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Shock at the passing of popular local businessman

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By Sean Moriarty

There was widespread sadness across the county on Tuesday when the news became known that popular businessman Seamus O’Connor had passed away following complications from COVID-19.

Last year Seamus opened Kitty O’Se’s on College St with his partner Eileen, a sister operation to a bar in Kinsale by the same name.

Originally from Kilcummin he had ties to Farmer’s Bridge in Tralee, as well as Boolteens, Castlemaine where his extended family run the Anvil Bar.

“We are all in shock,” his brother Neily told the Killarney Advertiser.

“We thought we were over the worst of it – he was moved from intensive care to the recovery stage when he got a heart attack.”

A larger than life character, Seamus was quick with a joke and loved a good sing-song.

“There was nothing Seamus loved more than seeing everyone happy,” Neily added.

“He often went out on a Friday and did not return until Monday, he loved singing and the craic.”

He was also a popular figure in motorsport circles in the county, a former rally co-driver in the 1980s and a champion Hot Rod racers in the early 1990s.

He was a driving force behind the South Coast Hot Rod Club’s All-Ireland Championship events that ran in the county in the late 1980s. He also acted as the club's secretary at this time.

He turned his attention to business in the '90s, was an on-the-road agent for Lee Strand Creamery in Tralee before he took over the Castle Bar in Castlemaine and later the Anvil Bar which is still run by son Stephen and Stephen’s mother Elizabeth.

“He had a great enterprising brain and was unreal at spotting an opportunity and making it work."

Seamus is survived by his partner Eileen, his children Louise, Stephen, Cora and Owen, their mother Elizabeth, and his grandchildren Rhea, Alysha, Lucia and Esme, his mother Brenda, brothers Paddy, Thady, Michael, Peter, Neily and Thomas, sisters Siobhán, Helen and Brenda and wide extended family and a large circle of friends.

He was predeceased by his father Jimmy and brother Joe.

A private memorial Mass took place for Seamus on Wednesday, but a public celebration of his life will take place at a later date once the current crisis is over.

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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