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Rathmore to make history as Rás Tailteann 2026 route revealed

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The 71st edition of the Rás Tailteann will break new ground this year as the East Kerry village of Rathmore is set to host a stage start for the first time in the race's storied history.

Organisers have officially unveiled the 785km route for 2026, with Stage 2 on Thursday, May 21, putting the home of Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club at the centre of the Irish cycling world.
The stage is being hailed as one of the most demanding days of the five-stage event.
After a ceremonial roll-out in Rathmore, the peloton will face a brutal 182.9km journey featuring six categorised climbs. The action begins with a Category 3 ascent before Kilgarvan, followed by a fast run into Kenmare. From there, the riders will tackle the iconic Tunnel Road and the Caha Pass, descending into Glengarriff before a long, testing climb toward Gougane Gap.
The stage will eventually wind through West Cork, passing through Béal na Bláth and Coachford, before finishing in the Rás stronghold of Banteer.
The choice of Banteer as a finish is a nod to its incredible cycling legacy; the village has famously produced riders who have occupied the top four positions in the Rás over the years, including 2023 overall winner Dillon Corkery and current pro Eddie Dunbar.
Running from May 20 to 24, the Rás will start in Portlaoise and conclude in Dunboyne.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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