What happened in Kerry this week
Popular priest Fr Larry Kelly celebrated his Golden Jubilee at the weekend and 50 years on his ministry is still inspiring young priests.
A heartbroken Killarney mother whose 17-year-old son was murdered says she has forgiven all those responsible and linked to her son’s tragic death.
Loyal Kerry fans face eye-watering costs if they travel to Croke Park on Saturday for the Kingdom’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final clash with Tyrone.
If the superhuman efforts of Padraig Kelly, who was just seconds away from securing fourth place at the European Triathlon Championships wasn’t impressive enough, well then, following firmly in his footsteps are his three young sons, who have just taken on their own triathlon to raise €6,000 for the Tír na nÓg Children’s Village in Tanzania.
This week saw sun-seekers flock to Kerry’s seaside towns, beaches and parks ready to finally get the summer season rolling as temperatures soared around the county.
Loughfouder National School principal Liz Lane has retired after 39 years in teaching and last week pupils, colleagues, former colleagues, friends and members of the wider community gathered to celebrate her long career in education.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Brave Lily’s heart-warming tribute to sisters
“Losing both of my sisters has changed my life forever” - those are the words of 10-year-old Lily Mannix, who organised a fundraiser at her school this week to remember two of her sisters who sadly passed away.
The brave and thoughtful Lily, who is a pupil in Ballyduff National School, lives in Lixnaw with her family.
Tragically, Lily is trying to come to terms with the death of two of her sisters - Amy, who died unexpectedly in April 2020 at the young age of 19, while their sister Shannon died at the age of 24, in January 2025, after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Heartbroken mother of murdered son: ‘I forgive them all’
A heartbroken Killarney mother whose 17-year-old son was murdered says she has forgiven all those responsible and linked to her son’s tragic death.
It’s 17 years ago this month since Stephen Lyne (17) was stabbed to death in Killarney over a lie told by a young woman who falsely claimed she had been raped by him.
Mr Lyne’s body was found on a grass margin – just yards from his home on the scenic Ross Road in Killarney – at about 1.30am on June 18, 2009, by teenagers in a car on their way to Ross Castle.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
It’s a … PENALTY
Loyal Kerry fans face eye-watering costs if they travel to Croke Park on Saturday for the Kingdom’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final clash with Tyrone.
A family of four might have to fork out as much as €1,000 if they decided to overnight in Dublin after the match and make their way home on Sunday.
Most will face a round-trip of at least 650 kilometres which is estimated will put them back a minimum of €80 in either diesel or petrol.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Kelly siblings following in dad’s footsteps
If the superhuman efforts of Padraig Kelly, who was just seconds away from securing fourth place at the European Triathlon Championships wasn’t impressive enough, well then, following firmly in his footsteps are his three young sons, who have just taken on their own triathlon to raise €6,000 for the Tír na nÓg Children’s Village in Tanzania.
Padraig, a lecturer in engineering at MTU, is originally from Kilcummin but has lived in Tralee for the past 20 years. He is married to Caroline Quill, sister of Louise Quill, the CEO and founder of the Tír na nÓg Children’s Village in Tanzania.
Inspired by their father, who has been involved with Tralee Triathlon Club for many years, Jack Kelly (12), Luke Kelly (10) and Aidan Kelly (9) organised their own triathlon on June 1. The challenge began with a 300-metre swim in Fenit, followed by a 10km cycle and the first leg of a 5km run.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Green shoots are blooming in Ballybunion
A KERRY post-primary school has secured funding for a new composting system that will turn food waste into gas to power its science laboratory.
The MyGug composting system at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Ballybunion will also turn food waste into valuable fertiliser.
It’s just one of a number of initiatives going on locally that illustrate Ballybunion’s commitment to sustainability and the circular economy while also promoting environmental sustainability.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
‘I belong here and I love this country’
ALAA ESSA and his wife Omnewa Farag are already accepted as locals in Listowel but on Tuesday they were formally admitted into the Irish family when they officially became citizens of Ireland at the Gleneagle Arena.
The couple, originally from Alexandria in Egypt, were among the more than 4,600 people who were conferred with Irish citizenship by Judge Paddy McMahon at five ceremonies on Monday and Tuesday at the Killarney venue.
Alaa, who is the manager of Applegreen in Listowel, said despite being fluent in English, words fail him when he tries to explain the emotion of the event.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Plaque unveiling at Ballyheigue graveyard
This Sunday, June 28th at 12 o’clock a commemorative plaque will be unveiled in St James’s graveyard, providing information on the burial site’s history and on some of the notable memorials there.
Among the historical points of interest covered by the new plaque is the story of St James’s Church, which once stood at the heart of the graveyard. The plaque also details the last resting places of Great Famine victims and a memorial to John Haswell, who served Admiral Horatio Nelson. Also documented are some reminders of the revolutionary years of 1916 to 1923, which can be found around the graveyard.
Following the installation of the commemorative plaque a second panel is also planned which will record the surnames of all the graves in the cemetery.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
