KILLARNEY ADVERTISER WK12 2024

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Partner of Killarney man battling cancer thankful for support

There was an air of sadness around Killarney last week when news broke that one of our own, Steven Brosnan, was battling a cancer diagnosis.

Steven is the son of retired council worker Christy Brosnan and is from a wellknown Killarney family.

Now based in Wexford, 36-year-old Steven was diagnosed with cancer back in December 2023, but the news only reached Killarney last week.

“We are a private family so we kept it quiet for as long we could but the cancer had spread to Steven’s back and he had to undergo chemo treatment. The local GAA club here St. Joseph's heard the news and wanted to do something to show their support,” his partner Sarah told the Killarney Advertiser this week. He is expected to undergo his last bout of chemotherapy soon and what is next is still unclear for the family.

“He may have to get additional treatment depending on how his body has reacted to the chemotherapy. We are just taking it one day at a time,” added Sarah.

“I just want to say that we are so grateful to all of our friends in Killarney who have been in touch. We have been getting visitors and calls all week and we are so lucky to have amazing friends who are

Seamus Weldon was such a good engineer he could have worked for John Deere in America

Such was the engineering skills of the late Seamus Weldon he could have worked for the design department of the legendary John Deere company in America, his funeral was told this week.

The popular businessman passed away last week.

Best known as the main John Deere lawn keeping equipment agent for Munster, Seamus was also ingrained in the sporting and community life of his adopted Kerry. A native of County Meath, Seamus met his wife Eileen in the Galtymore, the legendary Irish dance hall in Cricklewood, London. They moved to Killarney, where Seamus took a job at the Liebherr Container Crane Factory in Fossa before

setting up his eponymous lawn mower dealership in 1969, first in Killarney town centre before moving to a permanent base in Barleymount.

“Seamus often made his own design modifications to John Deere machines, working on feedback from his customers. These were fed back to the parent companies who often acted out on them I used to wonder, at times, if we were going to end up moving to America with him working in the John Deere design department,” his son James told his requiem Mass at the Prince of Peace Church in Fossa. Seamus passed away the previous Saturday after a battle with Motor Neuron Disease. “MND is a dreadful disease to deal with but you would have been forgiven for thinking that Seamus didn't

have it at all as he was so strong and courageous right up until the end,” added James. “We would like to take the opportunity to thank the medical teams and Palliative Care [staff] for their compassion and professionalism as they showed during his time.”

Mr Weldon was a huge GAA fan and managed his home club, Fossa GAA, to successive Division Two and One East Kerry championships. He was also a great supporter of St Paul’s Basketball Club in the town.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen, daughter Kathleen and sons Michael, James and Padraig, son-in-law James Culloty, daughters-in-law Hilda, Sharon and Gillian, and grandchildren Ewan, Eve, Shea, Ava, Rian, Ruairí, Zachery and Esme.

there to support us.

St Joseph’s GAA Club in Wexford town has set up a Go Fund Me page.

“Steven is a wonderful person and he and his young family are deeply embedded in St. Joseph’s and obviously this news has hit us all hard. Our thoughts and prayers are with Steven and his family at this difficult time. As a club we value our members and players and we will always do our best to support them in any way we can,” said a club statement.

“Steven and Sarah are raising two young girls, Ali (9) and Ruby (5). Due to his illness Steven has to step away from work indefinitely while Sarah, who runs her own hair salon, is on reduced hours while trying to keep the show on the road. The club hopes to raise as much funds as possible which will go towards helping Stephen and his family get through this difficult period.”

Donations can be made via St. Joseph’s GAA via it’s GoFundMe link: www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-outstephen-his-family

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GLENEAGLE INEC ARENA

Adventure awaits at Killarney's Wander Wild Festival this weekend!

Kick off Your Easter Break at the Ultimate Adventure and Wellness Weekend at Wander Wild Festival in Killarney.

Killarney is on a high this weekend with the much-anticipated Wander Wild Festival, which is packed with unforgettable experiences for outdoor, adventure, and wellness enthusiasts, along with a full kids programme!

The UNESCO Killarney National Park will be buzzing with lots of outdoor activities from Stand Up Paddleboarding and Sunrise Dips, to Hikes, Forest Bathing, Samhradh’s Sauna at Dundag, a Mindfulness Hike, and Rock Climbing in the Gap of Dunloe, showcasing our treasured natural amenities at their best for locals and visitors alike to experience and enjoy. It’s such a great opportunity to try some-

thing new!

The Festival kicked off this morning with the Nature Valley Hike with Roz Purcell and over the three days there are over 120 events both in the National Park and in town so there is something for everyone! Over 2,500 are expected to take part in events over the three days. More than 40 of the events are already sold out but tickets are still available for many activities.

The expanded evening programme includes seanchaí story-telling fireside chats with well-known adventurers, and an intimate concert with Bressie and Special Guests in St Mary’s Church of Ireland.

The festival offers events to revitalise the body, mind, and soul of every adventurer and outdoor lover. The Wellness Hub based in the Anam Cultural Arts Centre promises to bring calm to all who attend one of the many well-being events, whether you’re interested in herbal medicine, mindset, energy health, breathwork and more. There’s also a Vision Boarding Workshop with fashion designer and influencer Aoife McNamara and Killarney’s own KellyKali Yoga as well as a host of yoga activities.

Basecamp at Kenmare Place (pedestrianised during the day on Saturday and Sunday) will be buzzing all weekend with street food vendors, performances and people coming and going to activities. There’ll be musical performances and fun activities including Cyclextric! There are also plenty of family-friendly

events, ensuring a fun-filled weekend for all. For the kids, there are Gruffalo hunts, digital treasure hunts, musical master classes, family yoga and more.

Pat Chawke, Chairperson of Wander Wild Festival, said, "We are very excited for this weekend's festival. We have expanded the programme to cater to a wide range of interests. We encourage everyone to explore their home town in a new way by participating in one of the 100 events we have on offer. Basecamp will be the heart of the action over the weekend, so be sure to come along and enjoy some street entertainment. We’d like to thank all of our volunteers who have put so much into organising this weekend and all the local activity providers and businesses who have supported us in showcasing Killarney as the Outdoor capital of Ireland. This is a fantastic opportunity for our town."

Wander Wild Festival is sponsored by Nature Valley and supported by 53 Degrees North, Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce and the National Park and Wildlife Service.

Over 2,500 dancers expected for World Irish Dance Championships

2024

Over 2,500 dancers are to take part in the event that is said to be worth millions to the local economy. Competitors from America, Scotland, England, Europe and all over Ireland will compete for a World title in the Championships which run

from March 23 to 30.

Over 39 competitions will take place over the eight days of the Championships and winners are announced every day after each competition. The competitions are held in the INEC auditorium and The Gleneagle Ballroom. The age profile of the competitors is age 9 to over 21 years old.The competitors will be accompanied by an entourage of organisers, teachers,

adjudicators, musicians, families, friends, supporters and spectators. An Chomhdháil is delighted to return to Killarney this year. This is Killarney’s eighth occasion to host the An Chomhdháil World Irish Dance Championships. The economic benefits of these Championships will be felt right across Killarney’s hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, shops and many other businesses. Studies carried

out between 2016 and 2019 calculated the Championships were worth €12 million to the local economy.

“We are honoured to welcome the 2024 An Chomhdháil World Irish Dance Championships.” said Patrick O’ Donoghue, CEO of The Gleneagle Group. “We wish all the competitors the very best of luck and we hope everyone enjoys their stay in Killarney.”

The

An Chomhdháil World Irish Dance Championships kick off at the Killarney Convention Centre on Saturday.

Easter Sunday Lunch

Join us on Sunday, March 31st in The Panorama Restaurant for an indulgent Easter Sunday Buffet Lunch.

Served from 12.30pm - 2.30pm. Reservations are required.

€60 per adult | €25 per child (u16)

T: +353 (0)64

66 71300

E: reservations@theeurope.com

T OWN TALK

What a difference a day makes

A Killarney councillor has praised the efforts of Kerry County Council’s road works department after a road in the town centre was repaired in record time this week.

Martin Grady previously raised concerns about the state of report of The Park Road in recent times.

The increasing number of potholes had become a road safety concern.

