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Test drive Ford’s first hybrid electric vehicle at Killarney Autos

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Ford’s first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in Ireland has just made its debut on our roads. The Mondeo HEV combines the best facets of the hugely popular car with the benefits of hybrid technology. With its 2.0 litre 187PS automatic transmission petrol powertrain, the new Mondeo HEV will meet the needs of those who want a more environmentally-friendly car but who do not wish to compromise on space, driving dynamics, driving range and comfort.

Ciarán McMahon, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland, believes now is the perfect time to launch the car in Ireland. “Ford has taken the electrification journey,” adding that the Mondeo HEV is a more recent addition to Ford’s electric portfolio. “We introduced the Mondeo HEV towards the end of last year and we believe the time is now right to bring it to the Irish market. The market in Ireland has changed greatly over the past 18 months and there is a new impetus behind the electrified vehicles market here.”

The Mondeo HEV will have a particular appeal to a broad swathe of the market, according to McMahon. “We believe this represents a very big opportunity for Ford. It is our first hybrid launch in Ireland and it will appeal to companies that want to demonstrate green credentials.”

Familiarity is another plus. “Everyone knows the Mondeo and its great driving dynamics and specs. From that point of view, it’s the perfect vehicle for Ford to start its hybrid journey in Ireland.”

It also stands out in the market as many of the hybrids already on the market are smaller in size. “There is a great opportunity in this space for us. Also, when people drive it they quickly realise that it’s a beautiful car to drive. It has a petrol engine but has an electric powertrain and that makes it automatic transmission by default. It is a lovely, quiet drive regardless of whether you are driving on the petrol engine or the battery.”

Another strength is its fuel consumption. “It is very fuel efficient despite being a high-powered petrol vehicle. When you combine all these things together it’s a package that people understand and find attractive. One thing I would say is that people really do need to test drive the vehicle to fully appreciate it.

“Once people get in and drive it they are very impressed. The drive switches between electric and petrol power completely seamlessly and it’s very hard to tell when it happens. That’s to do with the way it has been developed. The petrol engine has been specifically designed for hybrid electric vehicles. The overall package is excellent and anyone who has got used to other hybrids will be very pleasantly surprised by the Mondeo HEV.”

Looking to the future, McMahon believes it will not be too long before all cars are electric, either hybrids or pure electric with consumer demand and other factors driving the change. There will also be pronounced differences in markets which will continue to be influenced by local factors.

“Our HEV offering in the US has been very successful,” he says. “We recently announced plans which will result in further investment in EVs there. In the US, SUVs rather than saloon cars are very much seen as the future. There is a huge market shift over there.”

Technology is among the key forces at work in this quiet revolution. “The industry is changing rapidly and technology is changing even faster. Battery technology is advancing all the time and costs are coming down. It is different in Ireland and while the SUV segment is growing, the Mondeo segment continues to be a popular choice in our market.”

Test this exciting car now at Killarney Autos. Call 064 66 31355 for more information.

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s


World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.


The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.

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Deerpark Retail Park placed on market for fifteen million euro

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Deerpark Retail Park in Killarney has officially been placed on the market with a guide price in excess of 15.4 million euro, excluding VAT.

International real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed as the sole sales agent to handle the high-profile commercial property sale on behalf of its current owner, Investcorp.

Investcorp, a global investment management firm headquartered in Bahrain, had previously acquired the prominent shopping complex.


The sale represents one of the largest commercial property offerings to launch in County Kerry this year.

Located roughly 1.3 kilometres west of Killarney town centre, the scheme enjoys strong regional connectivity and sits adjacent to independently owned operations including a Tesco Extra store, a Tesco petrol filling station, JYSK, and Aldi.


Constructed in 2006, the development extends across approximately 10,482 square metres, or 112,835 square feet.

The scheme comprises a mix of modern retail warehouse units and a complementary neighbourhood centre, offering 13 individual units in total with Part Open and Part Bulky Use planning permission.

The units range in size from 94.6 square metres up to 1,994.9 square metres. Visitors have access to approximately 248 customer parking spaces across the commercial grounds.

The park is currently 100 per cent occupied by a strong line-up of established national and international brands.

Key retail tenants include Marks & Spencer, Boots, DID Electrical, Maxi Zoo, and Mountain Warehouse.

The neighbourhood centre element accommodates service and convenience operators such as Costa Coffee, Card Factory, and Salon B.

The first-floor accommodation is fully let to Peak Performance Academy, which provides additional rental diversification.

Additionally, the scheme benefits from an agreement with Tesla to operate eight electric vehicle charging bays within the customer car park.


Commercial figures show that the property generates a total current rental income of 1,326,458 euro per annum, with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 4.45 years to break options and 6.46 years to lease expiry.

Cushman & Wakefield noted that the quoted guide price of 15.4 million euro reflects a net initial yield of 7.83 per cent, assuming standard purchaser costs of 9.96 per cent.

The selling agents highlighted that the fully occupied asset offers investors an attractive income profile alongside scope for additional income generation through parking commercialisation.

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