St Mary’s Church hosts John McCormack tribute

A musical recital celebrating the legacy of Irish tenor John McCormack took place at St Mary’s Church of Ireland on Friday last, July 3.

The event featured Kerry tenor Gavan Ring, who was joined on stage by pianist Gary Beecher and violinist Kenneth Rice.

The trio performed a programme of songs, operatic pieces, and transatlantic melodies associated with McCormack’s international career and his influence on Irish-American identity.
A key element of the performance included a dedicated tribute to the historic musical partnership between McCormack and violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler.

The concert was held as part of the new ‘Summer in Killarney’ festival, a cultural series marking 250 years of Irish contributions to American culture.

The festival is presented by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, with support from the NPWS, Heineken 0.0, Fáilte Ireland, and Kerry County Council’s Community Support Fund.

Gleneagle Group has been recognised as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces in Hospitality 2026 by Great Place to Work, marking its third national workplace accolade this year.

The award follows the Killarney company’s inclusion among Ireland’s Best Large Workplaces 2026 and Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Women 2026.

The hospitality industry recognition celebrates organisations setting high standards for workplace culture.

Based on confidential employee feedback and independent analysis, the list identifies businesses where trust, wellbeing, opportunity, and teamwork are part of the daily employee experience.

At Gleneagle, the focus remains on investing in career development, wellbeing initiatives, and internal progression to ensure staff feel valued.

This year’s national recognition was determined by survey feedback from more than 5,900 hospitality employees across Ireland, measuring experiences in leadership, professional development, and workplace culture.

Eilis Loughrey, Director of People and Culture at Gleneagle, said:
“Being recognised once again as one of Ireland’s Best Workplaces in Hospitality is something we’re incredibly proud of. Hospitality is all about people, and this recognition is especially meaningful because it comes directly from our team. Every colleague plays a part in creating the atmosphere our guests experience, whether they’re welcoming a family, supporting a major conference, preparing a memorable meal or helping deliver a concert night. We’re proud of the culture we’ve built together and we’ll continue investing in our people because they’re the heart of everything we do.”