News
Theme for St Patrick’s Day Parade revealed

By Sean Moriarty
This year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in Killarney will celebrate all that is good about the town.
The organisers of the parade, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, have announced initial details of the March 17 celebration.
The parade’s theme will tie in with a new marketing programme which is being developed by Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Kerry County Council, National Parks & Wildlife Services, Office of Public Works, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotel Federation and multiple other Killarney stakeholders “who have a shared vision to make Killarney a best in class tourist destination”.
The development of the marketing programme includes the unveiling of a new ‘Killarney Logo’ which carries the strapline ‘Experience More’.
This is part of a five-year plan called the 'Killarney Destination Experience Development Plan' which is being promoted by the stakeholders.
To promote this new campaign, businesses, community groups and sports clubs are invited to take part in the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade.
“This is where you come in, we want to inform everyone visitors and locals alike of where we are headed and this year's St. Patrick’s Festival Killarney would like to promote our new branding to the world,” said an open letter circulated to all Chamber members.
“The theme is very open, you know Killarney better than anyone, share your experience of Killarney, the town, the park, the mountains and lakes, the culture, the music, the stories, the songs, the hospitality, let's show the world how they too can ‘Experience More’.”
Application forms can be downloaded from https://stpatricksfestivalkillarney.ie/parade-application-form
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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