News
Summer Horse Racing Festivals at Killarney are back!

Killarney Racecourse is set to host the first of three Summer horse-racing festivals in May. From Sunday 14 to Tuesday 16 of May inclusive, ‘MayFest’ will take place at Ireland’s most scenic racecourse.
Killarney Racecourse Ambassador, Bryan Cooper will be on hand to help steer punters on the right path and live music, family fun and delicious food and beverage offerings will also complement the best of summer racing at the popular track.
There are a number of tickets and packages to choose from, whether it is close to the action general admission tickets or silver service fine dining and a table for the day, there is something for everyone at Killarney Races.
Adult admission tickets will give you access to all you need for a great day at the races; the viewing stands, public bars and restaurants, the bookies ring and parade ring viewing areas as well as access to live entertainment during and after racing all for just €20.
OAPs and students enjoy a reduced rate admission of €15 per person with appropriate ID. Furthermore, it is good to note that all children under the age of 14 are free of charge to attend every race day at Killarney Races when accompanied by an adult. So why not bring along your very own ‘junior jockeys’ to Mayfest for a fun and inexpensive family day out.
Ideal for groups of friends and social clubs the Punters Package looks like a winner, offering the key ingredients for a good start to any race day; admission, racecard, a drink and a bet. The punters package will get you suited and booted for a proper day out with all the gang at Killarney Races. While those with a more discerning palate might opt for the Panoramic Restaurant package which includes four-course dining, a reserved table for the day, table service for food, beverages, and betting as well as a private balcony with stunning views overlooking the entire racecourse.
Chairman Billy O’Sullivan siad:“Killarney Races is a boutique festival. It encompasses a wonderful mix of summer horse racing blended with live entertainment on the lawn and indoors, a wide variety of delicious food and beverage offerings, family fun and fashion. Here at Ireland’s most scenic racecourse, our focus is on customer experience. We offer an unrivalled quality product where sport, entertainment and hospitality all combine to create a memorable day out. The stunning backdrop we race against is without question one of the finest in the world and we’re just a stone’s throw away from the town centre where there will be lots of aprés racing fun and frolics also. The team here simply can’t wait to start the season and welcome racegoers back to the track, as it really is the people who attend that make this place come alive. Killarney Races is unique, things are a little more special and remarkable here than your typical day out so if you're new to racing come along and all visitors and regular racegoers are valued and most welcome to join us.”
Sunday is an all-jump racing card and the feature race is the exciting ‘Tote Killarney National’. The first race will go to post at 13.55pm and gates will be open from 12 noon.
Monday is an evening meeting, all jump racing again with a start time of 16.55pm and gates open from 3pm. The feature race the An Riocht Chase looks set to attract plenty of entries from a number of the country’s top stables.
Tuesday will close MayFest in style on the flat with an action-packed card featuring race The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race. The first race goes to post at 17.00pm and gates open from 3pm.
Live music will be provided by Tom Cat’s and Resolute in the lively Jim Culloty Bar. On Sunday there will be children’s entertainment also, with the team from The Art House providing painting and an exciting bubble machine as well as face painting to ensure plenty of fun between races during Mayfest for all junior racegoers. Don't forget kids under 14 go free every day at Killarney Races making it a cost-effective family day out for all the gang!
The only question remaining is, have you booked your tickets yet? For further information or to book online visit www.killarneyraces.com.
News
Fire warning in National Park
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places […]

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places this summer.
As they appeal to the public to exercise renewed care and responsibility when outdoors the National Parks and Wildlife Service has increased ground crews on fire patrol and has ramped up aerial monitoring with helicopters and drones.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said:
“If you notice a fire, please call the emergency services on 112 immediately. NPWS teams are upping their patrols to identify potential fire incidents and act quickly should one break out. However as we know, prevention is better than cure, and we’re asking all members of the public to avoid lighting fires in open areas.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD commented further:
“Our National Parks and Nature Reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks are all places where we enjoy spending time in nature, but they are also home to our precious wildlife and their vulnerable young. This is a really important time of year for wildlife, especially vulnerable ground-nesting birds and mammals who are now rearing their young. We all want to get out and enjoy the good weather but let’s do it responsibly – without putting nature at risk.”
The Director General of the NPWS, Niall O Donnchú, has also asked for everybody’s cooperation to protect nature and said:
“While NPWS has increased ground crews and monitoring from the air this week, we still need to enlist your help to protect nature at this high risk time. We ask that members of the public not light fires or barbecues in any National Parks or Nature Reserves, or indeed in nature generally. We are also asking that the public be vigilant and report any fire activity without delay.”
News
Killarney Looking Good Competition returns
Over three decades after it was first initiated, to help improve the aesthetic values of the town, the Killarney Looking Good Competition is back with a vengeance with a new […]

Over three decades after it was first initiated, to help improve the aesthetic values of the town, the Killarney Looking Good Competition is back with a vengeance with a new committee, new categories, new sponsors and a whole new approach.
When the project was first launched in 1991 it was a relatively low-key community event but it grew in importance with each passing year, culminating in some style when Killarney won the prestigious overall award in the national tidy towns competition in 2011.
After an enforced three-year absence since 2019, due to the pandemic, the competition has now been given a whole new lease of life and the 2023 version was officially launched this week by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Niall Kelleher.
Awards will be presented in 26 different categories and high achievers in the business and residential community will be honoured at a gala prizegiving ceremony at the close of the tourist season.
This year two new categories are being introduced in memory of two remarkable people who played massive roles in keeping Killarney looking its best down through the years.
Yvonne Quill, who passed away last October, was the driving force behind the Killarney tidy towns campaign for several years and she was at the helm when the sought-after overall award was secured 12 years ago.
This year the Yvonne Quill Memorial Award will be presented to the volunteer of the year – a person who the adjudicators consider to be a standout contributor – in the overall effort to keep Killarney tidy.
Up to the time of his death in January 2020, Fr Michael Murphy was the public face of tidy towns and he played a huge part in Killarney, Kenmare and Sneem winning the overall national award in 2011, 2000 and 1987 respectively. Affectionately known as Fr Tidy, this year the Killarney Looking Good Competition will honour his memory with a special Pride of Place award.
In the business community, there will be awards for the best large and small commercial premises, best newly painted premises, best signage and the best retail award with prizes also for the most impressive hotel, public house, restaurant, café, guesthouse and best public building as well as the most improved premises.
In the residential categories awards will go to the best large and small estates, best private residence, best roadside garden, best floral display and best friendly planting award.
Other categories include a green hospitality award, a corporate special responsibility award, a restoration award, best school and a special biodiversity award.
Several highly commended awards will also be up for grabs and the winner of the prestigious overall award will be announced at the prizegiving ceremony.
The Killarney Looking Good Competition is organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Killarney Municipal District Council and the new committee comprises Sandra Dunlea – a daughter of the late Yvonne Quill – Kathleen Foley, John O’Mahony and Johnny McGuire who is spearheading the project.
MD O’Shea & Sons are the new overall sponsors of the competition and O’Mahony Media Ltd is the media sponsor.
The competition will run throughout the tourist season and businesses and residential areas will be monitored on an ongoing basis.