News
Sadness at passing of legendary publican

By Sean Moriarty
The family of the late Seamus O’Shea of Jack C’s Bar on High Street have thanked the people of Killarney for the support they have received following his sad passing on Sunday night.
The legendary and popular publican passed away on Sunday just four days after his 86th birthday.
The pub was opened by his family in 1901 and is still run by his wife Joan and son John C.
“We have been hearing great stories and recollections every day,” John C said. “We are just taking them all in. Thanks to the people of Killarney, Dr Crokes GAA Club and local publicans who provided a guard of honour and the staff of Killarney Nursing Home.”
While best known for his love of the GAA, his interests were widespread. A champion snooker player, he twice won the Bishop Moynihan Cup (the county championship for snooker) in the 1960s.
He was also a regular contender in the legendary Pub Quiz leagues of the 1980s and up to very recently the only two programmes that he would allow to be shown on his pub’s television were championship snooker matches and ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’.
Old school to the core, his early education days as a student at St Brendan’s College saw him learn Greek, Latin and Maths through Irish.
In his early working days he lived and worked in Coventry and became a life-long fan of the city’s soccer team. One of his proudest moments was being present in Wembley Stadium in London in 1987 when ‘The Blues’ won the FA Cup Final.
John Sillett, who guided the club to FA Cup victory in 1987, died on Wednesday of this week – two of the world’s greatest Coventry FC supporters reunited.
Seamus was a proud Dr Crokes man and his eulogy was read at St Mary’s Cathedral by Fr Jim Lenihan – a proud Legion man.
“He would have knocked a kick out of that,” John added.
Born above the High St pub in 1935, apart from his years in Coventry, Seamus never lived anywhere else.
“When we were making arrangements with Mackey’s [O’Shea’s Funeral Directors], they asked that question and there was no answer – he was born over the pub and he lived nowhere else.”
Seamus passed away peacefully in the company of his loving family on Sunday night.
He is survived and sadly missed by his beloved wife Joan (King), son John C and and daughter Brigitte, son-in-law Richard Whelan, grandchildren James and Ellie Kate, his sisters Marion (O'Riordan, Millstreet) and Eileen, sister-in-law Noreen (Kearney), nephews, nieces, grand-nephews grand-nieces, relatives, neighbours, his many great friends and his customers at Jack C's Bar.
News
Start clocking up those ‘Kingdom Kilometres’
With an increase in daylight hours there’s no better time to clock up the ‘Kingdom Kilometres’ on foot or by cycling along the county’s two new Greenways. The recently opened […]

With an increase in daylight hours there’s no better time to clock up the ‘Kingdom Kilometres’ on foot or by cycling along the county’s two new Greenways.
The recently opened Kingdom of Kerry Greenways between Tralee and Fenit and between Listowel and Abbeyfeale are already proving hugely popular with locals and visitors to Kerry.
Representatives of the tourism Industry, local public representatives, travel writers and influencers gathered in Kerry on Monday to experience the exciting new tourist attractions and welcome the arrival of the longer daylight hours as the clocks changed over to summertime.
Sarah Hanrahan, a social media influencer who posts about Irish travel and has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, described the experience.
“Ireland has some of the most amazing outdoor spaces. For a lot of my followers and other people, connecting with green spaces has become much more important to their overall sense of well-being as well as their health and fitness. It’s been really gorgeous to experience the Tralee to Fenit, and Listowel to Limerick Kingdom of Kerry Greenways; a fantastic trip sampling the warm hospitality of Kerry and a great reminder of the active holiday options that are right on our doorstep.”
The new purpose-built trails provide an accessible and inclusive experience for visitors of all abilities.
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy and the Mayor of Listowel, Cllr Aoife Thornton, said that the greenways offer an exceptional recreational amenity for everyone to enjoy.
“The greenways are situated in some of Kerry’s most scenic landscapes and offer spectacular and safe off-road facilities for people of all ages to enjoy as the landscape comes into bloom. They also offer warm hospitality at the trail head towns of each route.”
Visit www.kerrygreenways.ie to find out more.
News
St Patrick’s Day parade winners announced
Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney. Delighted […]

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.
Delighted club representatives were presented with the Seán O’Keeffe Perpetual Trophy – in memory of the former Mayor of Killarney and parade stalwart – at a gala presentation of prizes in the International Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday night.
The award for the Best Interpretation of the Theme, which was Killarney: Experience More, went to the Wander Wild Festival who received the Michael Courtney Perpetual Trophy which is dedicated to the memory of another former mayor of the town who spearheaded the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations for many years.
The John ‘Killer’ O’Callaghan Perpetual Trophy for the Best Sporting Entry was won by Killarney Athletic AFC and the Peter Irwin Memorial Trophy for the Best Marching Group and Cultural/Arts Entry went to Millstreet Pipe Band.
The Best Sports Club was Spa GAA, the Best Children’s Group prize was won by Kilcummin Comhaltas and the Best New Entry was Killarney Rugby Football Club.
There was an international flavour to the Best Musical Entry which was scooped by the Glenridge High School Marching Band from New Jersey.
The prize for the Best Voluntary Group went to the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, the Best School Award went to the Fiona Crowley Stage School and the Best Activity Group was deemed to be Scorchers Cheerleading Club.
The Most Entertaining Entry went to the Killarney Tidy Towns group, the prize for the Most Original Entry was won by Liebherr Container Cranes and the Most Imaginative Entry in the parade was the Art House, Killarney.
The Most Stylish Entry prize was awarded to the Ukrainian community whose representative said they were delighted to play a part in Ireland’s national holiday and thanked the people of Killarney for the warm welcome they have received.
Other prizes presented on the night included the Best Window Display which went to Christy Healy’s on New Street who were celebrating 100 years in business on St Patrick’s Day, while the Europe Hotel and Resort won the Best Green-Themed Building prize.
The judges for the parade were Br Pat Lynch, Guardian, Franciscan Friary, Pam Brosnan, Killarney Musical Society and Denis McMahon.
The awards were presented by Killarney St Patrick’s Festival Chairman Paul Sherry, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive Bridget O’Keeffe, and parade grand marshal Cathal P Walshe.
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