“I’m delighted to see this road completed, having passed a motion in September 2023 and again this year at a Killarney Municipal District Meeting with concerns

BEFORE

regarding the dangerous conditions and the potential it had to cause an accident,” Grady told the Killarney Advertiser.

“I’d like to commend the council getting the work completed while using local contractors also , credit to the contractor a Killarney family, the Counihan’s of the Tralee Road, they've done a fantastic job.”

AFTER

One year of the “Pop-Up Gaeltacht”

Fed up of being told that “There’s no Irish in Killarney”, just over a year ago a group of young people came together to prove the sceptics wrong.

The organised the town’s first “Pop-Up Gaeltacht” and now they are preparing for its first birthday celebration. A year ago, a modest crowd came together with the organisers in a quiet corner of Teddy O’ Connors pub Killarney.

“While the attendance was not overly impressive for that first evening last year, it was clear that a spark had been lit beneath Gaeilge in Killarney town,” said PRO Mark Cooper.

“As the months went on and the events continued to be publicised in the local media as well as through the powerful media of social media, the crowds began to arrive. Having to first move the crowd upstairs in O’Connor’s, it was only a matter of time before a new home was needed to cater for the increased demand for

the Pop-Ups.

“Thankfully, a very strong relationship with Courtney’s of Plunkett Street began in October and has gone from strength to strength. The new venue has allowed us to add live music, games and to allow space for more groups to join in on the craic. With attendance on the nights exceeding 100 people on multiple occasions, attendees have remarked that the Pop-Up is one of the most enjoyable and energetic that they have seen.”

The first birthday celebration of the PopUp will take place in Courtney’s of Plunkett Street on Easter Saturday March 30 and the organisers hope to see the biggest crowd yet from 7:30 pm onwards, “On the night there will be live music, special guests and the all the usual craic and conversation,” added Mark. The night will be a true celebration of the community of Irish speakers who have been brought together over the past year by the Pop-Ups and no matter your level of Irish, all are very much welcome.”

Teachers Alice Davern, Ciara Spillane, Mairead Kennedy and Mary Coleman pictured with pupils in Easter bonnets at the annual Daffodil Day Parade in the school on Wednesday morning. The teachers and pupils wore yellow clothing in support of the Irish Cancer Society annual daffodil day. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Funding for town's biggest festivals

The future of some of Killarney’s best-loved festivals are secure after they secured financial support under Kerry County Council’s Community Support Fund for 2024.

Last week elected councillors from all five electoral areas met to approve funding to the tune of €750,000 to community groups and projects across the county.

A total of 210 Kerry-based groups and projects received grant aid worth €335,000 this year while a proportion of the fund, totalling €415,000 is being retained to leverage funding from other funding streams for strategic projects at Municipal District level.

The big winners local were some of the town’s biggest festivals.

This weekend’s Wander Wild Festival is €9,000 in funding, while the 4th July Festival will get €5,000 and the annual Christmas in Killarney Festival is in line for €8,000.

Ireland BikeFest will get €2,500.00.

Other projects to get support include the recently launched Autism Killarney project, which will get €2,000.

Killarney needs more Gardaí on the streets – Sinn Féin

A Sinn Féin local election candidate has hit out that police from South Australia are in Ireland for a recruitment event.

Australian police are actively recruiting members of An Garda Síochána to emigrate to Australia.

Sinn Féin Candidate Damien Switzer said: “Now just like nurses and teachers, we are training them only to be lured abroad for better pay and conditions.

“A town the size of Killarney needs more Gardaí. After 12 years of Fine Gael in government, there are fewer Gardaí on the street and fewer Garda stations open, over 130 stations closed, many of them in rural communities.

“Our communities feel less safe, business owners feel abandoned and members' morale is on the floor, can you blame them? All this is compounded by a crisis in recruitment and retention.”

Renowned collector and historian James Flynn delivered a captivating exploration of the illustrious history of Arbutus Furniture to a packed audience at the Killarney Library as part of the St. Patrick's Festival events in Killarney. He discussed the remarkable legacy of Killarney's Arbutus Furniture production, a celebrated craft that flourished in Killarney from 1825 until 1953.

Daffodil Day 2024 in Killarney in aid of the Irish Cancer Society

Members of the Irish Cancer Society Killarney Branch are encouraging people to get involved in Daffodil Day 2024.

The nationwide fundraiser – one of the Irish Cancer Society’s biggest – takes place on Friday.

“What you can do to help do to help?

On March 22, collect donations online, bake cakes, hold a raffle or quiz with friends,” said organiserKathrina Breen.

“You can volunteer to join community collections in Killarney on March 22 and 23.

"At school, from non-uniform days, sports days and arts and crafts, to bake sales, vintage fairs and team challenges. Your school or university can make a

difference and go all in against cancer for Daffodil Day 2024.”

"At work, you could sell Daffodil Silk Pins to your colleagues and customers, hold a bake sale, challenge event or quiz night, or get your colleagues involved in our 12,000 Steps Challenge. There’s loads of ways to support Daffodil Day in your workplace this March. You can even just make a special donation on behalf of your company.”

For more details contact Kathrina on 087 261 2992.

Killarney to take the lead in climate action

A drive to make Killarney the most sustainable destination in the country will move up a significant gear at a meeting in the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Wednesday, March 27 at 6.00pm.

Everybody is welcome to attend to play their part and be included in some unique initiatives and benefits.

The meeting is being organised by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and the aim of the climate action programme is to create and promote sustainable tourism by making Killarney a better place to live and visit and to bring about carbon reductions and cost reductions.

It is seeking to be the first town in Ireland to provide community-wide energy monitoring, information and benchmarking and become Ireland’s most electric

vehicle charge destination.

Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing businesses with rising costs impacting the sector. Reducing carbon emissions is a smart way to save money and boost a reputation as a sustainable tourism business.

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce’s Sustainability Committee, chaired by Tricel managing director Mike Stack, is organising a meeting, at which the plan – Vision Killarney: Ireland’s Most Sustainable Town 2030 – and the benefits available to businesses and individuals will be outlined.

In 2024, Fáilte Ireland will enhance its strategic supports under a new business resilience framework, which will provide a tailored package of supports to businesses focused on building commercial and financial resilience.

Jason Clifford, left, Chairperson, St Patrick's Festival, Killarney with Andrew Trig of Elis Ireland who kindly sponsored the 'greening' for St. Mary's Cathedral, Killarney and many of the iconic buildings and monuments in Killarney town for St. Patrick's Festival, Killarney this week. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

KCC students develop board game to spark teamwork and communication

A group of enterprising young minds from Killarney Community College have created an impressive strategic board game designed to cultivate teamwork and communication skills.

Unlike most board games, where players compete with each other, the strategic board game ‘Venture of Ventark’ is all about working together as a team. The core mechanics of the game revolves around 5 different boards and different decks of cards. Each deck of cards serves a different purposes such as providing resources, armour and weapons for players. The central concept necessitates players to work together, strategise, and communicate effectively in order to achieve success as a team.

The board game was developed as a project for the Kerry County Council Annual Student Enterprise Awards and the team from Killarney Community College were the only local finalists at an event held last Friday at MTU Tralee.

The competition promotes business idea development, structure, sourcing of finance, marketing/sales and the presentation of a formal business plan, and the students from Killarney Community College progressed through the establishment of a mini company which traded over a period of months. As a part of the project, the team had to designate specific roles to each other. Eoin O’Sullivan was in charge of Social Media & Market-

ing, Peter Sugrue was project manager and game designer, Sarah O’Sullivan was the communications manager, Lucas O’Leary looked after Art & Design of the games icons while Isaac Casey developed the board and logo design. An exciting and rewarding programme, the students got to experience the realities of entrepreneurship from developing a business idea to producing a product, researching the market, promoting the business, managing the books and generating profits. Most impressively, the students took a proof of concept into a fully designed and developed board

Revive Cafe Revived under new management

Revive, a familiar haunt on New Street, has brewed up a fresh start under new ownership and the cafe has reopened its doors with a renewed focus on simple food packed with flavour.

