News
“This can’t continue on” – Supt Flor Murphy
SHOCKED: Pat and Teresa O'Brien outside their home at Hazelwood Drive, where a Ford car was burnt out in the early hours of Friday morning last.
By Sean Moriarty
Although extra garda patrols have been put in place this week to calm the ongoing disputes in Ballyspillane – local Superintendent Flor Murphy is confident that the issues can be resolved.
Another series public disorder incidents erupted in the estate in the early hours of Friday morning, at approximately 2.30am, after two cars were set on fire also causing damage to the owner’s homes. No arrests have yet been made.
However, Superintendent Flor Murphy this week told the Killarney Advertiser that he’s confident that the issues can be resolved if those involved could just “step back”, “stay calm” and continue with mediation. “We can solve this once and for all,” Supt. Murphy said.
“We all want this to stop. We’re asking everybody involved to step back, be responsible and law abiding, and think about their families. We’ve extra patrols in place and checkpoints in the area and our investigations are ongoing."
Local resident Pat O’Brien’s new Ford Focus, which belonged to his granddaughter, was torched in the driveway.
Mr O’Brien, who suffers from diabetes, said he was lucky to escape after he was alerted by the shouts of a neighbour.
“I take sleeping tablets for medical reasons,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “I was in a deep sleep.”
A second car, a 2018 Volkswagen Passat, belonging to Mr O’Brien’s son-in-law, was also set alight just two doors away.
Emergency Services were on the scene within minutes.
“Only for the fire service we could have lost the house,” added Mr O’Brien. “The fireman told me if the car was any closer to the house it would have gone up.”
Ongoing dispute
The fires are the latest in a series of very serious incidents in the estate.
In July, the Armed Support Unit was called to the 200-house estate in response to an incident sparked by a fight involving six women in a retail premises in the town earlier that same day.
In April, a suspected fire bomb attack on a family home occurred in the estate.
Arrests
On Tuesday this week two men appeared in Killarney District Court facing allegations related to another disturbance in the estate. They were arrested earlier that day in relation to assault incidents that took place last September.
ANAM Centre launches packed summer cultural programme for locals and visitors
Kerry County Council’s Arts Service, in association with the Killarney Arts Working Group, has officially launched the 2026 ANAM Summer Arts Programme (ASAP).
The dedicated arts and cultural space on East Avenue Road is set to host a vibrant mix of live music, theatre, film, and youth competitions designed to appeal to both local residents and tourists throughout the peak holiday season.
The summer lineup aims to provide artists with critical platforms to showcase their work while giving audiences accessible opportunities to experience live art. Councillor Martin O’Grady noted that the programme includes a multitude of performances, offering an important platform for all ages to enjoy the arts. Mary Murphy of the Killarney Arts Working Group added that utilizing the ANAM space successfully draws new audiences to the Killarney arts scene.
Featured events include “Bog Jazz,” an innovative project by musicians Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan and Shane Murphy that reworks traditional Sliabh Luachra fiddle music using electric guitar and drums. Additionally, Sliabh Luachra Musician in Residence Aidan Connolly will lead a two-night concert series in late July alongside Bryan O’Leary, Colm Guilfoyle, and Charlie O’Brien, exploring the unique history, songs, and folklore of the region.
The programme also features “The Anam Sessions,” a series of five free bi-weekly evening concerts directed by Tim O’Shea. These sessions will showcase emerging local talent across Irish folk, singer-songwriter, and Afro-Irish genres. For younger musicians, the popular “Battle of the Bands” competition returns in August. Organised in partnership with Music Generation Kerry, it will feature separate junior and senior categories to highlight local youth talent.
The summer performance series is fully sponsored by the Kerry Arts Service. For further queries, the public can contact arts@kerrycoco.ie or call 066 7183541.
ANAM Summer Arts Event Calendar
Traditional and Folk Music (The Anam Sessions with Tim O’Shea) Dates: ; Wednesday, July 15; Wednesday, July 29; Wednesday, August 12; Wednesday, August 26 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Sliabh Luachra Traditional Music Concert Series (Aidan Connolly and Guests) Dates: Wednesday, July 29; Thursday, July 30 Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Battle of the Bands (Senior Competition) Dates: Friday, August 7; Friday, August 14; Friday, August 21; Friday, August 28 Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Battle of the Bands (Junior Competition) Dates: Sunday, August 9; Sunday, August 16; Sunday, August 23; Sunday, August 30 Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Bog Jazz Performance (Eoin O’Sullivan & Shane Murphy) Date: Thursday, August 20 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
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