News
Ring of Kerry funds to help Ian with his rehab
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Organisers of the Ring of Kerry Cycle have confirmed that participants raised a whopping €1.2 million for charity at this year’s event. Official charities associated with the 35th year of the event were presented with their funds at a special reception at the INEC Killarney last Friday evening.
Among the 15 main beneficiaries of this year’s event was much-loved Killarney teenager Ian O’Connell who was seriously injured when he fell from his bike last August. Ian, who is a student in St Brendan’s College, won the hearts of the nation when he appeared on The Late Late Show and shared his inspirational motto, “If I can’t stand up, I’ll stand out.”
The funds raised will go towards assisting Ian with his rehabilitation and help with giving him the support he needs.
The cycle itself in July saw over 7,000 participants from Ireland and abroad arrive in Kerry to complete the 175km cycle challenge around the scenic Ring of Kerry.
The main beneficiaries were divided into three main groups which included Disability Support Services, Cancer and Family Support Services and Community Care. Along with the fifteen main beneficiaries that received donations, there were also twenty local communities that benefited from the event. Each of these local communities will receive a cheque of €2,000. The local communities were heavily involved in supporting, organising and volunteering for the Charity Cycle.
“We are very proud to once again have broken the €1 million mark for very worthy beneficiaries that will utilise the funds raised in various ways to improve and expand services for people across all walks of life,” said Cathal Walshe, ROK Cycle PRO.
“The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle has become an iconic event over the past 35 years and it has gone from strength to strength. This event would not be feasible if it wasn’t for the huge support from our organisers, charities and volunteers and of course the cyclists themselves who support us year after year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2019”.
15 Main Charity Beneficiaries
Disability Support Services
Buy a Bus Campaign - Kerry Parent & Friends Association
Down Syndrome Ireland
Enable Ireland
Irish Kidney Association
St Mary of the Angels (intellectual disability residential care)
Cancer & Family Support Services
Breakthrough Cancer Research
Brú Columbanus (Family accommodation for seriously ill)
Kerry Hospice Foundation
Community Care
Baile Mhuire
Caherciveen Social Services
Irish Community Rapid Response
KDYS – Kerry Diocesan Youth Service
Pieta House
St. Joseph’s Home, Killorglin
The Ian O Connell Trust
Additional local community beneficiaries
Abbeyfeale Search & Rescue
Ballinskelligs In Shore Rescue
Banna Inshore Rescue
Childhood Cancer Foundation
Fr Sean Myers Brazilian Fund
Friends of the Children of Chernobyl
Heartbeat Killarney
Holy Cross Day Care Centre
Holy Cross School – Autism Unit
Home from Home
Kenya Education Project
Kerry Cheshire Killarney
Kerry Mental Health, Kenmare
Kerry Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre
Kerry Respite Care
Killarney Water Rescue
Muckross Community Centre
Multiple Sclerosis South Kerry
Novas Support for the Homeless
Sean Cairde
Waterville Community First Responders
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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