The new management includes Dr Crokes and former Kerry footballer Kieran O'Leary as well as local woman Joanne Breen, both of whom already have a wealth of experience in local hospitality.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week Kieran said, "We are excited to breathe new life into Revive Cafe. The goal was to retain the warm and inviting atmosphere that Revive Cafe has always been known for, while introducing some

exciting changes. As well as teaming up with Killarney Coffee Roasters to bring a new coffee taste, we will also be offering a wider selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner options using locally sourced ingredients. Locals can expect all of the usual favourites including a great fullIrish, pancakes, or health avocado for breakfast as well as warm lunchtime favourites such as chicken curry and lasagne. For those looking for something lighter we have our usual great coffee, warming soup, tasty greek & superfood salads, sandwiches and all the sweet stuff too".

The cafe, which is open 7 days from 8.30am, marks a welcome return for a cherished local business.

game that is ready for market. Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week the team said, "We wanted to create a game that wasn't just fun, but that also helped people develop valuable skills they could use outside the game. Teamwork and communication are essential in so many aspects of life, and we thought a board game could be a great way to practice them in a relaxed and enjoyable setting with friends."

The students have been working on the game since November and have already received positive feedback from classmates, teachers and gaming enthusiasts.

Going forward they plan to work with other students in the school to seek feedback and develop the game further and they would love to see their game stocked in local shops, particularly ‘The Guild Hall’ , a new local shop for all things Warhammer, Board Games, Trading Cards and Collectibles.

"We're really excited about the potential of this game and we look forward to making it bigger and better. We also have ideas for some other board games which we plan to get working on soon”, the students explained.

Young Entrepreneurs (L-R): Isaac Casey, Eoin O’Sullivan, Peter Sugrue, Sarah O’Donoghue and Lucas O’Leary .

Kieran O' Leary and Joanne Breen pictured with the Revive Cafe team this week.

COMHAIRLE CONTAE CHIARRAÍ KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

Expressions of Interest for a licence in accordance with the Killarney Casual Trading Bye-Laws 2006 regulating the Casual Trading in Killarney Town.

PARTICULARS

Kerry County Council is inviting Expressions of Interest to apply for a Licence, in accordance with the Casual Trading Bye-Laws 2006 for the Fair Hill Car Park in Killarney Town.

1. Expressions of Interest will apply for a Licence to operate a Casual Trading Stand, which are available at Bay number’s 3, 4, 5 & 6 Fair Hill Car Park, Fair Hill, Killarney.

2. Only one Expression of Interest may be made per person or per legal entity.

3. Expressions of Interest for the sale of food, drinks or supply of services will not be considered.

4. If the number of Expressions of Interest exceeds one, then the expressions of interest will be drawn by lot. The first person or legal entity drawn will be allowed to apply for a Casual Trading Licence and will be able to choose one Bay from either Bay 3, 4, 5 or 6. The first person or legal entity drawn will have 2 weeks to submit the required information in accordance with the Bye Laws.

If the required information is not provided within the 2-week timeframe, the application will be invalidated. The next person drawn by lot will be allowed apply for a licence.

5. The second, third and fourth persons or legal entities drawn will be allowed to apply for a Casual Trading Licence for one of the remaining available bays mentioned above after the First, and Second and Third person or entity have chosen a bay. The Person or legal entity will have 2 weeks to submit the required information in accordance with the Bye Laws. The subsequent persons or legal entities drawn will be kept on file should additional Licences become available.

6. Any person or legal entity who has in the past expressed an interest in applying for a Casual Trading Licence will have to submit their Expression of Interest again.

7. Applicants should note that eligibility to apply is open to citizens of, and legal entities established within, the European Economic Area (EEA).

8. Expressions of Interest Forms and particulars are available from Killarney Municipal District Office, Kerry County Council, Town Hall, Killarney, Co Kerry. Tel 064 6626100 or email klymdroads@kerrycoco.ie

9. The closing date for receipt of Expression of Interest forms is 4pm on Monday the 8th April, 2024.

10. Incomplete Expressions of Interest Forms will not be considered.

11. Completed Expression of Interest forms are to be submitted to the Killarney Municipal District Office, Kerry County Council, Town Hall, Killarney, Co Kerry. V93 KH5V or emailed to klymdroads@kerrycoco.ie

German student Thobile joins Killarney Advertiser on work experience

Hi everyone, my name is Thobile Ballmann and I am 17 years old (if you’re wondering, my first name isn’t German, it’s South-African).

I live in Fürth, Germany with my parents and my younger brother. I´m doing three of these columns over the following weeks and giving you updates on my experience in Ireland. So, Fürth is a town near the city of Nuremburg and has a population of roughly 120,000 people, which is small by German standards. Actually the first train ever, the “Adler” had its first run between these two cities.

I enjoy all kinds of sports especially tabletennis, volleyball and tennis. My favourite sport however is football, and as a huge football fan, I obviously support my local team, the SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Sadly, they are only in second division in the Bundesliga, but at least they are slightly better than our biggest rival Nuremburg. I also play football myself, for one of the 10 different teams in Fürth. My best position is right wing and my favourite player is the one and only Kevin De Bruyne. My favourite food is any kind of lasagne, no matter if its vegetables, meat or fish.

School in Germany is different to Ireland: after four years of primary school, you start at one of the following forms of schools, ranked easiest to hardest: Mittelschule, Realschule and Gymnasium. The Gymnasium, the form of school I go to, is the only school where you can get a “Abitur”, the final exam and the highest academic graduation in Germany. When you have obtained your Abitur, you can choose whether to go to a University or start an apprenticeship. On Mittelschule, you start an apprenticeship after 10 years of school,

same as in the Realschule. The only difference between these two is, that on Realschule, you can still get an Abitur by adding two more years and going to the FOS. I'm currently in 11th grade, so I have already completed eleven years of school and have less than two more to go.

I visited Ireland exactly two years ago with my family. We stayed at the house of my Dads Irish friend Patrick, who later invited me to come over to Ireland for this internship. Since I have only been here for a few days, I have't noticed many differences or similarities between the two cultures, except for a few things: the food is more or less the same as in Germany except that I can't drink tap water here in Ireland and they make a lot more sandwiches here. Also everybody is driving on the wrong side of the road and when you look out the window, there is way more nature. In Germany, everything is full of forests and farms while in Ireland, everything you see is grassy hills.

When my dad's friend asked me to come to Ireland, I thought it would be a great opportunity to do a trip alone for the first time and gather some work experience. Since there are holidays in Germany for the next few weeks, I can spend time here, which is also great.

I hope to see more of Ireland's nature and culture and also to get an introduction to Gaelic football.

I hope you enjoyed my first column with the Killarney Advertiser and I look forward to writing my column again next week where I will share news on what I got up to over the past week.

12th annual County Clean-up day set for Saturday April 6

The 12th annual County Clean Up will take place across the county on Saturday, April 6 and voluntary organisations and individuals across Kerry are invited to get involved in one of the biggest community events of the year in the county.

The County Clean-Up takes place with the support of KWD Recycling and Kerry County Council and over the past decade, hundreds of tonnes of rubbish have been collected along Kerry roads by thousands of volunteers.

The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Jim Finucane, urged everyone to participate in the effort to clear up towns, villages and the countryside across Kerry.

“The tremendous effort of volunteers over the past twelve years has made

a major contribution to keeping Kerry litter-free. The County Clean Up greatly complements the work which Kerry County Council does all year round to promote environmental awareness and maintain our wonderful landscape.

“Registration is now open at www.countycleanup.com and I hope that local communities will participate in large numbers,’ he said.

Noel O’Reilly from KWD said: “KWD Recycling is proud to be involved in the County Clean Up which is now in its 12th year. It is a very important day that has made a huge difference on the roads of Kerry and West Cork with thousands of people showing great community spirit.”

Groups must register to ensure they receive a clean-up pack and to nominate a collection point for any litter collected.

First 'Inspiring Women' intercultural meeting a success

The "Inspiring Women. South Kerry 2024" intercultural event organised by South Kerry Development Partnership took place at The Brehon Hotel last Friday.

More than 130 participants attended the event, which was aimed to bring together members of both the local and migrant communities in South Kerry.

