News
Spa GAA’s first fundraiser in 10 years deemed a resounding success

Spa GAA held their Cairde Spa fundraising draw on Thursday (February 2) at the clubhouse surrounded by club members and the local community.

At the Cairde Spa draw on Thursday night were Michael Doireann Conor Jim Catherine Jack and Denise Gleeson with Sean O'Brien. Photo: Anne Holland

Eoin Ryan Dylan and Donagh Cronin with the Sam Maguire Cup at the Spa GAA Cairde Spa draw. Photo: Anne Holland

On Friday morning enjoying a presidential visit to the Spa GAA Club were Field Committee members Paddy O'Keeffe Billy Morris and Paddy B Lynch with Spa Chairman Michael Cronin Larry McCarthy (GAA President) Andy O'Sullivan and Provincial Council of Britain President Noel O'Sullivan. Photo: Anne Holland

At the Cairde Spa draw on Thursday night were Michael Doireann Conor Jim Catherine Jack and Denise Gleeson with Sean O'Brien. Photo: Anne Holland

Eoin Ryan Dylan and Donagh Cronin with the Sam Maguire Cup at the Spa GAA Cairde Spa draw. Photo: Anne Holland

On Friday morning enjoying a presidential visit to the Spa GAA Club were Field Committee members Paddy O'Keeffe Billy Morris and Paddy B Lynch with Spa Chairman Michael Cronin Larry McCarthy (GAA President) Andy O'Sullivan and Provincial Council of Britain President Noel O'Sullivan. Photo: Anne Holland
The fundraiser, the first major club draw to be held in Spa in over 10 years, had some amazing prizes up for grabs and gained huge support from all corners.
On the night, the club welcomed President of the GAA Larry McCarthy, Provincial Council of Britain President Noel O’Sullivan and Kerry GAA Chairman Patrick O’Sullivan.
Cairde Spa was first launched in September 2022 with the aim of raising funds for new and ongoing projects at the club. As with most clubs and organisations, the pandemic put a halt to many projects and delayed plans that were in the pipeline, but now the club have the chance to continue building and developing for the next generation, creating an environment that will be for the benefit of all ages.
“The response has been fantastic and with the incredible support of the community, both near and far, the draw has been a great success and the club can continue with the development plans that were outlined,” said club PRO Deirdre O’Sullivan Darcy.
“While the walking track has been a wonderful recent addition to the facilities, the projects on the agenda include layout of a new car park, lighting around the walking track, an outdoors skills wall for the players, dressing rooms for the juvenile and ladies teams, new safety features, dugouts, a new scoreboard, perimeter fencing around the pitches, a remembrance garden and more.”
There were 10 winners in the draw:
1st Prize : €15,000 - Pa, Evelyn and Noah Murphy
2nd Prize: €3,000 - Laurna Mulcahy
3rd Prize: €2,000 - Sean and Marian Moynihan
4th Prize: €1,000 - Dave Herlihy
5th Prize: 2 Nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at the Killarney Park Hotel - Tim O’Connor
6th Prize: €500 Voucher for Killarney Carpet and Furniture Centre - Denis Kelly
7th Prize: €300 Voucher for O’Sullivan’s Cycles - Adrian Slane
8th Prize: €250 Voucher for Killarney Oils - Ger and James Lyne
9th Prize: €150 Voucher for Killarney Hardware - Paul Russell
10th Prize: Signed Kerry Jersey from Kerry GAA Store - Noel O’Sullivan
“A huge thank you to everyone who has rowed in and supported the draw and helped the club in every way during this event. To the club fundraising committee, Chairman Michael Cronin, our sponsors and to all those who distributed, advertised, sold and purchased tickets over the past few months, to MC Ger Galvin who did a brilliant job as always, to Anne Holland for her wonderful photos and to all our hard-working and dedicated volunteers who keep the show going, míle buíochas to all,” added Deirdre.
The GAA President Larry McCarthy and Provincial Council of Britain President Noel O'Sullivan also made a visit to the clubhouse on Friday morning to see the facilities and also met with some members of the Spa field committee.
News
Killarney twinned with Italian town
By Sean Moriarty It has taken 10 years but the Italian town of Casperia is now an official twin town with Killarney. The idea to twin the picturesque town near […]

By Sean Moriarty
It has taken 10 years but the Italian town of Casperia is now an official twin town with Killarney.
The idea to twin the picturesque town near Rome was first mooted by the old Killarney Town Council.
However, when town councils were discontinued in 2014 the task was handed over to Killarney Town Twining Association and was supported by the elected Killarney Municipal District members of Kerry County Council.
A delegation from the association and the council visited Casperia in 2019 to sign the Italian side of the twining agreement.
The pandemic further delayed the process but on Thursday last Killarney Mayor Niall Kelleher and Casperia Mayor Marco Cusso met to formally sign the charter in Killarney.
“This was honouring a commitment made by the former town council to establish a twinning under European guidelines back in 2014,” said association chairman Sean Counihan.
“Unfortunately the town councils were abolished and Killarney Town Twinning Association pursued the matter.
“We are delighted that the municipal authority saw fit to move the beautiful town of Casperia near Rome from association status to full twinning with Killarney.
“We deeply appreciate the members’ positivity in honouring the former Town Council’s decision.”
The signing between the two mayors took place over the St Patrick’s Festival weekend when Killarney Town Twining Association also welcomed groups from other towns like Pleindfeld in Germany and Concord, North Carolina, USA.
News
Music and fun at Fossa Rambling House
By Sean Moriarty The Fossa Two Mile branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann held its first Rambling House night of music and dance on Saturday night. Their return to the stage […]

By Sean Moriarty
The Fossa Two Mile branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann held its first Rambling House night of music and dance on Saturday night.
Their return to the stage was timed to coincide with the St Patrick’s weekend celebration and also marked the first big event at the Castlerosse Park Resort since it re-opened on Thursday night following its winter break.
As well as a feat of Irish music, dance and poetry, Fossa-based Ukrainians gave performances in their native language too.
“What a great night we had at our CCÉ Rambling House last Saturday night,” Chairman Tim Kissane said.
“There are so many people to thank that we apologise in advance if we miss anybody out. Firstly, to the management and staff Castlerosse Park Resort for hosting our event and the wonderful service they provided.
“To our very talented stalwart musicians Mike Jack, Noreen and Maura who entertained us all so well from start to finish.
“To all our guest performers, from The Racing Pigeons to the Biddy Group and all the singers, musicians and storytellers in between go raibh mile maith agaibh. Special mention to our Ukrainian singers who performed two songs in their native language for us on the night. Thank you to all our members and supporters and to Fear an Tí, Mick Myers agus Bean an Tí, Theresa Kissane who kept the night flowing. Our fireplace display was kindly lent to us by the Beaufort Pioneers and adorned with ‘things of old’ from Brendan O’Sullivan.”
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