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
Killarney hotels achieve top global rankings in Readers’ Choice Awards
Two leading Killarney hotels are celebrating major international accolades following the publication of the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
The Killarney Royal Townhouse was named the No. 2 Hotel in Ireland in the US edition of the global awards, securing top placement among the country’s finest properties based entirely on votes cast by international travellers.
Pat McGrath, General Manager of Killarney Royal Townhouse, expressed his pride in the achievement:
“We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as the No. 2 Hotel in Ireland in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. To receive this recognition directly from travellers makes it particularly special, and we are immensely proud of our team, whose genuine care, warm welcome and attention to detail shape the guest experience every day.”
Meanwhile, sister property The Killarney Park achieved a double success in this year’s voting, earning inclusion across both Atlantic editions of the prestigious travel guide. The family-owned venue was ranked No. 8 in the US Readers’ Choice Awards and No. 5 in the UK Readers’ Choice Awards.
The annual awards represent one of the travel industry’s longest-running honors, with almost 800,000 readers submitting votes to rate their favorite global travel experiences.
Marcus Treacy, Managing Director of The Killarney Park, welcomed the dual honors:
“Recognition such as this means a great deal to us because it comes directly from the people who have spent their time with us. As a family-owned hotel, knowing that what we have created here in Killarney continues to resonate with guests travelling from around the world is something we are enormously proud of.”
The strong showing by both local venues underlines Killarney’s standing as a world-class hospitality hub for international visitors.
Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s
World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.
The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.
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