Connect with us

News

Tributes paid as Killarney says goodbye to centenarian Mollie

Published

on

K

KILLARNEY is saying farewell this week to the last of a generation as popular Killarney lady and centenarian Mollie Breen passed away yesterday evening.

Mollie, of Countess Road, was over 103 years of age and would have marked her 104th birthday in August. She is survived by her nieces, nephews, grand nephews, grand nieces, great grand nephews, great grand nieces, other relatives, neighbours and many dear friends and the staff and residents at Killarney Nursing Home.

The removal will take place from O'Shea's Funeral Home, Cathedral Place, Killarney, tomorrow, Thursday evening, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, to St Mary’s Cathedral, where Requiem Mass will take place at 10.30am on Friday. Burial will take place in Churchtown Cemetery, Beaufort.

Mollie never had any shortage of help when it came to blowing out the candles on her birthday cakes, most notably on Sunday, August 11, 2013, when a Mass and birthday party in The Dromhall Hotel were organised in honour of her landmark 100th birthday. Among those congratulating Mollie on that day was Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne. Meanwhile, staff and residents in Killarney Nursing Home threw another party for the popular Mollie that week.

A keen bridge player, Mollie will be missed by all her friends from the card-tables as well as members of Killarney Active Retirement Association. “Mollie had a very long and very enjoyable life,” her nephew John O’Sullivan said. “She had many friends and was a very outgoing woman who loved being out and about and seeing people being happy.”

Mollie (nee O’Sullivan) was born in Ballyledder, Beaufort, in 1913 and was one of seven children.

Mollie worked in Kennelly’s shop in Killorglin for several years. It was in Killorglin that she met her future husband, Jerh Breen, also from Beaufort.

The couple married in 1940 and together ran two jewellery shops in Killarney, with the first on Plunkett Street and the other on Main Street. Mollie and Jerh retired in the early 1990s and the Main Street shop was run by John and Kathleen O’Shea until 2011.

Mollie and Jerh, who died in May 1993, were keen racegoers and Jerh would have been a familiar sight to many as the Killarney racecourse where he used to erect the clock for many years during the race meets.
 


 
Above: Mollie Breen photographed by her nephew, John O’Sullivan.

Advertisement

News

Regatta Queen crowned at annual dance

Published

on

By

The annual Killarney Regatta Dance took place on September 25 as rowers, families and supporters came together to celebrate their successful year.

The racing was cancelled in September due to bad weather.

The Killarney Regatta is one of Ireland’s oldest rowing events, having first begun in 1788.

The dance took place at the Killarney Oaks Hotel where there was a lot of excitement and fun. Six rowing clubs, Fossa, Workman’s, St Brendan’s, Commercials, Flesk Valley, and Muckross, came together to celebrate the community and its shared history.

Amelia Counihan was crowned as the Regatta Queen.

The Queen represents the spirit pride and grace of the rowing community and has been a tradition in the club for generations.

Workman’s Rowing Club congratulated Amelia and described her as a woman who embodies everything that their tradition stands for.

The club said: “Queen is more than a title — it is a celebration of history, community, and the spirit of Killarney rowing.”

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Killarney Looking Good competition celebrates community pride

Published

on

By

The annual Killarney Looking Good competition took place at the Great Southern Hotel on Wednesday night where Kerry GAA captain Gavin White presented the awards to the deserving recipients.

Killarney Park Hotel came out on top with the overall prize being awarded to the newly refurbished five-star hotel.

The judges were impressed by the stylish new entrance and driveway and their spectacular display of flowers and window boxes. Killarney Park won the same award back in 1992.

The best large commercial premises award went to Killarney Racecourse, and the best small commercial premises was awarded to Sheahan’s Pharmacy.

Charlie Foley’s won the best public house; best restaurant was 40 Main and Walsh Bros Shoes was named best retail.

In the residential categories, the best private residence was Tomies View, Ross Road, best large estate went to Countess Grove, and best small estate was won by Coolgreane Park.

The winner of the 2025 Fr Michael Murphy Memorial Pride of Place Award was presented to the Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative while the Yvonne Quill Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award winner went to Margaret Curtin.

The Killarney Looking Good competition is organised by Killarney Municipal District Council and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and sponsored by MD O’Shea’s & Sons and O’Mahony Media.

The competition aims to encourage residents and business owners to keep the town looking well through the use of flowers, hanging baskets, colour schemes.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport