What happened in Kerry this week
West Kerry teacher Sinéad Uí Dhroma has been awarded the accolade of ‘Educator of the Year’ by Kinia, an organisation that promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) among students.
A project developed by a team of students from Meán Scoil Nua an Leith Triúigh to help protect a species of bird has been named as the overall winner in the senior category at this year’s Young Environmentalist Awards.
A year since the tragic loss of much-loved Ballymac teenager Luke Silles, his family continue to be surrounded by an extraordinary outpouring of support from the wider community - and hundreds gathered at the weekend to honour his memory and raise over €10,000 for the Fenit RNLI.
Fireside tales and bedtime stories at his grandmother’s knee about the Royal Navy adventures of her father were the inspiration for a family memoir by Dingle man Liam O’Connor.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Proud mother writes Donal's story
ELMA WALSH said she never wanted to write a book about her son Donal - but the Bishop of Kerry persuaded her to do it.
The Blennerville woman launched ‘I Am Me: The Donal Walsh Story’ at Knock last weekend, on the 13th anniversary of her son’s death which was marked by the family and around 2,800 young people from all over Ireland.
She told Kerry’s Eye: “It was the Bishop who asked me to do it.
“He wanted to talk about the intervening years since his death, and the difference Donal has made to people’s lives, the recognition he’s got and the crowds that are going to Knock.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Brothers on the run across continents
Three young brothers are planning a unique fundraising challenge that will stretch from the shores of the Kingdom to a children’s village in Tanzania — one stroke, one pedal and one stride at a time.
Jack Kelly (12), Luke Kelly (10) and Aidan Kelly (9) will take on on their self-designed triathlon on June 1, beginning with a 300-metre swim in Fenit, followed by a 10km cycle and the first leg of a 5k run.
But the challenge doesn’t end there.
The Tralee brothers will finish the challenge with the second leg of the run - thousands of kilometres away in East Africa.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Portillo show brings 'advertising we couldn't buy'
Listowel's Lartigue Monorail and Museum is in for a huge boost next year, when up to 2.5 million BBC television viewers watch it featured on the popular travel series Great Railway Journeys.
The show’s presenter - former UK minister Michael Portillo - visited the North Kerry attraction on Saturday to record a segment for the prime time show that will be broadcast on BBC Two next spring .
Portillo was welcomed to Listowel by former Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan, and ended up staying for about three hours in total - more than they had initially intended the shoot would take.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Skellig Bounty sails into Blue Flag history
Husband-and-wife team Brendan Curtin and Elizabeth McCooey are sailing into history - their boat the Skellig Bounty has become the first tourism boat in Ireland to be awarded Blue Flag status.
Based in Knightstown on Valentia, AquaTerra Boat Tours provides trips for tourists around Valentia, the Skellig coast, and landings on Skellig Michael, as well as private charters.
Brendan, a Valentia Island native who grew up immersed in the wild beauty of South Kerry’s Atlantic coast, says the Blue Flag is not only a boost for AquaTerra Boat Tours but tourism in the entire area.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
100 new jobs planned at newly-named Kinisla
The former dairy business of Kerry Group plc, Kerry Dairy Ireland, has rebranded as Kinisla as part of a buyout agreement, creating 100 new jobs.
The new identity was formally unveiled by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at an event in Listowel on Tuesday, and follows a strong 2025 for the majority farmer-owned business and comes with the announcement of a €300 million investment in the company over the next five years.
As a result of such investment, the business also confirmed that it will create 100 new jobs over the next two years.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
New chapter for Coolick school
PUPILS, staff, parents and the board of management at one of Kerry’s fastest-growing rural primary schools are about to embark on an exciting new journey - Coolick National School has been told plans for a major expansion have been given the green light to go ahead.
Board of management at the 115-pupil school near Kilcummin had applied to Kerry County Council for the landmark development project, and the Council has now granted permission for the construction of a two-storey extension.
The Council’s decision marks a significant milestone in the school's long-term growth strategy and signals an exciting new era for students, staff, families, and the wider community.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
