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Sonia named overall Employee of the Year 

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By Michelle Crean

There was great excitement on Monday as to who the main winner would be at the annual Irish Hotels Federation, Kerry Branch, Employee of the Year awards lunch.

Staff at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel Siobhan O'Shea Lez Les Brzozka Robin Bast and Jacinta Prendergast give a 'thumbs up' to their colleague Kevin O'Shea after he was awarded 'in absentia' a special citation and honour after being chosen as a finalist at the IHF Employee of the Year awards special function in Killarney on Monday. Also in the photo are Emer Corridan (vice-chair Kerry IHF) Conor Hennigan (Hennigan Hospitality) and Mary Rose Stafford (MTU judge). Photo: Don MacMonagle

Sonia Smith (third from left front row) who works as a receptionist in The Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney was chosen as the Kerry Hotels ‘Employee of The Year’ at an Irish Hotels Federation special function in Killarney on Monday pictured receiving her award from Emer Corridan (Secretary Kerry Branch IHF). Also included are front from left: Mary Rose Stafford (MTU judge) Chloe Kelliher (Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Spa) Anne Marie Collins (International Hotel) Agnieszka Manda (Killarney Plaza Hotel) Deirdre Moran (Butler Arms Hotel) and Conor Hennigan (Hennigan Hospitality). Second row: Sophie Farrell (Dromhall Hotel) Aaron McCann (The Gleneagle Hotel) and Heather Fletcher (Manor West Hotel). At back: Ramona Scur (The Rose Hotel) Chris O'Sullivan (Muckross Park Hotel) Pal Palfi (Great Southern Killarney) Trish Murphy (Killarney Park Hotel) Lin Zhong (The Brehon Hotel) Siobhan O'Shea (representing Kevin O’Shea from The Aghadoe Heights Hotel) and Danijel Zupan (Parknasilla Resort Hotel). Photo: Don MacMonagle

Sonia Smith who works as a receptionist in The Cahernane House Hotel was chosen as the Kerry Hotels Employee of The Year at an Irish Hotels Federation special function in Killarney on Monday pictured receiving her award from Emer Corridan (Secretary Kerry Branch IHF). Pictured left: Anne Marie Collins (International Hotel) who received a special citation for her work in the hotel industry. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Sonia Smith who works as a receptionist in The Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney was chosen as the Kerry Hotels ‘Employee of The Year’ at an Irish Hotels Federation special function in Killarney on Monday. She is pictured receiving her award from Emer Corridan (Secretary Kerry Branch IHF) with Michael Magnier (IHF). Photo: Don MacMonagle

Over 60 guests, with nominees from 16 different hotels, attended the event in The Brehon Hotel. It was hosted by Conor Hennigan and attended by Mary Rose Stafford from MTU Tralee and Michael Magner - Vice President of Irish Hotels Federation.

Emer Corridan, Secretary of the Kerry Branch, described the nominees as the "best of best that Kerry has to offer".

"Each candidate was nominated by their hotel for their outstanding commitment and contribution to the overall success of the hotel and independently interviewed by two judges, Mary Rose Stafford from MTU Tralee and Michael Vaughan from Vaughan Lodge in Clare. They had an exceptionally difficult task and were blown away by the positive attitude, the levels of guest care, the team spirit and the length of service to the hospitality industry, which ranged from two to 40 years."

After a long deliberation the winner was announced as Sonia Smith from Cahernane House Hotel as the overall Employee of the Year 2022.

"Sonia started in 2018 in the accommodation department after completing her Leaving Certificate. She quickly showed her aptitude and ability and moved to reception in 2019 and was promoted to reception supervisor in 2022. She is an amazing leader and team player and loves going above and beyond to create amazing memories for the Cahernane guests."

There were two further awards for 'Service to the Irish Hotel Industry on Behalf of the Irish Hotels Federation', these were awarded to Kevin O'Shea from the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Anne Marie Collins from The International Hotel.

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Massive Park Road housing development given green light

A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road. The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near […]

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A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road.

The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near An Post’s sorting office, will include a variety of properties from five-bed houses to single apartments, along with a crèche and over 500 car spaces and over 300 bike spaces.

The development has been welcomed by local councillor Martin Grady.

“Killarney has a massive housing shortage so this is very positive. It will retain young families in the area, stimulating economic growth,” he said. “After 17 years of different planning applications it’s finally coming to fruition.”

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Ballydribeen residents living in fear due to anti-social behaviour

Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate. Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits […]

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Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate.

Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits in the last week.

Local councillor Martin Grady told the Killarney Advertiser that residents are “living in fear” as a result of very serious incidents in the last week alone.

One house in the estate was badly damaged when fire crackers were placed inside a letter box.

Another house had its windows smashed in over the weekend.

“It’s a major problem,” added Grady after meeting residents there earlier this week.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on Tuesday night.

A passing motorists had rocks thrown at his car while driving along the bypass whch is adjacent to the estate.
Taking to social media, local primary-school teacher Pádraig O’Sullivan posted:

“Travelling home tonight, at 11.05pm on the Killarney side of the bypass our car was hit by a rock – not a pebble – from the Ballydribben side , which hit the passenger door.

“It was centimetres away from hitting the window where my father, who is visually impaired, was sitting.

“This could have caused catastrophic permanent injury to him.

“The Killarney Garda were on the scene within three minutes.

“They can’t be patrolling the bypass all night.

“It comes down to parenting. You should know where your children are at this hour and be able to teach them what’s funny and what ruin a person’s life or cause a fatal crash.“

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