.At the launch of Culture Night were Bridget Fitzgerald,Director of Service Niamh O’Sullivan, Acting Chief Executive Martin O’Donoghue, Arts Officer Kate Kennelly, Cathaoirleach Cllr Breandan Fitzgerald, Hannah Pinckheard. Photo: Michelle Breen Crean
KERRY Culture Night promises to be an exciting night with over 50 events planned for Friday, September 20.
Kerry County Council Arts Service has worked closely with many artists, arts venues, and communities to bring the people of Kerry a night filled with fun, creativity, and culture.
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr. Breandán MacGearailt stated that ‘This nighthas become a cultural ‘must attend’ event for many of us! Kerry County Council has launched its brochure, it is available throughout the library service as well as being available online on arts.kerrycoco.ie’, he further stated, ‘We are very proud of the arts and culture in Kerry, this night celebrates a very special part of Kerry, and of being from Kerry’.
Continued below…
.
There are over 50 events happening in many venues across the county. These events showcase our living culture in Kerry, people can enjoy music, dance, storytelling, visual arts, historical talks, street spectacle, circus art, fashion, theatre and much more.
All events are detailed on the national website www.culturenight.ie and on arts.kerrycoco.ie please be sure to tag #onenightforall and the @KerryCoArts platform as you wish. If you want to share the magic of your experience on this nightwith family and friends, so that creativity across Kerry can be shared across the world on this special night!
Arts Officer Kate Kennelly stated, ‘Our artists and arts venues need your support year-round, as they are the foundation of creativity in a local area’.
The Cathaoirleach invites everyone to enjoy this ‘#one night for all’ and urges people to keep in touch with arts and cultural events throughout the year.
SATURDAY last saw the first ever L’Étape Ireland transform Killarney into a Tour de France experience, bringing over 1,800 cyclists the area, eager to conquer the iconic views and take on mountain passes along world-class routes that echoed those completed by legendary Tour de France champions.
The overwhelming success of the event has led to the possibility that the Tour de France official L’Étape Grand Depart could come to Ireland in the coming years.
When looking to bring LÉtape by Tour de France to Ireland, official Tour de France scouts singled out Killarney for its similar terrain to the Grand Depart, and approached Killorglin based Elite Events Management to manage and host the event.
Continued below…
.
As organisers of iconic Irish cycles like the Ring of Beara Cycle, Ride Dingle and the Wicklow 200, Elite Events Management are the market leaders in cycling events in Ireland, and so were perfectly positioned to deliver an event of this scale and reputation.
Shane Fleming crosses the finish line.
L’Étape Ireland 2024 started and finished in Killarney town centre with a choice of two routes developed in conjunction with Tour de France: an 135km and a 98km route, both designed to showcase the best of the Kerry countryside and mountain passes.
The overall winner of L’Étape Ireland 2024 men’s race was John Dowley who finished in 3 hours 36 minutes 02 seconds, and the winner of the women’s race was Sara McGeough who finished in 4 hours 9 minutes 36 seconds time.
Greg O’Shea and friends.
They were each presented with an iconic Tour de France coveted yellow jersey, a place at L’Étape du Tour de France 2025 and a limited edition Tour de France branded Tissot watch. See full race results below.
L’Étape Ireland was delighted to welcome official charity partner Down Syndrome Kerry in 2024, due to receive a significant donation from contributions by participants when they registered for the event.
Cycling L’Étape Ireland this year were former pro-cyclists Dan Martin and Imogen Cotter. Dan represented Ireland at the Olympic Games and won stages of the Tour de France, and Imogen Cotter is a former professional cyclist who raced at elite level.
Greg O’Shea a former Irish rugby international and TV’s Love Island winner also completed the cycle.
Imogen Cotter at L’Etape.
Supporters, family members and locals were able to join participants at the finish line to enjoy the L’Étape Ireland event village on Cathedral Green. Refreshments, music, stalls and cycling memorabilia were open to everyone and free to enter.
Anyone interested in taking part in L’Étape Ireland 2025 can register their interest on the official event website or email info@eliteevents.ie and the link will be sent onto them.
