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Rob Duggan A Sensation In Donegal

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The Joule sponsored Donegal International Rally took place last weekend in Letterkenny. The three day event received a maximum capacity entry in all categories of over 150 cars, there was a total of twenty special stages based around the foothills of Donegal, which included the famous classic stages such as Knockalla, Atlantic Drive and Fanad Head. Killarney & District Motor Club competitors were there in force and didn’t disappoint.

Rob Duggan was an absolute sensation, finishing 3rd R5 car & 4th Overall, Rob has gained the respect of the whole Rallying community on this island. Having proven his pace and ability in the past driving both front & rear wheel drive, the step up to a four wheel drive R5 monster was sure going to be interesting.  Duggan and navigator Ger Conway took on the best of the best over the 3 day event and didn’t disappoint, following a brief test on Thursday in this unknown Ford Fiesta R5 machine, there was complete astonishment at the end of the first stage Friday when Duggan merged as the Fastest R5 car overall. As the weekend progressed Rob set a number of Fastest R5 times, along with 2 Fastest overall stages times” absolutely incredible”. The ever changing weather conditions were the biggest challenge for the crew as the lack of knowledge of the car and set up changes to be made in order to achieve the maximum handling of the car were unknown. The crew fought hard and were as high as 3rd overall and 2nd R5 car at one stage. They were stuck in the middle of a monumental R5 battle between brothers Sam & Josh Moffett from county Monaghan with mere seconds in it all way to the finish.
This for sure was one of Rob’s best results to date, huge credit must go to Ger on the notes also, there is no doubt that they had the”Drive of the Rally”.

In the National section it was Killarney & District Motor Club that were out the front also, Noel O’Sullivan from Muckross was co-driving for top Donegal driver Kevin Gallagher in his unusual Darrian T90. The crew were involved in a huge battle all weekend for the lead of the National section. They finished runners up to Kildare’s Ian Barrett in a similar Darrian. KDMC’s Barry Meade was as expected front runner in the national section but a puncture dropped him well down the order on Friday, The crew then set out on a huge recovery drive and setting some blistering times along the way to climb back up to 9th Overall. In the extremely competitive Junior section KDMC’s Derry Long and Declan Casey had a brilliant drive. They competed in a Honda Civic and finished a very strong 6th overall and 3rd in class, this result now puts Derry into second place in the Junior Section of the Irish Tarmac Championship. This was the crews first visit to Donegal, achieving such a fantastic result and securing valuable championship points makes this result all that more credible.

Congratulations & Well Done to all

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Free composting workshop in Fossa on Saturday

The Fossa Climate Action Group is inviting the public to a free composting workshop this Saturday at Fossa Community Hall. Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the workshop will be […]

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The Fossa Climate Action Group is inviting the public to a free composting workshop this Saturday at Fossa Community Hall.

Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the workshop will be led by Donal O’ Leary of Waste Down, who will share his 25 years of expertise on turning household and garden waste into valuable compost for gardens. The session is aimed at anyone with an interest in gardening, improving soil health, and reducing food waste.
Diarmaid Griffin, PRO of Fossa Climate Action Group, said: “It is a great to start off our series of workshops with Donal O’ Leary of Waste Down. He has a vast knowledge on the fundamentals of soil health and explains it in simple and understandable language. Everyone can compost whether you have a big garden or none at all. Each method will be explained in detail.”
The Fossa Climate Action Group thanked the Department of the Environment and Community Foundation Ireland for their support in making this informative workshop available to the community free of charge.

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Radio Kerry to feature National Park’s dawn chorus

The spectacular dawn chorus in Killarney National Park will be the focus of the Saturday Supplement on Radio Kerry this Saturday morning. Presenter Frank Lewis will highlight the natural spectacle. […]

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The spectacular dawn chorus in Killarney National Park will be the focus of the Saturday Supplement on Radio Kerry this Saturday morning.

Presenter Frank Lewis will highlight the natural spectacle.
“The chorus of birds singing together, from about 45 minutes before to 45 minutes after sunrise, our most spectacular phenomenon in nature, is at its best during these weeks.” He said.
The programme, recorded in Knockreer at dawn on April 13, will also capture the early morning floral displays.
The programme will also include insights from 88-year-old former Park Superintendent Dan Kelliher, who describes “the amazing experience of seeing a full moon sitting on top of Torc mountain – and hearing bagpipes being played in Muckross Abbey around midnight.”
Conservation ranger Padruig O’Sullivan will discuss the Park’s ongoing development.
Walks guide Richie Clancy will share a historical anecdote: “In 1969 this tall stranger asked if I could take him to where he could get a photograph of Dairy Cottage where General de Gaulle was staying. I told him we would be a long way away but he said that was no problem that he had a long lens. Over the years there had been 33 attempts to assassinate de Gaulle. I learned afterwards that the stranger was Padraig Kennelly who started Kerry’s Eye.”
The programme will also touch on the blossoming wild garlic woods, the view from Deenagh Lodge, improvements at Knockreer Gardens, the story of Coda the monk, the bluebells, King’s Bridge, the changing path at Gamewood Bridge, and stories from Teahouse Point.
Tune in to Radio Kerry this Saturday to hear Frank Lewis in conversation with Dan Kelliher, Padruig O’Sullivan, Richie Clancy, and Ed Carty, who began their recording walk at 5.30 am in Knockreer.

Field ornithologist Ed Carty has revealed that the Great Spotted Woodpecker is breeding in Killarney National Park.

Carty will be a guest on Radio Kerry’s Saturday Supplement. The programme, recorded on April 13, (see main story) will focus the dawn chorus,
During the recording of the programme, Carty said: “During the past few weeks the Great Spotted Woodpecker has been heard here in the Gamewood in Knockreer. We expect to find it breeding here in the coming weeks – for the first time in hundreds of years or maybe much longer.”
Since the recording, it has been confirmed that the Great Spotted Woodpecker is now breeding in this area of Killarney National Park.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers appear to have gone extinct in Ireland following deforestation in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The first recorded sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker for Killarney National Park was in 2013, where it was observed in the Tomies Wood area. This new development is significant as it is one of the first recorded breeding activity within the Park.

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