News
Top 10 Wander Wild highlights
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
News
Developing St Finan’s “cost prohibitive” – Council
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials. The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012. […]
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials.
The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012.
The hospital and adjoining lands are up for sale by the Health Service Executive (HSE) since then.
So far no realistic offer has been made on the site despite suggestions that it could be used for social housing, a catering college and a hotel.
Each year the building, which was built in the 1850s, falls into further disrepair.
There were fresh calls again this week as local councillors called for some sort of action to redevelop the site that is fast becoming an eyesore.
At last Friday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting councillors called for action at the site .
Mayor Brendan Cronin wants the building’s protected status to be removed or at least reduced to speed up potential development work which ties in with Cllr Marie Moloney’s idea that the old hospital could be converted into apartments or flats.
Cllr John O’Donoghue wants the HSE to find a way to hand over the property to Kerry County Council either by way of reduced payment or an intra-government agency ownership change.
A Kerry County Council official told the meeting that any works to potentially convert the old hospital into social housing “would be cost prohibitive.”
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.”
Developing St Finan’s “cost prohibitive” – Council
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials. The historic building...
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...
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...
Dr Crokes’ Cronin nominated for All Star award
Dr Crokes’ Kayleigh Cronin is one of 13 Kerry players to be nominated for a TG4 Ladies Football All Star...
Lissivigeen School awarded ‘Active Flag’
The pupils and teachers of Lissivigeen National School celebrated the awarding of their very first Active Flag last week. The...
Almost impossible to look beyond East Kerry but Dingle are best placed to challenge
Adam Moynihan breaks down the groups and likely contenders in the 2023 Kerry Senior Football Championship Group 1: East Kerry,...
Kerry’s old dogs ready for Tyrone challenge in All-Ireland final
Adam Moynihan chats to Kerry Masters goalkeeper Tony Lyons ahead of the over 40 All-Ireland football final Hi Tony. Thanks...
Worthy Kerry organisations to benefit from Ross Golf Club charity days
Two very worthy local causes are set to benefit from the upcoming Ross Golf Club Charity Days, which will take...
Wide open Kerry Club Championships reach knockout stage
by Eamonn Fitzgerald The group phase of the very competitive Kerry Club Championships were completed last weekend and the draw...
The Big Interview: Darragh Long explains how the Kerry ladies are shifting our perceptions of women in sport
In this exclusive interview, our sports editor Adam Moynihan chats to joint Kerry ladies manager Darragh Long Darragh, you’ve had...
-
Sport7 days ago
Kerry’s old dogs ready for Tyrone challenge in All-Ireland final
-
News6 days agoOver 80 women car enthusiasts attend classic car show
-
Sport7 days ago
Almost impossible to look beyond East Kerry but Dingle are best placed to challenge
-
News6 days agoMusical society ready to hit the high notes
