What happened in Kerry this week
The spirits of a local rugby team are soaring after one West Kerry whiskey producer donated a barrel of community spirit worth a cool €15,000.
Tarbert man John Stack says survivors of Thalidomide don't have time to wait any longer for a full State apology to those affected by the devastating drug - and said he wants the government to acknowledge what happened to them.
A landmark family business in Killarney town which shut its doors last October is to reopen again next month for one more go.
Over 100 concerned locals gathered in the Towers Hotel in Glenbeigh last Thursday night as the urgent need to tackle the ever-increasing threat of coastal erosion and continuing concerns over the future of one of Kerry’s most popular Blue Flag beaches.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
‘Reggie gives me real independence’
A Killorglin woman is calling on the people of Kerry to support fundraising efforts for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. The charity is marking 50 years since its foundation - and Joan Ann Brosnan knows how life-changing its services can be.
“It provides and trains guide dogs for blind and visually impaired people and families of children with autism in Ireland,” she says.
“It costs over €53,000 to train just one dog because of the amount of work that goes into it.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Netflix brings the fog to Dingle!
There’s usually no shortage of fog in Dingle, but French filmmakers are learning that the West Kerry weather doesn’t always play ball - they had to manufacture their own mist during a shoot last Wednesday.
The glorious sunshine was just not what was wanted for the Netflix drama series that began shooting in Glentenassig Wood the previous Thursday and continues around Dingle this week.
The Conor Pass was closed for a time on Monday afternoon with motorists being advised to avoid the area or expect delays.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Topple a chess record for Ukraine
Calling all chess enthusiasts. An event taking place at the MTU this Saturday will give you the opportunity to take on a renowned chess champion and attempt to break an Irish record all while raising awareness and funds for the ongoing war effort in Ukraine.
Olga Maryntseva, a Ukrainian who now lives in Tralee and works for NEWKD, is one of the event’s organisers. She told Kerry’s Eye that “this month marks four years since Russia invaded Ukraine and war still continues in our country. We don’t want people to forget about it. We want to raise awareness that Ukraine is still fighting for Europe’s freedom.”
As a way of connecting with the wider world for this cause, the international Ukrainian community is hosting a series of chess tournaments all over the globe with events taking place in Lisbon, Barcelona, Bratislava, Vilnius, Brussels, Prague, Canada and Tralee.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
300 TY life savers to take on CPR Challenge
Around 300 Transition Year students from around Kerry and beyond will gather at the Gleneagle Arena later this month to put their life-saving skills to the test at this year’s CPR Challenge.
Students from across the region will take part in the challenge, which is designed to test their skills in administering CPR in a practical, hands-on environment.
The CPR Challenge is organised entirely by volunteers from Killarney First Responders. First responder Kevin O’Leary said the event, first launched in 2023, gives students an opportunity to reinforce the lifesaving techniques many are already learning as part of their Transition Year programmes.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Ballyheigue school wins national film award
Scoil Naomh Iosef, Bouleenshere, Ballyheigue have won an inaugural special award sponsored by Met Éireann on the theme Weather, Climate, and Our Future at this year’s FÍS Film Awards.
The pupils travelled to the Helix in Dublin last week after their short film ‘The Three Little Pigs (with a twist)’ was short-listed for the 2026 FÍS Film Awards.
The film, created by pupils from across the school, stood out among more than 1,500 entries in the national competition and was awarded the inaugural special award sponsored by Met Éireann on the theme Weather, Climate, and Our Future.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
'We need hope for the future'
A PALESTINIAN man who is living in Killarney has pleaded with the people of Kerry not to abandon his country men and women and to give them some hope.
Bilal al Darabe (46) who is from Dura, near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, has been living in Killarney for the past two months after arriving in Ireland in August seeking international protection.
The father-of-three is hoping to one day be reunited with his wife Yasmen and their children Yahya (12), Reem (10) and Tala (4½) who are refugees in Jordan.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