One of the highlights of the event was a series of interviews conducted with migrant women who have resided in Kerry for over a decade and who shared their diverse and enriching life experiences. The women who took part included Ju-

rga Butkute (SICAP Ukrainian Supports Coordinator SKDP CLG), Marilyn Catapat-Counihan (KASI General Manager) and Natalia Maxymenko (Ukrainian lady who has been living in Ireland 20 years). These stories of successful migrant women served as inspiration, demonstrating how overcoming challenges is possible and encouraging other women to believe in themselves and their abilities. Other speakers who participated included Joanne Griffin (Enterprise Officer/ Employer Liaison Officer South Kerry Development) and Rósaí Nic Chárthaigh (coordinator Ukraine Response Team Kerry County Council)

Pictured at the launch are Breda Moriarty, Environmental Awareness Officer and Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council with Cllr. Jim Finucane, Mayor of Kerry and Tadgh Healy, KWD. Photo: Pauline Dennigan

Queen Victoria and the monks wow the judges at Killarney St Patrick’s Day parade

A highly imaginative entry, which was very appropriate for the Echoes of Killarney Past theme, has won the best overall prize in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Killarney.

The Seán O’Keeffe perpetual trophy prize went to Raheen National School who had heads turning all afternoon given the quality and colour of their entry, Standing the test of time: Killarney the tourist town.

Their creative work incorporated Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861 and monks scripting the Annals of Inisfallen on the island on Lough Lein.

They received their prize from the St Patrick’s Festival committee at a reception in the International Hotel, Killarney on Tuesday night.

The Michael Courtney perpetual trophy

THE OTHER PRIZEWINNERS WERE:

Best sports club: Kerry Stars

for the best interpretation of the theme went to Michael Joe Lenihan for his colourfully decked out vintage 1982 Bedford TK570 while the John ‘Killer’ O’Callaghan perpetual trophy for the best sporting entry was won by Dr Crokes GAA Club who reflected on their history and their two glorious All-Ireland Club Championship victories.

The Peter Irwin memorial trophy for the best marching group/cultural arts went to Millstreet Pipe Band while the Grand Marshal Shield for the best youth entry was won by Scorchers Cheerleaders, Killarney.

Best musical entry: Gleneagle Concert Band

Best new entry: Killarney Triathlon Club

Best voluntary group: Killarney Tidy Towns and Killarney Coffee Cup project

Best school: Scoil an Chroí Naofa

Most entertaining: Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative

Best activity group: The Art House

Most original entry: Carnevale di Verrés, Italy

Most stylish entry: Ukrainian dancers

Most imaginative: Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage

Best window display: Scarlett

Best greened building: Dromhall Hotel

Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club representatives

Mary O'Leary, Katie Gleeson, Maire Murphy and Joan Broderick winners of Best Sports Club award, with St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford, Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney and Katy Jacobi (Killarney Chamber Events Manager) at the St. Patrick's Festival Killarney parade prizegiving function in The International Hotel on Tuesday night. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

KASI Killarney, winner of the Most Entertaining Award with Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney, St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford and Katy Jacobi (Killarney Chamber Events Manager). Picture: Eamonn Keogh

Oran Kane, Killarney Triathlon Club , Best New Entry Award, with Katy Jacobi (Killarney Chamber Events Manager), St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford and Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney and club members. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

Shane O'Riordan and representatives of Scoil an Chroí Naofa (Barraduff National School) winner of the Best School Award, with Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney and St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

The Ukrainian Dancers, Most Stylish Entry award winners, with St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford and Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

Lily MacMonagle, The MACademy Performing Arts Group, receives the Best Children's Group Award from St. Patrick's Festival Killarney Chairman Jason Clifford and Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney. Also included are Eabha Healy and Denis Moroney. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

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A haven for outdoor enthusiasts

O'Sullivan's Outdoors is the only locally owned and locally run ourdoor clothes shop in town and has been a haven for outdoor enthusiasts for over a quarter-century.

Established by David and Fiona O'Sullivan, the store has become synonymous with high-quality gear, expert advice, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Their journey began on Bishop's Lane, with a small shop brimming with passion for the outdoors. As their reputation grew, so did their customer base. Twenty years ago, the store made the move to New Street, offering a wider selection and a more central location.

At the heart of O'Sullivan's Outdoors success is David and Fiona’s belief in building trust with their customers. Their guiding principle? “If an item doesn't suit the customer's needs, we won’t sell it to them. We will often talk people out of a sale because we don’t think it is what they need or are looking for. I think nowadays everything is pushed on consumers but we know our customers appreciate the honesty and personalised service and the next time

they need something they will come to us first”, said Fiona.

Beyond the exceptional customer care, the O'Sullivan’s are deeply woven into the fabric of the Killarney community. They are supporters of local causes and events. In fact, they were among the first sponsors of the Killarney Mountain Festival, an event that has evolved into the popular Wander Wild festival today. The spirit of entrepreneurship runs deep in the O'Sullivan family. David's late father, Dermot O'Sullivan, was the first man to introduce bike rentals to Killarney. This legacy continues as the family also operates a thriving bike sales and rental business, catering to

cyclists of all levels.

Over the years, O'Sullivan's Outdoors has fostered strong relationships with local guiding companies. Their expertise in outdoor gear is highly valued, and climbing clients are consistently recommended to visit the store for their specific needs. This collaborative spirit ensures that all those embarking on Killarney's breath-taking trails are properly equipped for a safe and memorable adventure.

The friendly face you'll often see behind the counter is Neil O'Sullivan, a stalwart member of the O'Sullivan's Outdoors team for over a decade.

“Neil carries the same second name as ourselves and despite being no relation, he works as hard as the rest of us and we are so greatful to have him as a part of our team. Neil has a fantastic knowledge of our products and the customers love him because he has great patience.” Fiona explained.

Whether you're a seasoned climber scaling the Reeks or a nature enthusiast seeking a leisurely stroll through Killarney National Park, O'Sullivan's Outdoors has something for everyone. Their extensive selection boasts leading brands like Rab, Maier Sports, Zamberlan, Hoka, Dolomite, and Salomon. Prices range from a budget-friendly €40 for essential accessories to €500 for top-of-theline gear, ensuring there's an option for every budget and adventure. So, as you embark on your next expedition, be sure to stop by O'Sullivan's Outdoors to check out their extensive range of Shoes, Boots, Clothing, Camping Accessories and Rucksacks.

“If an item doesn’t suit the customer’s needs, we won’t sell it to them. We will often talk people out of a sale because we don’t think it is what they need or are looking for.

Fiona O’Sullivan

PAINT LIKE A PRO: What to consider when choosing exterior paint colours

| By Tony Griffin Manager, Pat McDonnell Paints – Tralee

Painting the exterior of your home is an investment and exploring all the different colour options can feel daunting. However, with a little bit of know-how you can find the perfect colour and boost your home’s curb appeal.

TIP 1: SURVEY YOUR SURROUNDINGS

For inspiration, first consider your neighbourhood. Note the colours of nearby buildings and think about whether you would like your house to stand out or blend in. With a colour card in-hand, think about what colours would help you to achieve your desired look without clashing with the environment. If you’re living in an area with lots of greenery, why

not take colour ideas from the landscape around you?

TIP 2: FACTOR IN YOUR HOME’S FEATURES

“Consider everything. For example, if you have some stone or some red brick - a complimentary colour will beautifully enhance it!” - Fiona Fennelly, Colour Consultant at Pat McDonnell Paints, Kilkenny

Think about the colours of any exterior

features and fittings that you are not planning on changing any time soon (e.g., brickwork, windows and doors, driveway, roof, fencing or decking etc.). These elements should serve as a base to build on. By choosing a paint colour that works with your home’s unchanging features, you can create a beautiful colour scheme that shows off your exterior. As our Corkbased Colour Consultant, Fiona Finnegan, advises “Take into account the style of the house (inside and outside) and its surroundings.”

TIP 3: TEST, TEST, TEST

“Whatever you choose: Test, Test, Test!”

- Anne Curtin, Colour Consultant at Pat McDonnell Paints Galway

Use colour cards to narrow down your selection to your top choices, pick up a few testers to see how they will look. Paint large test patches and keep an eye on them over the course of the day to see how the colours change in different lights. Bear in mind that the colour may appear different on different sides of

your home depending on how much sunlight each side receives. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to assess your test patches.

