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St Patrick’s Day parade winners announced

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3 years ago

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Best Window Display went to Christy Healy’s on New Street who celebrated 100 years in business on St Patrick’s Day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club has won the sought-after overall award in recognition of their colourful and action-packed entry to this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.

Martina McCarthy Kerry Stars Special Olympics Group Best Voluntary Group award with Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Also included are Kathleen Fitzgerald Vincent Lacke Clare Rohan Geraldine Burke Siobhan Looney and Jane Curran. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Donie Murphy and Martin Muldoon Killarney Athletic FC Killarney Athletic AFC winners of the John ‘Killer’ O'Callaghan Memorial Trophy for Best Sporting Entry with St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal ) PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) and Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Teresa Cronin Scarlett O'Sullivan Tracy Cronin Florence Sexton and Ciara Dorgan Art House Killarney Most Imaginative award with Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and Bridget O'Keeffe (Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Natalia Eismont Ukrainian Community Killarney Most Stylish Entry Award with Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Also included are Vikteriia Tuychenko Tryna Semeniutyna Olga Porokhina Bohdan Pchelnykov Maksym Lukashevych and Tryna Lychuk Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Spa GAA Club winners of Best Sports Club award with PJ McGee from Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) and Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Angie and Aileen O'Brien Christy Healy's New St. Best Window Display with Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) and Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Matthew Bowman The Europe Hotel accepting the Best Greened Building Award from Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Teresa Irwin presents the The Peter Irwin Memorial Perpetual Award for Best Marching Group/Cultural Arts to Gillian McCarthy Millstreet Pipe Band. Also included are Bridget O'Keeffe (Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive) Ciara Irwin Foley Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) Emir Irwin O'Shea Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) and St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and Mike Courtney present the Michael Courtney Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Interpretation of Theme to Claire Tangney Wander Wild Festival. Also included are Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) Laura Tangney Alice Thompson Carol Dempsey and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Anne O'Keeffe presents the Sean O'Keeffe Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Overall Entry to John Courtney Killarney Valley Classic & Vintage Club. Also included are Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Anne O'Keeffe presents the Sean O'Keeffe Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Overall Entry to John Courtney and Ger Healy Killarney Valley Classic & Vintage Club. Also included are PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) and Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney Br Pat Lynch OFM Franciscan Friary Guardian (Parade Judge) PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) St Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Paul Sherry Bridget O'Keeffe (Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive) and Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Shane O'Callaghan Kilcummin Comhaltas winners of the Best Children’s Group with Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Alice Thompson Claire Tangney Carol Dempsey and Laura Tangney Wander Wild Festival winners of the Michael Courtney Memorial Perpetual award for Best Interpretation of Theme at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Fiona Crowley and members of the Fiona Crowley Stage School winners of the Best School Award with Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Johnny McGuire Sandra Dunlea Con Duggan and Edyta Hernas Killarney Tidy Towns Most Entertaining Award with Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Killarney Scorchers Cheerleading and Gymnastics Club Best Activity Group award with Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

Trevor O'Donoghue and Charlene Hickey Liebherr Container Cranes Most Original Entry Award with Cathal Walshe (Grand Marshal) Cllr Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney and PJ McGee Daly's SuperValu (sponsor) at the St Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Photo: Eamonn Keogh

The Best Green Themed Building went to the Europe Hotel and Resort. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Delighted club representatives were presented with the Seán O’Keeffe Perpetual Trophy – in memory of the former Mayor of Killarney and parade stalwart – at a gala presentation of prizes in the International Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday night.

The award for the Best Interpretation of the Theme, which was Killarney: Experience More, went to the Wander Wild Festival who received the Michael Courtney Perpetual Trophy which is dedicated to the memory of another former mayor of the town who spearheaded the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations for many years.

The John ‘Killer’ O’Callaghan Perpetual Trophy for the Best Sporting Entry was won by Killarney Athletic AFC and the Peter Irwin Memorial Trophy for the Best Marching Group and Cultural/Arts Entry went to Millstreet Pipe Band.

The Best Sports Club was Spa GAA, the Best Children’s Group prize was won by Kilcummin Comhaltas and the Best New Entry was Killarney Rugby Football Club.

There was an international flavour to the Best Musical Entry which was scooped by the Glenridge High School Marching Band from New Jersey.

The prize for the Best Voluntary Group went to the Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club, the Best School Award went to the Fiona Crowley Stage School and the Best Activity Group was deemed to be Scorchers Cheerleading Club.

The Most Entertaining Entry went to the Killarney Tidy Towns group, the prize for the Most Original Entry was won by Liebherr Container Cranes and the Most Imaginative Entry in the parade was the Art House, Killarney.

The Most Stylish Entry prize was awarded to the Ukrainian community whose representative said they were delighted to play a part in Ireland’s national holiday and thanked the people of Killarney for the warm welcome they have received.

Other prizes presented on the night included the Best Window Display which went to Christy Healy’s on New Street who were celebrating 100 years in business on St Patrick’s Day, while the Europe Hotel and Resort won the Best Green-Themed Building prize.

