A series of talks, with the topics ranging from the white-tailed sea eagle to the ant population in Killarney National Park, will commence in Killarney on Thursday, October 5 and continue over six weeks.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
The Autumn Talks Series in Killarney House, hugely popular in the past, is returning for the first time since the pandemic, with a series of fascinating subjects and speakers.
The first talk, on October 5, will be delivered by Eamonn Meskell, divisional manager with Killarney National Park, who has managed the reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle.
He will chart the success of the project through the various phases and he will also refer to the osprey introduction programme.
On Thursday, October 12 historian and author Owen O’Shea will deliver a lecture entitled Terror, Turmoil and Trauma which will look at the civil war in Kerry and its legacy.
Owen is the author of several books, most recently the highly acclaimed No Middle Path and Ballymacandy – The story of a Kerry ambush, is the communications officer with Kerry County Council.
Thursday, October 26 will see Killarney man Louis O’Toole take to the podium to talk about fungi in Killarney National Park.
He admits to not being an expert mycologist but, having penned a book on the subject, he knows a bit more than the average person.
A gifted artist, Louis has produced an invaluable scientific record on fungi and the incredible diversity of the ecosystems found within the park.
Ants will take centre stage on Thursday, November 2 when zoologist John Breen takes the stage. He completed his PhD in wood ants at University College Cork and he went on to study at the University of Bergen in Norway and, later, in Trinity College Dublin before becoming a lecturer in the University of Limerick.
Now retired and an associate professor, he has a keen interest in ants, bees and wasps and has been a long-time beekeeper.
Sherry in the Soup is the title of the talk planned for Thursday, November 9 and it charts the life and times of the McShain family the previous owners of Killarney House and Gardens, Ross Castle and Innisfallen Island.
The speaker will be Rachel Kavanagh, a law graduate, a guide in Killarney National Park and qualified Fáilte Ireland tour guide who has developed a great interest in the history of the Earls of Kenmare.
The final talk, on Thursday, November 16, will be by Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, manager of the Blasket Centre in Dun Chaoin who will examine the past, present and future of the Blaskets.
He supervised the complete renovation of the Blasket Centre in 2022and it is now acknowledged as the finest facility of its type in Ireland.
Lorcán spent many years in the seafood and fishing sector and was an industry representative for Ireland ad a European level.
Admission to the Killarney House talks is free of charge but seating will be limited. The talks will also be live-streamed on the Killarney National Park Facebook page.
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