Connect with us

News

Tricel founders bestowed with the town’s highest honour

Published

on

A husband and wife who built a hugely successful international business from humble beginnings in a shed at the rear of their home have been inducted into the Order of Inisfallen.

The award is considered the highest honour that  Killarney can bestow.
Con and Anne Stack saw their company grow from very humble beginnings to a multi-national enterprise that now employs over 600 people.
That remarkable success story was recognised at a ceremony in the historic Muckross House on Thursday afternoon when they received the Order of Inisfallen civic honour which is a joint initiative between Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Kerry County Council.
It recognises those who have made an exceptional contribution to the local economy and to the tourism industry.
When they moved to Killarney over 50 years ago, Moyvane native Con and his Ballyduff native wife, Anne, set up Killarney Plastics, having identified a market for fibre glass and glass enforced products.
The company later moved operations to an IDA supported, purpose-built unit and the remarkable dedication shown and groundwork put in by Con and Anne Stack paid handsome dividends as Killarney Plastics became global engineering company Tricel.
It evolved into a major family-led firm, delivering performance and innovation-driven solutions across the water, environmental, construction and distribution industries.
With 14 companies within the group, Tricel currently employs 620 people, 200 of whom are based in Killarney, and the company is now run by Con and Anne’s sons Michael, Con, Richard and Robert.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Martin Grady  said the story of Tricel is inspiring as it went from modest beginnings to international innovation, nurtured by vision, hard work, resilience and innovation.
“Despite this remarkable expansion, the Stack family has never lost sight of their roots. They have remained humble and steadfast supporters of local employment, local investment and local opportunity.
“Their commitment has ensured that generations of families in Killarney, Kerry and beyond have had the ability to thrive close to home,” the mayor said.
Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce President Johnny McGuire said all the comments he has heard since it was first announced that Con and Anne Stack were to be honoured had one common theme: It couldn’t happen to a nicer couple or a nicer family.
“No words of mine could adequately describe the impact the company has made, both as a manufacturer and as an employer of over 600 people.
“Everything Con and Anne Stack have achieved in business and in life can be attributed to their dignity, their dedication, their commitment, their will to succeed and their incredible work ethic,” he said.

Advertisement

News

Junior Brother to make Mike the Pies debut this May

Kilcummin musician Junior Brother is set to play Mike the Pies for the first time when he takes to the stage at the popular Listowel venue on May 21. The […]

Published

on

Kilcummin musician Junior Brother is set to play Mike the Pies for the first time when he takes to the stage at the popular Listowel venue on May 21.

The local artist has built a strong reputation on the Irish folk and alternative scene and released his third album, The End, last September. The record followed a steady rise in profile since the release of his debut album Pull The Right Rope, which was nominated for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year.
Junior Brother also picked up two nominations at the 2019 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, where he was shortlisted for Best Folk Album and Best Emerging Folk Act. His distinctive songwriting and live performances have since seen him share stages with a range of well-known acts, including The Proclaimers and Glen Hansard.
Hansard later invited the Kilcummin man to join him on a tour of the east coast of the United States.
Tickets for the show are priced at €20 and are available through the Mike the Pies website.

Continue Reading

News

Carrig Cup gathering honours Mike Gaine

Published

on

By

A Christmas gathering in memory of Mike Gaine brought friends and rally competitors together at Kenmare Golf Club on January 3, where the first winners of the Carrig Cup were also recognised.

The new trophy was claimed by driver Tommy Randles and co-driver Darragh Lynch, making them the opening names on the cup.


The award will be competed for every six months on both the Killarney Historic Rally and the Rally of the Lakes.


Randles thanked the Gaine family for presenting the trophy and the club members who supported the night.


He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people and KDMC club members that came to the Kenmare Golf club last night to the Christmas gathering of friends in memory of Mike Gaine and in recognition of the Carrig cup and myself and Darragh Lynch as the first winners it was a great night with rally stories of the past been told until early in the morning I would like to thank Mike Casey and his team of Kenmare golf course for the bar service and food on the night which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and I would like to wish you all a very happy new year and hope 2026 will be a great year for everyone.”


Co-driver Lynch added:
“The fact that the cup will be won every six months for both the Historic Rally and the Rally of the Lakes means it will have an amazing history to it in a few short years so for myself and Tommy to be the first names on it is special. I’d like to thank the Gaine family for putting forward the cup and the rally community of Kenmare for supporting it so strongly. The cup will keep Mike’s memory safe and strong forever more now and it was great to see such a crowd on the night.”

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport