Killarney honours its great achievers

Mayor Niall Kelleher, Cllr Brendan Cronin and Municipal District Manager Angela McAllen with supreme world sheep dog trials champion Tom O’Sullivan

Mayor Niall Kelleher presenting an award to rugby World Cup winning performance analyst Paddy O’Sullivan’s parents parents Ben and Marie and brother Leonard

Mayor Niall Kelleher and Municipal District Manager Angela McAllen with athlete David Kenny’s parents Noel and Mary Kenny

Mayor Niall Kelleher with world Irish dancing champion Caoimhe O’Hallloran, her parents Garry and Geraldine and brother Aidan. Also included is KIllarney Municipal District Manager Angela McAllen

Mayor Niall Kelleher and Cllr Maura Healy-Rae with representatives of All-Ireland intermediate champions Rathmore

Mayor Niall Kelleher and Cllr Maura Healy-Rae with representatives of the Fossa All-Ireland junior championship winning team

Mayro Niall Kelleher and Cllr John O’Donoghue with the Glenflesk All-Ireland winning ballad group and their mentor Rosie Healy

Mayor Niall Kelleher and Cllr John O’Donoghue with the Spa GAA Club All-Ireland winning set dancers

If ever proof was required that Killarney is something very special, then a cursory glance at the list of those honoured and recognised with Killarney Municipal District awards in 2024 provides all the evidence that is needed, Mayor of Killarney Cllr Niall Kelleher has said.

Speaking at the awards ceremony in the Anam Arts and Cultural Centre, he said for the town being able to boast about being home to just one of the recipients would be something but having them all is really something special.

“We would also be justified if we became world champions at boasting and bragging,” he said.

“The achievements of those we recognise brought great honour and glory to this wonderful town. What you achieved gave us all a little extra pep in our step and, in fact, many of us felt an inch or two taller walking the streets after your remarkable accomplishments,” Mayor Kelleher added.

Those that received awards were

• Rathmore GAA Club on winning the All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship (proposed by Cllrs Maura Healy-Rae and Niall Kelleher).
• Fossa GAA Club on winning the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship (proposed by Cllrs Maura Healy-Rae and Niall Kelleher).
• Tom O’Sullivan who won the world sheepdog trials (Proposed by Cllr Brendan Cronin).
• World Irish dancing champion Caoimhe O’Halloran (Proposed by Cllr John O’Donoghue).
• Spa GAA Club’s two teams who won All-Ireland set dancing Scór titles (Proposed by Cllr John O’Donoghue).
• 20km walk specialist David Kenny for his Olympic Games exploits (Proposed by Cllr Michael Cahill).
• Jordan Lee who represented Ireland in the Olympics and Paralympics (Proposed by Cllr Michael Cahill).
• Glenflesk GAA Club‘s ballad group who won the All-Ireland Scór title (proposed by Cllr John O’Donoghue).
• Paddy O’Sullivan who was a performance analyst with the South Africa World Cup winning rugby team (proposed by Cllr John O’Donoghue).
• Jessie Buckley who was honoured for her brilliant acting career which has seen her earn many major awards (Proposed by Cllr Marie Moloney).

Mayor Kelleher said: “I congratulate the dancers and the musicians, their mentors, their clubs and their families on doing so remarkably well and bringing great pride to their parishes, their communities and their county”.

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