.Anila Mucaj, Maeve Rogers and Rose Brosnan at the start of the Born To Run Club’s Couch To 5k Programme on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
AN enthusiastic bunch of new runners turned up in the Brandon Car Park on Monday evening to start a journey which will see them run a 5k in two months time.
The Born To Run Marathon Club started its Couch To 5k Programme which will run for the next nine weeks and over 40 people signed up to challenge themselves.
The programme is a great way to get or stay active as the autumn evenings are upon us, while the social aspect can’t be under understated.
There were plenty seasoned Born To Run Club members there to help the newcomers who are in for a fun time over the coming weeks. Scroll down for photos…
Emer Patterson, Deirdre Young and Lillian McMahon at the start of the Born To Run Club’s Couch To 5k Programme on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Gail Kelly, Sinead Fitzgerald and Lorraine Connor at the start of the Born To Run Club’s Couch To 5k Programme on Monday night. Photo by Dermot CreanThe newcomers in the Born To Run Club’s Couch To 5k Programme on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.Susan Tearle, Nora Begley, Rita Ryan and Tom Foley at the start of the Born To Run Club’s Couch To 5k Programme on Monday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Coimisiún na Meán has today announced the awarding of over €10.1 million of funding under the latest round of the Sound & Vision Scheme.
Round 53 will fund the production of 91 projects across TV and radio by independent producers and broadcasters around the country, including nearly €45,000 for six new projects for Radio Kerry.
95% of total funding as part of Round 53 has been provided to independent producers and 30% of all funding going to projects in the Irish language or bilingual.
Continued below…
.
The six projects for Radio Kerry to receive funding are…
• €8,997 for Echoes of the Past and Present: The Family Names of Kerry – Radio Kerry (Mairéad Ní Mhathúna)
• €8,304 for Finscéalta Chiarraí: Scéalta Miotasacha ón Ríocht – Radio Kerry (Mairéad Ní Mhathúna)
• €7,905 for Creameries of Kerry: A Dairy Journey – Radio Kerry (Keeshla Communications Limited)
• €7,923 for Voices of the Future in Kerry – Radio Kerry (Keeshla Communications Limited)
• €6,744 for Binneas: Music, Song and Stories of the Iveragh Peninsula – Radio Kerry (John O’Shea)
• €4,925 for Old Killarney Town – Radio Kerry (John O’Shea)
LEE Strand has officially launched the 2024 Lee Strand Homework Journals with an Ardfert pupil having the honour of designing the front cover.
Once again over 10,000 hardback homework journals will be distributed to national school pupils in Kerry.
Pupils were invited to design the front and back cover of the Lee Strand Homework Journal. Millie Lyons, Ardfert NS was announced as the Front Cover Winner 2024 and won €750 for her school and a trophy.
Continued below…
.
Sara Prieto, Barraduff NS was announced as the Back Cover Winner 2024 and won €250 for her school and a trophy.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Lee Strand Homework Journal, Gearoid Linnane, CEO stated; “Lee Strand is delighted to offer complimentary homework journals to national school pupils over the past thirteen years. Once again, this year we invited pupils to get creative and design the front and back cover.”
“We were delighted with the response, with over 1,000 fantastic entries. We would like to congratulate Mille & Sara this year’s winners of our homework journal competition. Lee Strand takes great pride in supporting the local community and what better way to support our community than by supporting our local schools with over 10,000 complimentary homework journals.”
“The homework journals are one less expense for parents to incur when their children return to school. We would like to wish pupils, teachers and parents a safe return to school and wish everyone the very best in the academic year ahead.”
Schools can receive further information on the Lee Strand homework journals by contacting Lee Strand on 066 7121084.
.Ciara O’Sullivan with Course Instructor at Kerry College Tara O’Halloran Cronin.
A CASTLEISLAND woman is one of 18 young people travelling to Lyon, France this week to compete as Team Ireland at the 2024 World Skills event.
The WorldSkills competition will see over 1,500 competitors from more than 71 countries and regions around the world demonstrate their skills across 62 skills areas.
Ciara O’Sullivan, who is part of Team Ireland will be competing in Beauty Therapy after beating off tough competition at the national skills competition to make the World Skills event.
Continued below…
.
Ciara is from Castleisland and attended Kerry College. She will be pursuing a degree in Munster Technological University (MTU) after the competition in Lyon.
