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Tree of Light star to honour Rena’s memory

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A woman who dedicated much of her life to ensuring Killarney was a special place to live in and visit every Christmas is being remembered in the town in a very special way this festive season.

The feature star on the spectacular Tree of Light in Killarney takes on an extra special meaning this year as it will be dedicated to the late Rena Kennelly, the gifted artist who designed and created the magnificent Christmas crib in St Mary’s Cathedral for over 50 years.

She had been at the helm of that project every Christmas season since the Church was refurbished in the 1970s and her work was created using life-sizes figures, a striking stable full of animals, an artificial lake, fir trees and moss which she sourced herself.

Fittingly, she also helped create the state-of-the-art new crib – designed for a new generation – which was unveiled last year and she was also responsible for the design of the wonderfully atmospheric sacred space in the cathedral.

Rena, who passed away last March, lived in Aghadoe, Killarney and formerly at Cleeny, Killarney and Ballymullen, Tralee.

For her incredible dedication, she received the coveted Benemerenti Medal in August 2022 which is the highest honour Pope Francis can bestow on a person for services to the Church. She was also honoured with a civic award by Kerry County Council.

Rena worked in her earlier years as a nurse in Scotland before she met the dashing Colm Kennelly, a Trinity graduate and a fine footballer who was the youngest member of the Kerry team that won the 1953 All-Ireland.

Colm then worked as a civil engineer for the ESB in Tralee and affairs of the heart brought her home. They later moved to Guyana in South America before returning home again four years later when Colm accepted an offer to join Kerry County Council, later to become county engineer.

Predeceased by Colm, Rena is mum to daughters Shirley and Kate and son Mark.
She is greatly missed too by her daughter-in-law Paula, sons-in-law John Joe Clifford and Dan O’Driscoll, sister Margaret Moriarty, brother Gene O’Sullivan, grandchildren Jason, Kenneth, Ciara, Colm, Ailbhe, Justine and Catherine and great-grandchildren Roan and Ben.

Chairman of the Christmas in Killarney Committee, Cllr Niall Kelleher, said the star dedication was a fitting tribute to a wonderful woman who is very fondly remembered in the town.
“Rena was a wonderfully creative and gifted woman and we all saw her remarkable work in the cathedral every year,” he said.

The Tree of Light and the feature star will be officially switched on after 6.15pm Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral on Monday, 9December 2).
The 1,000ft Californian Redwood tree is adorned with over 3,500 energy efficient bulbs.
In previous years the Tree of Light star was dedicated to the memory of Johnny Hickey and Yvonne Quilll for their dedication to the Tidy Towns campaign and Paul Coghlan, who is a former President of Killarney Chamber of Commerce.

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Network Ireland Kerry discuss sustainable success

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Network Ireland Kerry held their third annual collaboration event last Wednesday at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. The theme was: “The Journey to Sustainable Success” which brought three industry experts together to talk about their own journey to sustainable successful.

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders came together for this highly anticipated event to learn about the journey from becoming a start-up, to a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), and a large SME.

The event was opened by AIB Branch Liaison for Network Ireland Kerry and AIB Castleisland Branch Manager, Colleen Shannon. It was MC’d by AIB Tralee Branch Manager, Stephen Stack.

Sarah Farrar of AINMHÌ, Garrett Dillon of Mr. Binman and Dillon Waste Ltd. and Susan Quirke-Crowley of Mounthawk Montessori School Group were among the speakers at the event.

These leaders spoke about their challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs they encountered, from launching an idea to scaling operations nationally.

Tara Elzingre of Tara Elzingre Consultancy, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein of Rustic Boowa and Sharon Hartnett of U Coaching promoted their businesses for ‘Minute on the Mic’

Emily Reen, Network Ireland Kerry President, described the event as a testament to the power of partnership. She said: “The event underscored a powerful message: sustainable business success is not a solo journey. With the right partnerships, teams and financial tools, businesses of all sizes can grow with purpose, resilience, and long-term impact.”

Network Ireland Kerry will host their next monthly event on November 12 in Killarney and in collaboration with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, titled: “Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business”. This event will be MC’d by Karen Ronan, 2025 National Vice President of Network Ireland and CEO of Galway Chamber. This event is open to non-members and members, and everyone is welcome from 6 pm for networking and refreshments, with the event taking place from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

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Minor injury clinic to open by this time next year

The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home. […]

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The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home.

The timeline was confirmed in response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill, who said the project will follow the relocation of the Community Nursing Unit from its current site to the grounds of the old St Finan’s Hospital. Once the transfer is complete, construction of the injury clinic can proceed.
Deputy Cahill described the two new health facilities as “a fantastic addition for Killarney and the wider East, Mid, and South Kerry regions” and noted they will help reduce waiting times at University Hospital Kerry A&E.
“I will continue to push for enhanced health services for our people,” added the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Older People.
The new clinic is expected to provide urgent care services for local residents, easing pressure on hospital emergency departments and improving access to timely treatment in the Killarney area.

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