The judges for the parade were Br Pat Lynch, Guardian, Franciscan Friary, Pam Brosnan, Killarney Musical Society and Denis McMahon.

The awards were presented by Killarney St Patrick’s Festival Chairman Paul Sherry, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Senior Executive Bridget O’Keeffe, and parade grand marshal Cathal P Walshe.

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New Sunday date for 30th anniversary Historic Rally

The Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally will move to a new Sunday date for its 30th anniversary running. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 29, […]

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20 hours ago

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22 July 2026

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The Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally will move to a new Sunday date for its 30th anniversary running.

The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 29, marking the opening round of the 2027 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Historic category.

Five-time World Rally Championship event winner Paul Nagle will spearhead the event as Clerk of the Course. The appointment carries personal significance, as Nagle is the son of the late Maurice Nagle, the original founder of the rally.

The first Killarney Historic Rally was organised by Maurice Nagle in December 1996, shortly after the international Rally of the Lakes moved to its permanent May Bank Holiday weekend slot. Having served on the organising committee for the old winter Rally of the Lakes, Maurice maintained that Killarney had the capacity to host a motorsport event during the winter period. Over the last three decades, it has grown into Ireland’s only dedicated event for historic rally machinery, where an overall victory is as coveted as a win at the international event in May. “Taking on the role of Clerk of the Course for the 30th anniversary is a massive honour, but more importantly, it is an opportunity to protect and build upon the legacy my father left behind,” said Paul Nagle. “He believed that Killarney’s classic stages were the perfect arena to showcase historic cars, and he fought hard to establish this. Reaching 30 years of Ireland’s only dedicated historic rally proves his vision was right. We are fully committed to making this anniversary edition a special event that honours his memory and celebrates the history of historic motorsport.”

Nagle has promised a return to the classic Killarney tarmac that defined the event’s early years, confirming that stages such as Ballaghbeama Pass and Caragh Lake will feature on the itinerary for the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally. Since retiring from professional co-driving in 2023,

Nagle has worked as an FIA Safety Delegate on several World Rally Championship events. Work is now underway to secure a strong field of historic rally cars, with some star names expected to join the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship regulars on the entry list. His experience in event management, combined with his international contacts, is currently being used to attract an expanded entry list. A promotional push is underway to secure a large field of historic rally cars, including several drivers from overseas. The event retains the title sponsorship of the Killarney Towers Hotel and Leisure Centre, located on College Street in the centre of Killarney town. The hotel’s town centre location is highly favoured by rally fans who return each year, having proved to be a popular base since the hotel first took on the role in 2023.

Managing Director of the O’Donoghue Ring Collection and Killarney Towers Hotel and Leisure Centre, Gemma Ring commented: “We are incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the Killarney Historic Rally as we enter our fourth year as title sponsor. This year’s event is especially significant as the rally celebrates its 30th anniversary, a remarkable milestone for one of Ireland’s most iconic motorsport events.
At the O’Donoghue Ring Collection, we have always been passionate about supporting events that showcase the very best of Killarney. The Historic Rally brings together competitors, enthusiasts and visitors from across Ireland and beyond, creating a fantastic atmosphere throughout the town while making a valuable contribution to our local businesses and community.
Congratulations to Killarney and District Motor Club and everyone involved in reaching this incredible 30-year milestone. We look forward to welcoming participants and spectators once again and wish everyone a safe, enjoyable and memorable weekend.”

Full route details and regulations for the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally will be released by the Killarney and District Motor Club in the coming months.

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Rathmore’s Tearmann Lodge raises €1,200 for Kerry Hospice

The staff and residents at Tearmann Lodge in Rathmore recently came together to raise €1,200 for the Kerry Hospice Foundation . The facility, which is run by the Kerry Parents […]

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22 hours ago

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22 July 2026

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The staff and residents at Tearmann Lodge in Rathmore recently came together to raise €1,200 for the Kerry Hospice Foundation

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The facility, which is run by the Kerry Parents & Friends Association, hosted a successful bingo evening and raffle in late March of this year. This follows a similar fundraising event held at the centre in 2024.
Residents at the lodge were encouraged to participate in the evening, which proved to be a highly positive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Tearmann Lodge Manager Gillian Kenny facilitated the fundraiser, while staff member Irene O’Donoghue acted as the main organiser, with assistance from colleague Karen McCarthy and other members of the team.
The residential facility provides accommodation for nine residents, alongside an extra bedroom used for respite care when needed.
“Kerry Hospice would be close to the hearts of many here, both residents and staff, whose loved ones have benefitted from the services provided by the charity. We are delighted to be in a position to give something back in return,” Irene O’Donoghue said.
Pat Doolan of the Killarney Branch of Kerry Hospice expressed his gratitude to everyone at the centre during the official cheque presentation.
“This was another lovely gesture by all concerned and I want to thank them for their generosity. I spent some pleasant time over a cuppa with residents and staff members in the comfortable surroundings at Tearmann Lodge on the day of the cheque presentation. Esther Kelleher, who is a resident at the centre, entertained us with a lovely song,” Pat Doolan said

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