disgusted and enraged.
“Stickers placed on poles in public areas are racist and xenophobic, and in my opinion, they represent an incitement to hatred,” he said.
“They have no place and are not welcome in our town or in our communities. I call on all public representatives to denounce this action by cowardly, faceless individuals and I call on the Gardaí to do everything within their power to fully investigate this act and to bring the culprit(s) to justice.”
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce also voiced their disgust saying they condemn the act in the strongest possible terms.
“Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the mindless and completely unacceptable actions of whoever was responsible for placing racist, vulgar and pitiful slogans in a public area, under the cover of darkness, on Tuesday morning,” they said.
“Such dreadful behaviour has no place in the progressive and successful town of Killarney where there is a warm, genuine and universal welcome for everybody. We appreciate the enormous contribution made by people from overseas, over several decades, who come to live and work alongside us and become our neighbours, friends and colleagues and our children’s friends, classmates and teammates. The Chamber’s steadfast view is that there must be absolutely no tolerance for discrimination, prejudice, insult or antagonism directed at anybody because they are of a different race or ethnicity.”
ANAM Centre launches packed summer cultural programme for locals and visitors
Kerry County Council’s Arts Service, in association with the Killarney Arts Working Group, has officially launched the 2026 ANAM Summer Arts Programme (ASAP).
The dedicated arts and cultural space on East Avenue Road is set to host a vibrant mix of live music, theatre, film, and youth competitions designed to appeal to both local residents and tourists throughout the peak holiday season.
The summer lineup aims to provide artists with critical platforms to showcase their work while giving audiences accessible opportunities to experience live art. Councillor Martin O’Grady noted that the programme includes a multitude of performances, offering an important platform for all ages to enjoy the arts. Mary Murphy of the Killarney Arts Working Group added that utilizing the ANAM space successfully draws new audiences to the Killarney arts scene.
Featured events include “Bog Jazz,” an innovative project by musicians Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan and Shane Murphy that reworks traditional Sliabh Luachra fiddle music using electric guitar and drums. Additionally, Sliabh Luachra Musician in Residence Aidan Connolly will lead a two-night concert series in late July alongside Bryan O’Leary, Colm Guilfoyle, and Charlie O’Brien, exploring the unique history, songs, and folklore of the region.
The programme also features “The Anam Sessions,” a series of five free bi-weekly evening concerts directed by Tim O’Shea. These sessions will showcase emerging local talent across Irish folk, singer-songwriter, and Afro-Irish genres. For younger musicians, the popular “Battle of the Bands” competition returns in August. Organised in partnership with Music Generation Kerry, it will feature separate junior and senior categories to highlight local youth talent.
The summer performance series is fully sponsored by the Kerry Arts Service. For further queries, the public can contact arts@kerrycoco.ie or call 066 7183541.
ANAM Summer Arts Event Calendar
Traditional and Folk Music (The Anam Sessions with Tim O’Shea) Dates: ; Wednesday, July 15; Wednesday, July 29; Wednesday, August 12; Wednesday, August 26 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Sliabh Luachra Traditional Music Concert Series (Aidan Connolly and Guests) Dates: Wednesday, July 29; Thursday, July 30 Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Battle of the Bands (Senior Competition) Dates: Friday, August 7; Friday, August 14; Friday, August 21; Friday, August 28 Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Battle of the Bands (Junior Competition) Dates: Sunday, August 9; Sunday, August 16; Sunday, August 23; Sunday, August 30 Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Bog Jazz Performance (Eoin O’Sullivan & Shane Murphy) Date: Thursday, August 20 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Champion jockey Oisín Murphy set for home debut
Five-time British Champion Flat Jockey Oisín Murphy is scheduled to compete at his home track for the first time ever...
ANAM Centre launches packed summer cultural programme for locals and visitors
ANAM Centre launches packed summer cultural programme for locals and visitors Kerry County Council’s Arts Service, in association with the...
Champion jockey Oisín Murphy set for home debut
Five-time British Champion Flat Jockey Oisín Murphy is scheduled to compete at his home track for the first time ever...
KILLARNEY ADVERTISER OPINION: A manhunt needs a description
KILARNEY ADVERTISER OPINION: A manhunt needs a description Gardaí are searching for a man in connection with the murder investigation...
Champion jockey Oisín Murphy set for home debut in Killarney on Tuesday
Champion jockey Oisín Murphy set for home debut Five-time British Champion Flat Jockey Oisín Murphy is scheduled to compete at...
Fossa Swimmers make a splash at County Finals
The Fossa Swim team pictured at the Tralee Sports Complex following their successful outing at the County Finals of the...
On the Ball Part 2 of the Mikey Daly Interview
Éamonn Fitzgerald EF: Killarney Celtic are invited to participate in an Irish competition. That has big financial implications for travel,...
LUKE MANGAN recently caught up with Kerry FC’s manager, Colin Healy.
He spoke to him about his careers as a player and manager. Here’s how it went: When you began your...
Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic
Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1) Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell Saturday 7.30pm Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre...
Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan
After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork...