TIP 4: CHOOSE A COLOUR YOU LOVE

“My top tip? You’ve got to love your colour!” – Patricia O'Connor, Colour Consultant at Pat McDonnell Paints Athlone

Your exterior colour scheme is a great opportunity to show off your personality and taste! While trends can be helpful, don't forget to trust your instincts and choose a colour that you love. After all, you're the one who will be living with it.

TIP 5: BOOK A CONSULTATION WITH OUR QUALIFIED COLOUR EXPERTS

To avail of a wide range of colour cards and expert colour advice, you can book a free colour consultation with one of our in-store colour experts. To book your session today, call us at 090 644 4900 or visit our website mcdonnellpaints.ie.

Get more project inspiration & expert advice from Pat McDonnell Paints. Shop with us ONLINE | IN STORE | OVER THE PHONE on 066 719 0990 with FAST and FREE DELIVERY on all orders.

Killarney goes green for St Patrick

The people behind Killarney’s St Patrick’s Day Festival delivered on it’s pre-event promise.

They wanted Killarney to deliver the biggest parade and celebration outside of Dublin and did so in fine style. Over 70 floats, community organisations and bands paraded through the town.

Locals and tourists alike came out to support the event.

This year the theme was Echoes of Killarney’s Past, which recalled the work of the monks on Inisfallen Island as they scripted the magnificent annals,

rich

and culture

the town and its surrounds.

“We feel it is important to create a journey and to tell a story and Killarney has a great story to tell,” said festival chairman Jason Clifford who is general manager at The Dunloe Hotel and Gardens.

Next year the theme will focus on Echoes of Killarney’s Present and in 2026 the theme will be Echoes of Killarney’s Future.

The Irish Army Reserve leading out the 2024 St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday. The theme of the Killarney Parade was 'Echoes of Killarney Past'.

Members of the Ukrianian community, Participating in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday

Members of the Killarney Tidy Towns

Siobhan Looney and her Dad.

Bernard James participating in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

| Pics by Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

the 1861 visit of Queen Victoria which put Killarney on the map as a premier tourist destination, the battles at Ross Castle and the

history

of

Members of Legion GAA Club enjoying the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

The Irwin School of Dancing.

Members of the Art House Killarney, looking so colourful in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

The biggest Celtic Fan in Killarney has to be Kevin Looney, participating with Kerry Stars, Special Olympics in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

The Pyne Family, Derek, Jennifer, Ollie, Alice and Robbie, members of Legion GAA Club.

Michael Cliiford, Killarney Vintage & Classic Cars, Members of Killarney Order of Malta.

Dan Kelleher, Grand Marshall 2024 with Cathaoirleach Killarney Municipal District Cllr. Niall Kelleher, leading St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

Members of The Scorchers Gymnastics Club.

Members of the Kerry Stars Special Olympics, participating in St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

Members of Kerry Special Stars.

Noble Call...Ger Healy - giving a rendition of an Irish melody, participating with his vintage tractor.

Members of the African Community in Kerry. Members of Killarney Triathlon Club.

Balancing Act... participating in St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney on Sunday.

It was a day for the ducks

Footballers of the year David Clifford and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh generated the advance excitement when they put their ducks to the test in a head-to-head challenge and their efforts helped in no small way to ensure the charity Deenagh Duck Challenge in Killarney was a big success.

Despite the challenging weather on the Bank Holiday Monday, there was a tremendous turnout for the fun-filled event organised as part of the St Patrick’s Festival.

Excitement reached fever pitch on the river bank as 600 ducks were given the opportunity to make the desired splash for their owners.

Super prizes were given away on the day including a weekend in the Woodlands Hotel in Adare, a three-course family dinner in Milano’s, dinner in Salvador’s and Robertino’s, dinner in Kayne’s and a much-sought after giant duck.

The big winner on the day, however, was St Francis Special School in Beaufort who were the beneficiaries of the charity event and a cheque for a whopping €3,400 was presented to a delighted school principal Keith Ó Brolacháin.

The event wouldn’t have been possible without the great support received from the National Parks and Wildlife Service who allowed the town centre River Deenagh to be the very scenic course for the event.

James and Susan Lynch with their children, Maria and Conor Lynch. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Great day for retrieving ducks. 600 ducks raced down the River Deenagh, Killarney In the great river 'duck dash' Killarney with all the proceeds from the charity event going to St Francis Special School in Beaufort, which provides specialist education for young people with learning disabilities. It was part of the St. Patrick's Festival weekend of events on Bank Holiday Monday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Bishop Ray Browne who confirmed pupils from Fossa National School with Front L-R- Marie McSweeney Class teacher, Raquel Wharton, Killian Clifford, Ross Cronin, Aveen Kennedy, Callie Cummins, Elise Brunner, Ezio Santos, Joshua Birdthistle (centre row from left) Bishop Ray Browne, Arthur Spillane, Cian Reardon, Lily Fogarty, Grace Collins, Emma Hallissey, Donnacha Coffey, Andrea Leech, Béibhinn Kiely, Ashling Coffey, Elaine Cronin SNA, Fr. Niall Geaney P.P. back from left Freya Tracey, Cristina Conté, Shéa Driver, Raul Santos, Charlie O’ Meara, Abigail O’ Mahony, Ada O’ Leary, Ava Harty, Lexie Griffin, Mikie Galvin SNA and Fr Niall Geaney PP at Prince of Peace Church, Fossa, Killarney on Tuesday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

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away Home

INSPIRED BY DANNY CASEY

Mother and baby homes scheme opens despite exclusion concerns

The long-awaited Mother and Baby Homes redress scheme officially opened for applications on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards acknowledging the historical wrongs inflicted on survivors. However, the scheme's implementation has been marred by criticism regarding its eligibility criteria, leaving many feeling excluded.

The scheme aims to provide financial payments and access to health services for survivors of Ireland's Mother and Baby Homes – institutions that housed

unmarried mothers and their children for much of the 20th century. While the opening of the scheme is a welcome development, it has been overshadowed by concerns about the eligibility criteria. A particularly contentious point is the requirement that applicants must have spent at least six months in a Mother and Baby Home as a child. This arbitrary rule is estimated to exclude an estimated 24,000 survivors, many of whom were separated from their mothers at a young age. Critics, including survivor advocacy groups and opposition politicians, ar-

gue that the six-month rule is a callous attempt to limit the number of eligible applicants and reduce the overall cost of the scheme. They point out that the trauma inflicted by these institutions transcends the length of stay. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, while welcoming the scheme's introduction, expressed "grave concerns" about the arbitrary exclusion of individuals. Calls have been made to amend the legislation and ensure a more inclusive approach that recognises the suffering of all survivors, regardless of the length of their stay.

Could Leo's departure pave the way for Griffin return?

The shock departure of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach and as the leader of the Fine Gael party could pave the way for Brendan Griffin’s return to fulltime politics. The Fine Gael TD for Kerry said in January 2023 that he will not contest the next election.

Following Varadkar’s surprise announcement at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon it has emerged that a new party leader will need to be elected within the ranks of Fine Gael. This is expected to be completed within the next two to three weeks.

Simon Harris, the current Minister for Higher Education, is the current favourite to take over the leadership of the country. If, as expected, he would get nominated, it would open a door for a new Ministerial position to replace Harris’ current portfolio. Griffin, a former, and very successful, Minister for Sport, could be seen as an ideal candidate for such a role. The Killarney Advertiser has contacted Mr Griffin for a comment but he was unable to return our calls ahead of press deadline on Thursday evening.

Scientists achieve HIV eradication in cells using gene editing

Researchers announced a breakthrough in HIV research this week using CRISPR gene-editing technology. Scientists at Amsterdam University Medical Center successfully eliminated HIV from infected laboratory cells, raising the possibility of a future cure.

The research, presented at a medical

conference, utilised CRISPR-Cas9, a powerful gene-editing tool often likened to molecular scissors. Scientists harnessed this technology to target and remove HIV DNA that had integrated itself into the genetic material of infected cells. This process, if successfully replicated in the human body, could potentially eradicate the virus entirely. Experts caution that this is a signifi-

cant first step, achieved in a controlled laboratory setting. Further research is necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of this approach in human trials. Challenges include ensuring the gene-editing tool precisely targets the HIV virus without harming healthy cells, and finding a way to deliver the treatment effectively throughout the body.

