How Nathan McDonnell hid a tarnished reputation behind Tralee business circles – ‘It was all smoke and mirrors with him’

Former Tralee Chamber colleague of Nathan McDonnell talks about ‘embarrassing’ episode for the organisation

Nathan McDonnell.

Nathan McDonnell was suave enough to sway minds and consummate enough to con the great and the good of Tralee and Kerry’s business community over a three year period as President of Tralee Chamber Alliance from 2021 to 2023.

Since the 45-year-old businessman was sentenced to 12 years in jail in February 2025 for assisting an organised crime group linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and the largest consignment of crystal meth ever seized in the State’s history, conversations around the reputational damage to Tralee’s business standing have largely been consigned to whispers in quiet places.