News
Talented bunch rock the stage

By Michelle Crean
The energy and enthusiasm wowed audiences this week as members of Killarney Musical Society hit the stage.

Super Trooper performance by Ilona McCubbrey Harriet McGuigan and Orna Cleary-O'Shea as part of the ‘Mamma Mia’ act in Killarney Musical Society's production 'A Musical Journey'. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Family support for leading lady Lucy McCarthy were: Oliver (dad) Patricia (mom) Emer (aunt) Patricia (nana) Mia (cousin) Ted (uncle) Tara (aunt) and Michaela (cousin) at Killarney Musical Society's ‘A Musical Journey’ in the INEC this week. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Far from 'Revolting Children' - the Children’s Chorus lead the musical 'Matilda' to the stage one of the many acts in Killarney Musical Society's 'A Musical Journey'. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Deanne Staak hosts the finale with 'This is Me' from The Greatest Showman one of the many popular acts in Killarney Musical Society's performance ‘A Musical Dream’ a variety show at the INEC. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

The children's chorus were all smiles backstage before curtain call at Killarney Musical Society's production ‘A Musical Journey’. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Leading lady Lucy McCarthy receives a kiss goodnight from her mom Fiona Crowley before her dreams begin on ‘A Musical Journey’ this year’s show by Killarney Musical Society. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

‘Timeless to Me’ from the musical ‘Hair Spray’ performed by Eamon Kelly (Wilbur) and Derry Healy (Edna) in this year’s Killarney Musical Society's production of 'A Musical Journey'. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Charlene Brosnan can 'Hear the Bells' of ‘Hair Spray’ one of the acts in Killarney Musical Society's variety show 'A Musical Journey' at the INEC running four shows during the week. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Super Trooper performance by Ilona McCubbrey Harriet McGuigan and Orna Cleary-O'Shea as part of the ‘Mamma Mia’ act in Killarney Musical Society's production 'A Musical Journey'. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Family support for leading lady Lucy McCarthy were: Oliver (dad) Patricia (mom) Emer (aunt) Patricia (nana) Mia (cousin) Ted (uncle) Tara (aunt) and Michaela (cousin) at Killarney Musical Society's ‘A Musical Journey’ in the INEC this week. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Far from 'Revolting Children' - the Children’s Chorus lead the musical 'Matilda' to the stage one of the many acts in Killarney Musical Society's 'A Musical Journey'. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Deanne Staak hosts the finale with 'This is Me' from The Greatest Showman one of the many popular acts in Killarney Musical Society's performance ‘A Musical Dream’ a variety show at the INEC. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

The children's chorus were all smiles backstage before curtain call at Killarney Musical Society's production ‘A Musical Journey’. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Leading lady Lucy McCarthy receives a kiss goodnight from her mom Fiona Crowley before her dreams begin on ‘A Musical Journey’ this year’s show by Killarney Musical Society. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

‘Timeless to Me’ from the musical ‘Hair Spray’ performed by Eamon Kelly (Wilbur) and Derry Healy (Edna) in this year’s Killarney Musical Society's production of 'A Musical Journey'. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan

Charlene Brosnan can 'Hear the Bells' of ‘Hair Spray’ one of the acts in Killarney Musical Society's variety show 'A Musical Journey' at the INEC running four shows during the week. Photo: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan
It had been a number of years since they got on stage due to the pandemic but there was a great feeling of exhilaration when they finally tread the boards on Tuesday, again Wednesday and finally last night (Thursday).
For up to three hours a cast of 109, including 36 children and 25 teenagers, performed to their heart's content in a variety show called ‘A Musical Journey’ in the INEC.
It had been a huge team effort from months of rehearsals to hours of planning and costume making as well as set design and more!
Songs and performances included Matilda, The Greatest Showman, Beauty & the Beast, Hairspray, Dear Evan Hansen and many more in what was an epic production.
"We got great support from the schools," speaking about the first show, Linda O'Donoghue, PRO for the Killarney Musical Society, told the Killarney Advertiser.
"They came to see their classmates and teachers."
She added that all audiences "were very appreciative also" and that there were fabulous spot prizes and vouchers and goodies from local businesses, up for grabs.
Marie Slattery O’Sullivan prepared fabulous spot prizes.
"She got vouchers and goodies from local businesses and prepared a huge hamper for first prize which was won by Rosie Healy from Glenflesk. There were four other great prizes also."
News
Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney
The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.
Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.
He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.
At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.
“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.
“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”
In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.
“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.
“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”
News
Ballymac charity vintage run on October 1
The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1. The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac. Registration […]

The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1.
The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac.
Registration begins at 9:30am and sets off at 11am.
“There will be two separate routes with one for tractors and the other for cars and motorbikes. Proceeds on the day are in aid of Castleisland Day Care Centre and we’ll have plenty of spot prizes to giveaway too in the morning,” said the club’s PRO Kieran Glover.
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