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Second university site proposed for Killarney

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Second university site proposed for Killarney

By Sean Moriarty

A second proposal aimed at attracting a sub-campus of the newly formed Munster Technological University to Killarney has been put forward.
Last month it was announced that Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) would merge to create MTU.
It was revealed in last week’s Killarney Advertiser that Killarney Mayor Michael Gleeson was pushing for the old St Finan’s Hospital site to be considered as one of six campuses for the new university.
Since then a second proposal, this time involving the old Pretty Polly Factory site, has been out forward.

Former councillor Sean Counihan has suggested the site which is owned by Kerry County Council and has been lying unused for years.
It was previously owned by the former Killarney Town Council but when town councils were amalgamated in to the county councils ownership transferred to the main council.

According to Counihan the site, at the time it was in town council ownership, it was designated for use “by the people of Killarney” and that it was earmarked for education purposes and could have been used as a catering college.

He believes that the process of returning the Pretty Polly site to Killarney ownership would involve a lot less red-tape than the potential purchase of the St Finan’s site.

“I would argue that if the municipal system has any relevant authority in the Killarney area it would be in a position to offer,free gratis, this site for the benefit of the town and indeed for North Cork East /South Kerry and beyond,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

“This would remove the interactions between any other proposed sites such as St Finan’s where progress would be much slower and complicated when dealing with bodies like the HSE.”

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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