Commenting on her journey to represent Ireland at World Skills Lyon, Ciara said: “I’m honoured to be part of Team Ireland, representing my country, doing my passion. Being part of this team is inspiring and fulfilling to say the least. Upskilling, travelling and inspiring younger generations drive us on. Beauty therapy as a skill has changed my life, and I am delighted that our teams’ various skills represent that skills really do change lives.”
Team Ireland will compete in areas including Industrial Mechanics, Beauty Therapy, Carpentry, Food and Hospitality, Cybersecurity and Construction.
Ireland’s team was announced by Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD at Government Buildings, Dublin.
KERRY clubs and organisations involved in community climate action projects are to receive over €700,000 in funding.
The money is coming from the national Climate Action Fund to help sports clubs, tidy towns groups, arts groups and others to pay for climate actions that they feel will improve their communities.
Around 27 Kerry clubs and organisations are in line to share in €738,000 in funding as a result. Tralee Tidy Towns, St Brendans Park FC and Banna Community Rescue Boats Ireland are among those receiving funds.
Continued below…
.
Brosna GAA club is in line to get funding of €75,000 from the Government’s Shared Island Fund, which is supporting cross-border and all-island projects that contribute to climate and energy targets on the island of Ireland.
There is also further funding of €663,000 available for 26 other Kerry organisations and clubs (see list below) from the Climate Action Fund.
The funding is paying for initiatives like the installation of renewable energy systems, the development of community gardens, or the installation of EV chargers, bike racks, water refill stations, composting, lighting upgrades or rainwater harvesting to name just a few of its purpose.
Welcoming the news, Minister Norma Foley said: “I welcome this funding for Kerry clubs and organisations which is being provided from the Climate Action Fund and the Shared Island Fund. This is a recognition of a great work that they and their volunteers do every single day.”
Kerry organisations in line to benefit from funding of €663,000 from the Climate Action Fund:
• Sneem Development Coop/Sneem TidyTowns
• Kenmare Tidy Towns
• Dingle food Festival
• Non Faction Arts
• Ballyduff Tidy Towns
• Comhlacht Forbartha an Ghleanna
• Banna Community Rescue Boats Ireland
• Lixnaw Development Association
• Tureencahill Community Group
• Maharees Conservation Association
• Cahersiveen Tidy Towns
• Beaufort GAA Club
• Torc (formerly Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre)
• Asdee Community Development Association
• Coiste Forbartha na Sceilge / Ballinskelligs Tidy Towns
PEIL FAOI 7/8/9: Our Under 7/8/9 footballers played great and brilliant football last Sunday morning in Caherslee. More of the same next Sunday at 11am…15th! Newcomers most welcome!
PEIL FAOI 11: (i) More Football-for-Fun will take place in Connolly Park at 10.50am on Sunday next (15ú Meán Fómhair). (ii) And the U11 Boys Central League promises more exciting Gaelic this Thursday (19th).
PEIL FAOI 13/14/15: (i) We look forward to the Lee Strand Football U14 Tournament on Saturday next (14th). Many top-class teams will participate in the procedings. Our Rock representatives ar pháirc na himeartha: Alex O’Flaherty, Billy Kirby, Blake Bowler, Conor Murphy, Conor Maguire, Danny Lane, Darragh Moriarty, David Ahern, Diarmuid Hennessy, Dylan McEvoy, Ediart Topali, Eliot Caleja, Harry Maguire, Jayden O’Dowd, Joe O’Halloran, Kian Cronin, Liam Swords, Mark Foley, Mark Riordan, Matthew Murphy, Michael Carmody, Noah Reidy, Oisín Horan, Oran O’Regan, Ryan O’Flaherty, Séamus Keenan, Shane Carey, Shea Horan, Tadhg Ó Luasaigh, Tadhg Ó Riagáin! Best wishes to our 30 Rock stalwarts and good luck to the organisers.
(ii) ‘Well done’ to our U15 players who contributed significantly to the minor team’s County Championship victory over North Kerry in the semi-final and to that truly spirited performance v Bordcheantar Naomh Ciarán on Monday last’s final i Staid an Ghearaltaigh. Good experience gained in the county’s biggest stadium! We look to the future with delightful anticipation!
