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Top 10 Wander Wild highlights

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If you are itching to embrace spring with new adventures and wellness activities, then pack your bags for the Wander Wild Festival - Ireland’s great outdoors festival.

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It’s on in Killarney from March 24 to 26 and it's the bucket list festival you don’t want to miss this year! With just two weeks to go, and some events already sold-out, it’s time to get booking!

The unique adventure and wellness festival, set in the lakes and mountains of the UNESCO Killarney National Park has over 120 events for the body, mind and soul. You’ll have the chance to explore new adventures and recharge with a hike, bike, kayak, swim, stretch, ramble, or enjoy yoga, food tours, a concert or live podcast, against a backdrop of stunning scenic landscapes.

We’ve pulled together our Top 10 Highlights of events that you won’t want to miss.

The Nature Valley Mangerton Hike with Roz Purcell

Just announced! Nature Valley, sponsors of Wander Wild, have a special hiking event on Friday March 24. Roz Purcell, founder of The Hike Life, will host a small group up the famous Mangerton Mountain, one of her favourite mountains in Ireland! The four-hour moderate to difficult hike to the summit is suitable to those with good fitness abilities and hiking experience, as it’s one of the most accessible mountains over 800m in Ireland. It promises to be great fun with spectacular views of the Devil’s Punchbowl, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Horses Glen, Killarney National Park and, on a good day, South West to Kenmare Bay. Tickets are expected to sell fast.

Sunrise Dip and Outdoor Sauna

Start the morning in an exhilarating way with a sunrise dip in the lake at Dundag followed by a traditional sauna by the calming lakeshore with a panoramic window of the surrounding mountains. Enjoying the soothing therapeutic benefits of a sauna, surrounded by nature promises to be a one-off unforgettable experience.

Unique Gig with Mundy and Friends

Mundy will be joined by special guests for some exclusive performances in the stunning St Mary's Church of Ireland. The beautiful natural acoustics and the spectacular backdrop that the intimate church venue offers will provide the perfect setting for a fantastic night of music from the acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter.

Mountain Trail Runs

Explore new terrain with one of three relaxed and social runs to choose from - terrain covers fire roads, forestry trails, stone trails, and boardwalk trails. Some brave-hearted individuals might even be enticed to take a dip in a waterfall or lake en route! Day and night options available.

Wim Hof Method Workshop

The pinnacle of cold therapy - the Wim Hof Method Workshop will help people to deal with stress better, improve their mental health, and build resilience. During the four-hour workshop you will learn a tailored technique to help you to breathe deeply and fully, get tips on how to improve your concentration and be guided on how to stay calm in a stressful environment (the cold!).

3D Blue Pool Wood Experience

One of the absolute highlights of the weekend promises to be the Blue Pool experience - the immersive 3D light and sound installation around the pool in the heart of Cloghereen Nature Trail by well-known artist Augustine Leudar. It will feature an extraordinary walk-through 3D soundscape that uses many unique cutting-edge audio techniques to turn the forest into a subtly surrealistic sonic wonderland. See nature come alive!

Explore Killarney’s Lakes

Whether you want to get active and kayak, or sit back and relax on a boat trip, see parts of the Killarney National Park that are hard to access by foot as you cruise on the water. Explore the ruins of the 7th century monastery Innisfallen Island where it’s said that King Brian Boru studied. Visit hidden parts of the park on the three lakes, or hike 10km up through The Gap of Dunloe and enjoy a 1.5-hour boat trip back to Ross Castle.

Children’s Programme

From Gruffalo hunts and digital treasure hunts to musical master classes, an escape room and a buzzing ‘Kids Zone’, the little ones (and not so little ones!) are guaranteed a weekend of adventure, nature, music, creativity and most importantly, fun!

Foodie Tour

Join Kenmare foodie Karen Coakley on a daytime or evening food tour sampling small signature dishes and tasting local artisan produce. Scratch beneath the surface and discover Killarney's new and very vibrant local food scene.

Live Podcasts and Premieres

Join Shane Finn as he hosts a live Pushing Limits podcast with special guest former AFL player Brid Stack and mountaineer Killian Buckley or get an exclusive look at two new Irish adventure films as they host their premiers - '1000km Chaos' - the story of adventurer Kevin Leahy, and Alan Corcoran’s 'Unsinkable'.

Forest Bathing

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the forest on a 2.5 hour forest bathing walk. This health and wellness practice supports participants to relieve stress, to be in the present moment, it creates awareness for the natural environment and connect people with their senses.

The fun won’t stop when the sun goes down as Killarney hosts the electric basecamp for the festival. The town will be buzzing with market stalls, and live entertainment in local bars all weekend.

No need to bring a car - shuttle buses will bring you from the town centre to all the activities out of town. For more info and to book any event go to wanderwildfestival.com.

The festival is sponsored by Nature Valley and supported by Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council, and Killarney Chamber of Commerce.

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Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

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The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

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Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

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Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

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