News
Tree of Light becomes Tree of Hope for January

A spectacular 100ft century old tree embellished with 3,000 sparkling bulbs, which became the focal point of the Christmas celebrations in Killarney, will remain lit until the end of January as a gesture of hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the number of infections continuing to rise and many families encountering very worrying times, a decision was taken not to switch off the Tree of Light, on the grounds of St Mary’s Cathedral, at the close of the Christmas season.
Instead, the bulbs will continue to shine until the end of the month by which time, it is hoped, the country will be in a much better place in terms of Coronavirus numbers.
The plan to continue lighting the tree on a nightly basis was agreed by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien and the Tree of Hope idea had been suggested by Killarney photographer, Valerie O’Sullivan, to brighten the dark nights at a time when everybody needs a boost.
“It is a spectacular sight and we hope it will continue to give the people of the town a lift in the early weeks of the New Year," newly elected Killarney Chamber President and Kerry County Council member, Niall Kelleher, said.
Cllr Kelleher said the tree project was a demonstration of the great spirit of togetherness that exists in the town and it sends out a strong message that even in very dark days, people can take hope that the light is never far away.
“Life won’t get back to normal straight away but, when it does, we will be ready. In the meantime, we must stick together, secure in the knowledge that the good days will return.”
In the early days of the pandemic last April, health care frontline staff, including a local doctor, Gardaí, Order of Malta and Civil Defence volunteers and firefighters, joined senior local authority officials and the town’s business leaders in a moving show of cross-community co-operation by gathering at the cathedral tree which was lit for one hour.
The 100-year-old Californian Redwood tree was first lit in 2000 to mark the new millennium year when it commemorated all those who lost their lives in the conflict in Northern Ireland and it was sparkling again in 2010 to remember those who had been killed on Irish roads.
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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