(iii) Training sessions on Wednesday and on Friday evenings in preparation for the Lee Strand competition and for the U15 Central League final. We await confirmation of the date of this final….hoping that it will be played in the coming weeks…táimid ar bís agus ag feitheamh go mífhoighneach don chluiche sin! The Central League final v Na Gaeil is on the horizon! A big challenge and the Men of The Rock love big challenges! Up The Black‘n’Amber!
(iv) What about a Town League? We’re also hoping and praying that a Town League will be held in the coming weeks. So, plenty of football still to be played! So, lads, let’s ‘keep the commitment going’ as we head into the final stages of the season. Ar aghaidh linn! (Ger Hobbert, Dan Ahern)
The Austin Stack Club minor team that played the Naomh Ciarán Divisional team in the Kerry County Final on Monday last i bPáirc Aibhistín de Staic. Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
MINORS: (i) ‘Well done’ to our minors who did us proud in the Keanes Supervalu Minor County Championship with their great victory against a powerful North Kerry combination in the semi-final i bPáirc Aibhistín de Staic on Monday the 2nd September…. 3-10 to 1-9. Not a bad day’s work! Semi-final team: Oliver Lata, Eoin Mangan, Fionán Ryan, Aodhán Horgan, Jayden Moriarty, Gavin Casey, Darragh Lyons, Alex Tuohy, Ben Murphy, Rory Lynch, Ronan Carroll (0-2), Harry Murphy, Max Maszorak, Ryan O’Driscoll (capt)(1-7; 4f), Cormac Bastible (1-1). Subs a d’imir: Jack Diggin, Ben Litchfield, Adam Johnston (1-0), Jake Carmody.
(ii) And mór-chomhghairdeachas to them on another fine performance in Monday’s minor county final (9th) v St Kierans in Fitzgerald Stadium. Great effort, boys! St Kieran’s prevailed on the night to win the cup.
Our finalists: Oliver Lata; Eoin Mangan, Fionán Ryan, Aodhán Horgan; Jayden Moriarty, Gavin Casey, Darragh Lyons; Alex Tuohy, Ben Murphy; Rory Lynch, Ronan Carroll, Harry Murphy; Jack Diggin, Ryan O Driscoll, Cormac Bastible; Jake Carmody, Jamie Casey, Ben Litchfield, Conor O’Regan, Adam Johnson, Leon Sweeney David Mullins, Jack Shanahan, Max Gryzbowski, Jayden O’Dowd, Gabriel Maszorak, Tadhg Falvey, Brian Kavanagh.
CLUB GEAR: Club merchandise: log into www.austinstacks.ie (under ‘shop’).
CLUB LOTTO: Thanks once again to all club lotto supporters and promoters and especially to (i) O’Flynn Interiors, Sráid na Carraige, (ii) Hussey’s Deli and Newsagency, Cé an Phrionsa, (iii) Carmel Cuiltéir, AdeS, (iv) The Burger Shack, Móin an Bhealaigh, (v) The Brogue, Sráid na Carraige, (vi) Siopa Chaoimhín de Barra, Ollmhargadh, Sráid na Carraige Uachtarach agus (vii) Commanes Bookshop (PC Books), Sráid na Carraige.
FOIREANN na mBAN: We eagerly look forward to a visit from the Kerry Ladies, All-Ireland champions 2024, on September 22nd in Connolly Park.
THE ROCK STILL IN THE RACE: ‘Well done’ to our club senior team that drew with Raonaithe na Leamhna in the Intermediate Club Championship County Final on Sunday last i gCill Airne. Best wishes for the ath-imirt! Up The Rock!
THE WALK TO THE WELL: At the dawn of day on Sunday last (8th September) as several Rock walkers headed to Ballyheigue Well, the Rock footballers were classed as ‘intermediate.’ At midday, the Well-wishers wished and prayed and hoped! In the afternoon, a battle took place in Fitzgerald Stadium and as the sun was setting behind Oileán na mBairneach, The Muclach and The Seven Hogs, The Rock players were still ‘intermediate’ (and are) but eagerly looking forward to an exciting and entertaining replay!
Coimisiún na Meán has today announced the awarding of over €10.1 million of funding under the latest round of the Sound & Vision Scheme.
