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Sunday Solstice on The Paps of Anú

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Celebrating this year's Winter Solstice will take place on Sunday, December 18 in aid of the Kerry Hospice Foundation Palliative Care.

SOLSTICE: Having a Sunday Solstice this year will allow people to travel and have time to savour the day. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

SOLSTICE PAST: Batty O’Sullivan (left) Rachael Cullen John O’Sullivan Paddy Lawlor Shanon Cullen and Mike Doherty Shane Dennehy and Chris Crowley previously enjoying the Winter Solstice on the summit of the Paps of Anú in aid of Kerry Hospice Foundation Palliative Care. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

The astronomical calendar is getting closer to what is the shortest day of the year - on Wednesday, December 21 - but as it falls on a week day this year, organisers are planning to have a Sunday Solstice to allow people to travel and have time to savour the day.

These ancient sacred summits, ‘The Paps of Anú’, resemble a pair of breast shaped hills known as ‘The Paps’ in the Derry Na Saggart Mountains close to the Cork Kerry border. The Paps have long been associated with mythology, mysticism and majesty. The Goddess Anú represents all that is earthly, fertile, abundant and protective.

With kind permission of local landowners Sean and Mary O’Donoghue, Glenflesk, and neighbour Jimmy Moynihan, the walk departs from Garries Bridge - the first bridge after St Agatha’s Church, Glenflesk, meeting at 6.30am.

A long walk in darkness to the summit, it has two strenuous inclines, leading to the Western Pap at 690 metres. At approximately 8.45am sunrise and craic begins, with Glenflesk's finest musicians Derry and Rosie Healy, setting the pace for a Kerry polka set, followed by an ancient ceremonial blessing by another Glenflesk native, Mary Cronin. The trek will be led by expert mountaineer Donie Mulcahy and crew.

A donation of €20 will be collected on the morning of the walk. It is compulsory to bring a head torch, warm clothes, hiking boots, waterproof jacket and pants, gloves, hat, food and a drink. A good level of fitness is required. Guides will be on duty for gear check before departure.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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Town centre-based software firm marks two years in business

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A Killarney-based software company is celebrating two years in business since expanding into the European market.

QT9 Software Ltd, which is located on Bohereencaol was established in 2024 as part of the company’s move to better serve customers across Europe.

The business is part of a US-based company founded 20 years ago in Chicago by Brant Engelhart.

Its Irish office is headed by Killarney resident Angela O’Sullivan, who serves as Operations Director.

QT9 Software currently employs four full-time staff members in Killarney and plans to increase that number by an additional two this year.

The company provides quality management software to businesses worldwide, with the Irish office helping to support European customers within their own time zones.

As part of its continued European expansion, the software company also opened a new data center in Amsterdam in 2025 to meet data storage and compliance requirements.

QT9 Software works with businesses that must meet quality standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, as well as industry-specific regulations across sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, food and life sciences.

Speaking about the milestone, Angela O’Sullivan said: “We’re very proud to have grown QT9 Software here in Killarney over the past two years. It has been a really positive journey so far, and we’re looking forward to continuing to build our team and support more customers across Europe.”

The company is also currently recruiting for an IT Systems Administrator, with details available in the appointments section on page 46.

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