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Going Dutch for the Puck Goat

There is no such thing as bad publicity.

It is a phrase often used by press officers and PR specialists.

The people of Killorglin have a lot to thank Joe Duffy for. The veteran RTÉ broadcaster spent most of last week giving out about the welfare of the Puck goat.

They may not have all agreed with the sentiments of the conversations but there is no denying that details of the 400-year-old festival was broadcast into thousands of homes that previously knew little or anything about why a goat is king of a town for three days each August.

And this free publicity surely contributed to the large crowds that attended last week’s festival.

So, if there is no such thing as bad publicity can you imagine the results if there was good publicity surrounding an event or product.

That is why I am taking my hat off to Fáilte Ireland.

Have you seen the huge amount of Dutch registered cars touring county all summer? They are very distinctive as both front and rear registration plates are black writing on an orange background as opposed to the EU norm of black writing on a white plate.

I meet dozens of such cars every day and have met coach loads of Dutch tourists checking into Killarney and Tralee hotels.

It got me thinking. How is this the case?

Last Christmas Fáilte Ireland ran a direct marketing campaign in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Thousands of commuters in both cities saw eye-catching ads for Ireland on trams operating there.

It was all part of Tourism Ireland’s latest promotion in the Netherlands, which highlighted Ireland and, in particular, the ease of access for Dutch holidaymakers to the Wild Atlantic Way.

In addition to the ‘wrapped’ trams, the promotion also included digital billboard ads in metro stations in Amsterdam, which were viewed an estimated two million times between early December and early January.

The colourful ‘Ierland’ trams and billboard ads were seen by many potential Dutch holidaymakers – inspiring them to put the Wild Atlantic Way on their holiday wish-list for this year.

So matter what you do, what club or organisation you represent, tell the world what you are doing. It may not always be plain sailing, as Puck Fair organisers found out last week, but the rewards far out-weigh the negatives.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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