Eggs-istential crisis as Easter treats shrinking faster than wallet

With Easter on the horizon, a new investigation by UK consumer champion Which? reveals a bitter truth for chocolate lovers – your favourite Easter eggs are shrinking in size while their prices are on the rise.

Which? compared the weight and price of popular Easter egg brands like Maltesers, Lindt, and Ferrero Rocher against data from the previous year and the results found that many Easter eggs have shrunk in weight, with some reductions as significant as 10%. Compounding the issue, the prices of these eggs have seen an in-

crease of up to 62.5% in some cases. For instance, Which? found that a Maltesers Truffles Luxury Easter Egg selling in the UK, previously weighed 286g, but now weighs in at a lighter 250g. Yet, its price has jumped from an average of £8 to a staggering £13, representing a significant decrease in value for money.

While rising global cocoa prices are partially to blame, Which? argues that the extent of the price hikes often outpaces the increase in cocoa costs. The findings suggest that some manufacturers may be taking advantage of the inflationary climate to boost their profit margins at the expense of consumers.

SUDAN ON THE BRINK: Forgotten war fuels famine

As the world grapples with multiple crises, a silent tragedy unfolds in Sudan. A brutal conflict between rival military factions, now almost a year old, has plunged the nation into a state of despair, pushing millions to the brink of famine.

The fighting erupted in April 2023, shattering the fragile peace agreement established just two years prior. The war has displaced millions within Sudan and across borders into neighbouring countries. Entire villages lie deserted, agricultural production has plummeted, and basic necessities like food and medicine are scarce. The UN estimates that over 18 million people in Sudan are facing acute hunger, with

five million teetering on the edge of famine – the most severe classification of food insecurity.

"Twenty years ago, Darfur was the world's largest hunger crisis, and the world rallied to respond," lamented Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), in a recent statement. "But today, the people of Sudan have been forgotten." The WFP, along with other aid agencies, are desperately trying to reach those in need. However, their efforts are hampered by ongoing violence and restrictions imposed by warring parties. Large swathes of the country remain inaccessible, leaving countless people without the support they desperately need.

Ethiopia bank glitch lets customers withdraw millions Ireland falls in 2024 World Happiness Report

The 2024 World Happiness Report, released this week, showed that Finland retains its crown as the happiest country in the world for the fifth consecutive year. The report attributes this continued success to strong social support systems, high levels of trust, and a healthy work-life balance.

Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands round out the top five, highlighting the enduring influence of social safety nets and a focus on well-being in these nations.

This year's report unveils some surprising additions to the happiness leaderboard. Costa Rica, a nation known for its stunning natural beauty and commitment to sustainability, cracks the top

ten for the first time. Kuwait, another unexpected entrant, makes significant strides up the rankings, possibly reflecting recent economic growth and social development.

Ireland secured the 17th spot in the 2024 rankings, a three-position decline from its 14th place finish in 2023. This dip comes amidst a period of global economic uncertainty and rising living costs. The report also identified a worrying trend – a decline in happiness among young people (15-24 year olds) across several regions, including North America, Western Europe, and the Middle East. The researchers attribute this to factors like increased social media use, rising anxieties over climate change and economic instability, and a sense of disconnectedness.

It appears that Bank of Ireland are not the only bank having to deal with costly IT glitches. Ethiopia's largest bank, the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), is grappling with a major financial headache following a technical glitch which allowed customers to withdraw and transfer millions of dollars that weren't actually in their accounts.

The incident occurred last weekend during routine maintenance and inspection activities, according to a statement from the bank. A system failure resulted in a loophole that enabled customers to make unauthorised withdrawals and transfers. The glitch reportedly went undetected for several hours, allowing customers to exploit the error before transactions were finally halted.

Estimates suggest that over $40 million

(USD) vanished from the bank's coffers. The exact amount remains unclear, with some local reports suggesting even higher figures. The bank has assembled a task force to recover the missing funds, with reports indicating that some students, who were among the first to exploit the glitch, have already been detained by authorities.

Gleneagle Squash Club monthly competion results

February finals took place last Thursday in Gleneagle Squash Club, kindly sponsored by Tim O'Leary of BSPM Energy Consultancy. Paul O’Brien’s team of five faced off Donnagh Crowley’s team following a very closely fought semi-final earlier in the week.

| By Ray O’Callaghan

In Division 3, while Aquila Club Manager Eoin Horan and Ryan Kavanagh had very close games it was Crowley’s team-mate Ryan Kavanagh who won out 3-0.

On to Division 4, and one of our ladies’ coaches Joanne McCarthy faced off against Seamus Howard who had made his second final in a row on his very short squash journey. The match went to 1 a piece but then Joanne’s experience came through to win out 3-1 for Team Paul who were now 2-0 up in matches and looking

At the presentation of prizes of the Gleneagle Squash Club Killarney monthly

Cronin,

O'Leary

Cake and Bake for Ballydribbeen Playground

The Ballydribbeen Playground committee held a hugely successful bake sale in the Killarney Outlet Centre on Saturday.

The proceeds of the event will help provide a universal playground beside the new sports development in Derreen. “The collective community spirit only bettered the impressive array of tasty treats. This spirit led to many goodies on sale and the many hands willing to help on the day,” said one of the organisers,

red hot favourites to take the night.

But somebody else had other ideas in Division 5. Noah Counihan and Dan Carroll were thrown into the ring and Noah knew he had to get a win for Team Donnagh. Noah, one of our up-and-coming Juniors at just 11 years of age, showed all in attendance how his training is paying off by winning narrowly against Dan. Each game was tit for tat but luck was with Noah on this occasion and team Donnagh closed the gap in matches.

Division 2 was a tale of the two Johnnies.

John Cronin and John O’Sullivan were

well matched – their game was played in good spirits and two similar style players went toe to toe and point for point and the match went to 1 game a piece. But John C put on the afterburners and finished out another two close games to get another win for Team Donnagh. The decider was down to the team captains and Irish international players, Paul O'Brien and Donnagh Crowley. Our two top club players provided us with an exhibition of squash where we all aspire to be. The game was well-balanced and was point-for-point in every game. The first two games were shared. The third game was a very close encounter and could have gone any way and Donnagh for the first time took his team into the lead on the night. The last game was close again but Donnagh put everything he had into his performance and came through 3-1, winning the night for his team.

This was the latest fundraising event for the playground, and the next step will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The bake sale would not have been such a success without the support of many local people and businesses like Killarney Outlet Centre, Centra the Rock, Lidl, Tesco, Killarney Hotel and TreeHouse Foods. We want to express our gratitude to everybody who landed their hands to make this event possible,” added Izabela.

competition outing sponsored by BSPM Energy Consultancy were front from left, John

Joanne and Hannah McCarthy, Tim

(BSPM Energy), Donnagh Crowley (Captain of winning team), Adriana O'Leary and Connie Counihan. Standing from left are Paul O'Brien, Mike Crowley, Mike O'Donoghue, Seamus Howard, Bernice Enright, Ryan Kavanagh, Noah, Brendan and Ruairi Counihan, Norma Culloty, Arthur Murphy, John O'Sullivan and Ray O'Callaghan. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

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Classic car club embraces St Patrick’s Day parade

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club were award winners at the Milltown St Patrick’s Day parade before dashing back to participate in Killarney’s celebration.

The theme of the Killarney Parade was 'Echoes of Killarney Past’ and the local classic car club embraced that through

their links with the 'The Gobnaits' – a local comedy acting group,

Pictured in a hurry back to Participate in the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Killarney, included are Fiona O'Carroll, Stella Maloney, with Noel O'Connor and Tom Leslie.

Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

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Cronin and Galvin win West Cork to lead Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

Killarney and District Motor Club members Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin took a commanding victory in the West Cork Rally, round two of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship over St Patrick’s Weekend.

They finished the event with a winning margin of 57.2 seconds, ahead of Matt Edwards and David Moynihan in second, who in turn had 29.2 seconds to spare over third placed William Creighton and Liam Regan. All of the top three crews were in Ford Fiestas.

