News
Spraoi Chiarraí are back
Summer is still here. Spraoi Chiarraí are back after a big struggle to secure funding they are happy to say all is a go. This Killarney based, Irish Traditional Music, Song & Dance, Storytelling, performance collective, is presenting the finest young local talent. They had great success over the last thirteen summers. They are very happy to report all sponsors are again onboard this year making this years series of Free Concerts possible, The first of seven FREE Concerts is this Saturday, August 18th at Killarney House & Gardens Outdoor at 2pm. Keenan Daly (Accordion) Killarney will entertain for two hours. He will be joined by Spraoi Chiarraí Producer/Director Tim O’Shea (Guitar/Vocals/Bodhrán). Mary Philpot Currow, young Set Dancers will also be there. Jim Maher our storyteller, will tell a few yarns as well. Open to all, this family entertainment is sponsored this year by Kerry Co. Council Arts Office (Arts Act and Commnity Support Funds), Killarney Chamber of Commerce who made it possibe and offer increased support and promtion, Kerry Gems Publishing (Advert Sponsor). These FREE Concerts will take place at two venues in the town. There are 5 evenings (“In Concert”), at St. Mary’s Church of Ireland opposite the (Town Hall), 2 Open Air concerts (“’round the House”) for the second time at Killarney House (opposite the Cinema), in the National Park. The concerts feature Fiddle, Irish Harp, Accordion, Flute & Whistle, Irish Uilleann Pipes, Guitar, Harmonica, Bodhrán and Vocals as well as (Irish Dancing and Irish Storytelling - outdoor only). All indoor concerts are at 8pm and outdoor performances are at 2pm. This year the group have also been asked to perform again at Puck Fair in August. All shows are FREE so come along, families welcome. Bí gí linn.
The aims of Spraoi ChiarraÍ are:
- To showcase our local young Irish Traditional talent.
- To mentor & provide a platform for young performers to experience a real concert
high profile setting
- To hone their performance skills & work in a team with a sense of ownership of the performance.
- To celebrate local traditional performance culture of the South West of Irleand.
- To offer a free, quality, family, cultural experience for locals & visitors to Killarney, over the summer months.
- To open new quality venues in Kerry for Irish Traditional Performance.
Our “In Concert “programme features solo or duet of 20 minutess of insturmental or song, followed by a 3 piece traditional band. Our “’round the House” programme is usually outdoor and features a 3 piece band 8 young set dancers and a live storyteller (Seanchai). Be sure to catch our finest traditional performers for free.
Hope to see you there. Contact Tim @ 087-2814550 for further information for free. Bígí linn.
SPRAOI CHIARRAI 2018 (All Saturdays) 14th Season
Killarney House (Outdoor)
Aug 18 2pm “’round the House”
St. Mary’s Church of Ireland (Indoor)
Aug 25 8pm “In Concert”
News
Kerry’s youth celebrated at the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards
This year’s overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement is Ryan Griffin from Waterville who was nominated by Mairead O’Sullivan from Killorglin Family Resource Centre. Ryan Griffin […]

This year’s overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement is Ryan Griffin from Waterville who was nominated by Mairead O’Sullivan from Killorglin Family Resource Centre.
Ryan Griffin is a member of the Skellig Stars and was chosen to represent Kerry at the Special Olympics.
Ryan’s biggest hurdle is communication and he had to overcome this during his trip to Berlin for the big event.
Ryan has overcome his disabilities by focusing on all the great abilities he has. Ryan attends mainstream school in Coláiste na Sceilge where he is a very respected member of the School Community. He is a member of Kerry Stars and also Downs Syndrome Kerry.
Ryan has always had a keen interest in sport and even played with the local team in Waterville, but now Ryan thinks it’s too fast for him so he prefers to cheer them on from the side-lines.
Ryan has always been involved with the Community and they have never left him out. Ryan started out his athletics career with Skellig Stars and without them he would have gone to the Special Olympics and he has never forgotten when he came from.
Ryan and his family are very grateful to the local community in Waterville and the surrounding area for all the support they have given them over the years and especially now with the Special Olympics coming closer.
The whole community from Waterville to Mid-Kerry got behind Ryan, raising funds to help his family go to Berlin for 2 weeks. Ryan is now an inspiration to others to overcome difficulties and “go for gold”.
Ryan was the only representative from Kerry on this years Irish Special Olympics Team and in fact one of the Youngest Athletes on Team Ireland at only 16yrs of age, which was a great honour for him.
This in itself is a great achievement but it also shows his friends at Skellig Stars, Downs Syndrome Kerry and in the wider community that dreams do come true.
It took a lot of hard work and determination on Ryan’s behalf to make these dreams come true, not least the long journey he had to make from South Kerry to Dublin once a month since last January to train for the Special Olympics. He also trained weekly with the Skellig Stars.
At the 2023 Special Olympics in Berlin Ryan took part in the 100m run and the relay but his biggest achievement was winning the Silver Medal in the mini javelin. This showed others that overcoming difficulties can be possible and you can achieve your goals with hard work and determination, which Ryan has in abundance.
Local Merit Awards
Aliza Gul, Killarney
Joey McCarthy, Killarney
John O’Connor, Killarney
Nattagun Ryan, Killarney
Samuel Behal, Killarney
St Brendan’s Choir, Killarney
News
Controversial finish to Cougar’s opening match of season
Basketball Ireland is to review the result Killarney Cougars opening match of the new Basketball season. The opening game of the season was long and eventful The game was abandoned […]

Basketball Ireland is to review the result Killarney Cougars opening match of the new Basketball season.
The opening game of the season was long and eventful
The game was abandoned with 1.48 seconds remaining in the second quarter with the court unplayable due to condensation, however Portlaoise Panthers plea to change venue was allowed by the officials.
The game continued an hour later in Portlaoise College despite the Killarney protest with the long delay to proceedings and the game already abandoned in the St Mary’s venue.
Panthers held the advantage through the second quarter whan the game was abandoned following a series of bad slips and falls on the wet floor with just under two minutes remaining,
Darius Hopkins heavy slip and fall that finally saw the game stopped.
The remainder of the game in in the new venue was completed without any competitive edge.
Cougars finished with a series of injuries to Bill Wiseman, Alex Fleming and Oleh Drahanchuk with the game conditions and long delays a contributing factor but the homeside won the contest.
A final decision on the outcome of the game is expected by Basketball Ireland following a review of events.