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Shock and sadness at the passing of Pádraig Harnett  

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By Sean Moriarty

There was widespread shock and sadness across the town on Friday morning when the news broke that Pádraig Harnett had passed away suddenly the previous evening.

TRIBUTE: A Killarney Celtic flag draped over the coffin for the late Pádraig Harnett for his final journey through Killarney town on Sunday evening. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

GUARD OF HONOUR: Past and present officers players and members of Killarney Celtic provided a guard of honour for the late Pádraig Harnett for the funeral cortege through Killarney town on Sunday evening. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

GUARD OF HONOUR: Past and present officers players and members of Killarney Celtic providing a guard of honour for the late Pádraig Harnett for the funeral cortege through Killarney town on Sunday evening. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

SUPPORTER'S CLUB: Pádraig Harnett at the first ever Munster Nottingham Forest Supporter's Club meeting in 2016. The photo also features the late Weeshie Fogarty.

The popular club official and sports journalist died on Thursday evening after a short illness.

There was no aspect of Killarney sporting life that did not have Pádraig’s fingerprints on them.

While best known for his role in soccer throughout the county, he was also heavily involved in basketball, cycling and motorsport.

He held almost every role possible within the ranks of Killarney Celtic FC, including chairman.

Nationally, he represented Kerry at the Football Association of Ireland’s General Assembly and was one of the driving forces behind the foundation of Kerry Football Club which will play League of Ireland football next season – the first Kerry team do so.

Locally Pádraig was Press Officer for the Kerry Schoolboys and Girls League.

“We lost a friend, a companion, a mentor, and a big brother to us all,” said Aidan Murnane, Chairperson of the Kerry Schoolboys/Girls League.

Pádraig was also popular in basketball circles and Scotts Lakers (St Paul's) held a minute's silence ahead of its game on Saturday night.

He was also the Kerry Area Basketball Board PRO.

Without doubt, he was the county’s cycling expert and a familiar face at all the big events like the Rás Tailteann and Ras Mumhan when they passed through the county.

As a sports journalist he worked for Radio Kerry, the Tralee Advertiser and Kerry’s Eye, and was a frequent contributor to the Killarney Advertiser.

Outside of sport, he was a dedicated charity worker and only recently, through his contacts with Nottingham Forest Football Club in Britain, organised a charity fundraiser in Killorglin with former players of that club.

A native of Park Road in Killarney, he lived in Currans with his wife Maura.

His popularity was evident on Sunday evening after a large crowd turned out for his removal service in O'Shea's Funeral Home Killarney.

A Killarney Celtic flag was draped over his coffin as he made his final journey through the town he loved so well.

Past and present officers, players and members of Killarney Celtic provided a guard of honour on Sunday evening and again after his Requiem Mass yesterday morning (Monday) in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Currow. He was laid to rest in Ardcrone Cemetery.

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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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