Callum Devine and Muckross man Noel O'Sullivan had been the early pacesetters in their Volkswagen Polo GTi, and they led after the first four stages on Friday evening.

Cronin and Galvin overhauled them on Saturday morning, and went on to set fastest time on six of the day's eight stages, pulling away from the rest of the field and laying the foundations for the win.

Their Herculean efforts in dreadfully wet conditions put them in a comfortable position, and they were able to maintain their advantage throughout Sunday.

The victory puts them in a strong position at the top of the Tarmac Championship points table, having also won the opening round in Galway last month. Devine and O'Sullivan lost two minutes with a puncture during the course of the Saturday stages, and later retired with a damaged wheel.

"It was a tough rally, the conditions yesterday were really tough. We got a good lead overnight which was great", said Cronin, who is only the fourth West Cork driver to win the event in its 47 year history.

"I would like to thank all the marshals and organisers, especially for Saturday, I

don't know how people stood out in that weather. It's a great result for us, great for the championship, but there's still a long way to go. Sunday we were driving very much within ourselves, we had a big lead overnight, so we didn't need to push at all today, we just tried to manage the gap.”

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship reconvenes on Easter Saturday for the Circuit of Ireland, based in Dungannon, County Tyrone, but before that, Cronin and Galvin will be among the starters for the North West Rally, the first round of the British Rally Championship, which takes place next Friday and Saturday in Lancashire.

"It's been a long weekend, a lot of stages to recce, it's a tough event. Yesterday was really tricky, just trying to keep it together. We got the jump on Saturday morning. Today was quite hard, trying to manage that lead, but I'm really happy to be here. The notes were good, the car was working fantastic. We're heading to the UK on Thursday for the first round of the British Championship, so it doesn't stop here. It's not easy, but we're very lucky to be doing it,” said Galvin from Aghadoe.

Mikie Galvin and Keith Cronin accept the overall winning trophy from West Cork Rally Clerk of the Course Steve Davis. Photo: Sean Moriarty

SUDOKU

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. No math, nothing has to add up –solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

LAST WEEK’S

it's your occasion

With love and best wishes to our parents, Donie and Nuala O’ Doherty who will celebrate their Golden Jubilee anniversary on Saturday March 23rd. They were married at St. Brendan’s Church, Clogher on March 23rd 1974 by Fr. Tom Looney. And it is with great joy, that they will celebrate a mass at their home on their anniversary by Canon Tom Looney once again. We want to thank them both immensely for being our guides through life and for being such a living example of how love works.

May God bless their lives this day and always. Love Marie, Donal, Catherine, Denise and Jamie.

ACCESS UCC - CAVANAGH AWARDS FOR ENDEAVOUR AND ACHIEVEMENT

Last week 2nd-year students from the Killarney Community College attended University College Cork for prestigious Awards Ceremony. The students were nominated by their teachers to receive Cavanagh Access UCC Student Achievement Awards. These awards acknowledge the Potential, Endeavour and Effort of 2nd-year students in Maths, English, Gaeilge and European Languages.

Students Daniel O'Donovan, Ailbhe Moynihan, Julia Dziedzic, Anna Neeson, Hebe Gao, Adam Payne, Isabella Pingo and Vanessa Karaivanova were honoured at the ceremony. A lovely evening was enjoyed by all. The Access UCC PLUS Programme is a wonderful acknowledgement of the academic excellence and potential of these students

Last week the Killarney Community College TY mini company Blithe Works competed in Kerry Student Enterprise Programme Final. They presented to judges on their business - a medieval/fantasy board game 'Ventures of Ventark'. It was an amazing experience for those involved as students were encouraged to come up with innovative ideas, create a business plan,then bring their project to life and present it to the judges.

ST BRIGID'S COLLEGE: Pictured above are 3rd Year students who took part in the Pi Maths Quiz in ISK, Killorglin, last week. Well done to the girls on representing the school so well, and thanks to their teacher, Ms Fleming.

ST BRIGID'S COLLEGE: On Tuesday 12th March 5th year students headed to the capital to take in a performance of John B. Keane’s ‘Sive’. The play is part of the comparative study section of the Leaving Certificate course this year and was staged in the historic Gaiety Theatre. Students were also given some free time around Grafton Street before catching the evening train. A thoroughly enjoyable and educational day was had by all. A special thanks to the teachers who accompanied the students to Dublin.

BLINDS BY Flesk Upholstery

Milll Road, Killarney, V93 FR84

ALL TYPES OF BLINDS SUPPLIED AND FITTED

ROLLER, VERTICAL, ROMAN, REMOTE CONTROLLED AND VENETIAN BLINDS

Call to our showroom or contact John McCarthy: Te:l 064 6635395 | Mobile: 086 8122672

Email: fleskupholstery@gmail.com

COMHAIRLE CONTAE CHIARRAÍ

KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

BÓITHRE A nDÚNADH GO SEALADACH

TEMPORARY CLOSING OF ROADS

ALT 75 d’ACHT NA mBÓITHRE 1993

SECTION 75 OF ROADS ACT 1993

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993, and the Temporary Closing of Roads Regulations 1994, Kerry County Council has decided to close to public traffic the streets / roads as detailed below in order to facilitate the holding of The Streets of Killarney 5 Mile Road Race from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., on Friday, 29th March 2024.

Full Road Closure: Main Street, New Street and High Street, Killarney

Partial Closure: New Road, Port Road and Beech Road, Killarney

A traffic diversion system will operate on the main approaches to the town.

Siniu: Padraig Corkery

Senior Executive Officer/ Feidhmeannach Sinsearach Corporate Affairs/Gnothai Corparaideacha

Celebrating Lá Glás at Firies National School

On the 19th of March, the vibrant community at Firies National School came together to celebrate “Lá Glás,” a day dedicated to embracing Irish culture, music, and language. The event was a resounding success, showcasing the rich heritage and unity within the school.

The children, brimming with enthusiasm, took centre stage. Junior and Senior Infant dancers twirled and stepped gracefully in the traditional Siege of Ennis dance. They moved in unison, celebrating their Irish roots.

First and second classes filled the air with the lively rhythm of “An Dreoilín” as these students danced with infectious energy. Their colourful green clothes and beaming smiles added to the festive atmosphere.

The older students from third to sixth classes showcased their skills in “The Set”. This captivating group dance with coordinated footwork and joyful expressions demonstrated their pride in Irish traditions.

Not to be outdone, the teachers accepted the challenge and formed their own set. Their dedication and willingness to participate added a delightful twist to the festivities.

The entire school completed the gathering by singing the Irish national anthem, “Amhrán na bhFiann”. Voices harmonised, and hearts swelled with pride as they honoured their country and its heritage.

“La Glás” was more than just a celebration—it was a testament to the school’s commitment to Irish culture, unity, and the well-being of its students.

Helen Prendergast Club President (centre) with (from left) Ronan Bennett Junior Boys Captain, John O’Mahony Captain, Kate O’Leary Lady Captain and Evelyn McCarthy Junior Girls Captain and some club members at the Drive In at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club on Monday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Edison Boyle O’ Sullivan, Saoirse O’ Brien, Marco Garrastazul, Dervla Langford.

Dervla Teahan, Victoria Pavlovic and Lauren O’ Sullivan.

Shona O'Brien, Eva Phelan and Kathlyn Callaghan.

Aiden Breen O’Sullivan, Daithí Breen, Jack Daly, Conor Daly, Fionn Daly.

West End School of Arts kicked off St Patrick’s weekend celebration

The West End House School of Arts on New Street, Killarney, kicked off the St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Killarney at the School House in Muckross House and Gardens on Friday.

West End House presented ‘An Evening of Artistic Performance’ and students performed an extract from 'Shades and Echoes of Old Killarney’ by Kathleen O' Rourke, ‘The Splendour Falls’, by Lord Alfred Tennyson, extracts from 'A Week at Killarney' and 'Memories of Old Killarney' on the night.

There was also a musical performance from Maddie Courtney and a screening of short film 'The Legend of Patrick Greenwood', by local filmmaker Glen Bowler. “A great night was had with refreshments and canapes provided by Toddy, Joan and staff at Muckross Traditional Farms,” said an event organiser.

