News
Students race to the finish line as they await competition results
TEAM VROOM: Grace Daly, Kayla Byrne, Ella Galvin and Ilona Sheehan
Kerry students, participating in the F1 in Schools competition will learn their fate tonight (Sunday) during TG4’s live broadcast of the event finals.
The competition, which is in its 15th year in Ireland, challenges secondary school students to design, build and race their very own miniature Formula One cars.
Two teams from St Brigid’s Presentation in Killarney have entered the competition that encourages the practical application of STEM subjects.
Team Vroom is made up of Ella Galvin, Kayla Byrne, Ilona Sheehan and Grace Daly.
"We're all looking forward in anticipation," Team Vroom Racing’s Ilona Sheehan said. "It's been a rollercoaster of a journey so far and we've loved every moment of it. It would be the cherry on top of an already amazing cake if we were to win or receive an award."
Team Mario Cart members are Alanna Brady, Kate Donoghue, Meadhbh Bennett and Abbie Daly.
“It’s an amazing achievement to reach the national finals of this competition," Meadhbh Bennett of Team Mario Cart added.
"We are really proud of ourselves, no matter what the outcome is and we hope that other students will take part in this competition if they get the opportunity to sometime in the future.”
They are just two of 56 teams from all over Ireland – Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee is also competing in the event and student Coren Hughes has been shortlisted for the ‘Engineer of the Year’ award in the national competition.
Earlier this week judges raced and timed the entrants’ scale model racing cars to determine an overall winner, but the students will also be judged on their engineering presentations, interviews with the judging panels and their media exposure since the competition started in November.
“We honestly have no clue [of the result], so the nerves are very much real,” added Ilona.
Tonight marks the first-ever TV broadcast of the Irish event with TG4 bringing the excitement of F1 in Schools racing to homes across the country at 8.30pm.
€1m EuroMillions win at Centra The Reeks
Anthony O’Connor, Ciaran Culloty, Conor Healy, Elizabeth Nagle, and representatives from the National Lottery
Celebrations are underway in Killarney after Centra at The Reeks Gateway on Tralee Road sold a EuroMillions ticket worth €1,005,000 in the Friday, August 21 draw.
The lucky winner secured the life-changing sum through the special Ireland Only Raffle event after purchasing a Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw.
Store owner John Bowler, who has operated the shop for over 20 years, expressed his delight after receiving the news from the National Lottery.
“There’s a great buzz around the store and we’re absolutely delighted,” Bowler said. “We have a mix of local customers and visitors coming through our doors every day, so the winner could be anyone. While we’ve sold fantastic prizes over the years, this is by far the biggest. It’s wonderful news for Killarney.”
National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan urged anyone who bought a ticket at the store on Friday to check their numbers carefully. The ticket holder is advised to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact the National Lottery prize claims team to arrange collection.
All photos: Eamonn Keogh
Pig’s Lane crowned Bar of the Year
Killarney’s subterranean venue Pig’s Lane emerged as a triple winner at the Bar of the Year 2026 Awards in Dublin on Monday night.
The College Street venue was named overall Bar of the Year, alongside taking Gold for both Cocktail Bar of the Year and Best Designed Bar / Inside Space. The announcements were made at a gala ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road.
Operating under the family-run O’Donoghue Ring Collection, the underground cocktail bar and whiskey parlour opened in 2023. The venue previously secured Innovative Bar of the Year in 2024 and Best Designed Bar in 2025 before taking the top national prize this year.
Judges praised the venue for its “unmatched excellence across the board”. The broader O’Donoghue Ring Collection earned eight finalist nominations across three properties, including Café du Parc and The Kenmare Rooms.
“We are so proud to be crowned Ireland’s Bar of the Year 2026,” said founder Gemma Ring. “A huge amount of work, creativity, and passion goes into everything we do”.
Pig’s Lane derives its name from the historic 1800s designation for the thoroughfare connecting College Street to Railway Road. On September 11, the bar will host a collaborative evening featuring Michelin Bib Gourmand tapas from Dingle’s Solas paired with bespoke cocktails.
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