Killarney on Ice will not open this year due to ‘insane’ insurance costs

Insurance costs for the event have increased by 300% to €40,000, the Independent reports.

Popular attraction Killarney on Ice will not go ahead this year, as insurance costs have soared to "unsustainable" levels. The ice rink has been running for many years in Killarney, and attracts up to 20,000 visitors during the Christmas period. Speaking about the  300% insurance cost increase, businessman Tim O’Donoghue told the Independent:

Insurance has gone insane. Insurance companies control this country. Any activity based events will not be non-existent. It is unsustainable from a business point of view.

He added that he would not be willing to pass the additional cost onto customers, as he would be accused of "ripping people off". He also said that the fact the event has never had to make an insurance claim would not reduce the costly bill. In a post on Instagram, the Killarney on Ice team said they hope the situation will have improved by next year and that they'll be able to open again. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkrO2sSNPuz/ The attraction has also been affected by increases in diesel and marquee costs - their diesel costs alone would have increased from about €16,000 last year to €32,000 in 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Qbcu_lwxc/ Killarney on Ice usually opens for five weeks over the Christmas period, attracting thousands of visitors to the town and employing 25 people each year. Header image via Shutterstock READ NEXT: Garda swimming pool at Templemore to reopen following protests