Teresa RANDLES is a former Head of Human Resources and now works as a Career Coach and Career Planning Strategist.

Managing people

A tricky one for this week's column. In the past I have managed teams and, on the other side, been a member of a management team reporting into the business owners.

When the team is managed well, it can be a brilliant environment - when it's managed badly it can be demotivating, toxic and very bad for business. Some businesses will promote people on the back of their excellent technical skills. As part of that promotion, the person may be given the management of a team of people. Some will adapt well to these new responsibilities –others will not. They may not have the skills to manage the team and, crucially, are not provided with the training or support to assist them.

There are lots of skills involved in successfully managing people. This is a short column and I am going to concentrate on four key skills.

COMMUNICATION

A good manager must be able to communicate with all team members. They should be able to communicate projects, results, new business ventures easily and succinctly. It can be demotivating for a team if they are operating in a vacuum without sufficient accurate information. The rumour mill starts, the team become demotivated and the phrase ‘no one knows what going on here’ becomes a chorus!

Be available for the team and operate an open door policy. Encourage people to come with questions. If communication is open and someone makes a mistake – they are more likely to come

to speak to a manager immediately when the mistake can be rectified than say 4 months down the line when the damage could be much harder to remedy.

DELEGATION

A good manager should be able to delegate work to the team. A manager should not hoard the work, spend 12 hours a day working while the team are sitting around drinking coffee and playing solitaire! Delegation is a skill and it can be learned!

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Successful teams are built on good relationships. Good management involves having a professional working relationship with each member of the team. Everyone treated equally and no favouritism with team members.

ORGANISATION

Good management involves good organisation. Projects should have clear deadlines with progress/review updates scheduled.

Micromanaging a team can be very demotivating for them and it will stop them from thinking outside the box and looking for different solutions to issues. It can kill creativity. Micromanaging a team and not allowing them to grow is often a key reason why people leave for other roles.

If you have any questions on management skills or any other career related issue, please don't hesitate to contact me at teresa@meetyourcareercoach.com or 085 169 3541

The Student Council from Lissivigeen National School presenting the O’Donoghue-Sheehan family with a cheque for Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin. The fundraiser, a bake sale, was recently held at the school and was organised and run by the student council. The event was a tremendous success and €1,415 was raised for this worthy cause.

We are currently seeking to recruit a

PART-TIME SUPERVISOR FOR LARGE GUESTHOUSE

— TASKS INCLUDE —

Supervise and complete all tasks required to run large guesthouse. Help, support and work closely with all members of staff. Manage all reservations and inquiries.

— SKILLS REQUIRED—

Excellent IT, good standard of English and customer relation skills, Strong attention to detail, ability to multi task, and work under pressure in a fast paced environment.

(MAY SUIT COLLEGE STUDENT)

If interested, please forward CV and cover letter to info@killarneyviewguesthouse.com

SENIOR SALES POSITION

Adams of Tralee are recruiting for an Experienced motor Sales Executive to become a key member of our dedicated team.

We know our Sales Executives are a crucial part of our success and we recognise this through our rewards package.

Here at Adams Hyundai Tralee, you will have the opportunity to:

• Earn an extremely competitive salary

• Undergo branded training.

• Reach achievable bonus schemes.

• Gain 21 days annual leave.

• Work in a positive, open working environment.

As a Sales Executive you will be expected to:

• Prepare and use a planned sales presentation, designed to achieve maximum results from available sales opportunities.

• Develop and use Customer Follow-up and Prospecting systems designed to create additional sales opportunities for repeat or new business.

• Use a planned daily, weekly, and monthly sales call programme, as agreed with the Sales Manager.

• Develop and maintain a full knowledge of all products, accessories, prices, and key features of major competitors.

• Manage all customer queries and complaints and ensure they are resolved to achieve customer and company requirements.

• Provide reports as required on all sales activities.

• Conduct accurate Appraisals of all vehicles presented for part exchange, including mechanical, electrical and all cosmetic features. Agree valuations with the Sales

• Manager and complete satisfactory negotiations with potential customers to maximise sales.

Does this sound like the job for you? If so, we ask that candidates have the following before applying:

• Full, clean driver’s license (essential).

• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Strong business acumen with a customer 1st focus.

• High level of motivation and drive to succeed.

Closing date for applications 25th March

•

• Spray Painting

• Fixing of

• Power (Driveways,washingDecking Patios, Paths, Gutters & Fascias)

•

• Carpentry (Timber floors, Paneling, Skirting Boards)

•

0892006623

Email: complexcare47@gmail.com

ACROSS

1. Influence

5. British baby buggy

9. Combine

14. Intelligent

15. Ear part

16. Shaquille ____

17. Flexible

19. Stem

20. Energy

21. Desirable quality

22. Assistants

23. Purpose

24. Brief play

26. Aircraft with pontoons

31. Filled pastry

35. Egypt's capital

36. Car part

38. More

39. Mule's kin

40. Lizard or snake, e.g.

43. Pub drink

44. Dissolve

46. Challenge

47. Monikers

49. Make glad

51. Poison remedy

53. TV host Jay ____

55. Birthday count

56. Tailed celestial body

59. Insurance form

62. MGM lion

65. Go-between

66. State flower of Ohio

68. Writing tablet

69. Platoon

70. English princess

71. Edgy

72. Nail polish shades

73. Scottish loch

DOWN

1. Trade

2. Expansive

3. Kin of PDQ

4. Informal assent

5. Blood component

6. Steals from

7. Talented

8. Convenes

9. Tile picture

10. Give a right to

11. Enjoy a book

12. Brisk wind

13. Caribous' kin

18. Suit maker

23. Fourth mo.

25. Boat bottom

26. Rascal

27. Artist's stand

28. Bride's path

29. ____ Valley (vineyard site)

30. Additional

32. San Antonio shrine

33. Small landmass

34. Actress Della ____

37.

41.

42.

45.

48.

50.

52.

56.

58.

Public Holidays KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Q. As an employee, what are my entitlements in relation to Public Holidays?

Most employees are entitled to paid leave on public holidays. There is an exception for certain part-time employees

If you qualify for public holiday benefit, you are entitled to one of the following:

• A paid day off on the public holiday

• An additional day of annual leave

• An additional day's pay

• A paid day off within a month of the public holiday

You can ask your employer at least 21 days before a public holiday, which of the alternatives will apply. If your employer does not respond at least 14 days before the public holiday, you are entitled to take the actual public holiday as a paid day off.

Q. As a part-time worker, what is my entitlement to in relation to Public Holidays?

If you work for your employer for at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday and it falls on a day you normally work, you get paid for the day even if you don’t work. If you have to work that day, you are entitled to an extra day's pay.

If you don’t normally work on a certain day but it’s a public holiday, you should get paid one-fifth of your weekly pay. Even if you never work on public holidays, you still get paid a fifth of your weekly pay as compensation for the public holiday. Again, you must have worked for your employer for at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday.

You can count time spent on annual leave as ‘time worked’ when calculating the 40 hours worked in the 5 weeks before the public holiday

Q. What is my entitlement if the public holidays falls on a weekend?

When a public holiday falls on a day which is not a ‘normal working day’ for that business (for example, on Saturday or Sunday), you are still entitled to benefit for that public holiday.

For example, you may get an extra day of annual leave, or an additional days pay, or a paid day off within a month of the public holiday. However, you do not have any automatic legal entitlement to have the next working day off work.

Q. Is Good Friday a public holiday?

Good Friday is not a public holiday. While some schools and businesses close on that day, you have no automatic entitlement to time off work on that day.

Q. How is the date of Easter Monday set each year?

Easter Monday is the only public holiday

that can vary significantly from year to year. The date of Easter moves every year. Easter should be the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after 21 March. This means the earliest possible date for Easter Sunday in any year is 22 March, and the latest is 25 April. Easter Monday falls on 1 April 2024 and 21 April 2025.

Q. What are my rights if I am on sick leave on a public holiday?

If you work full-time and you are on sick leave during a public holiday, you are entitled to benefit for the public holiday you missed. Your employer can also choose to regard you as not on sick leave on the public holiday and pay you as normal for the public holiday. If this is the case, the public holiday is not counted as a sick leave day. If you are a parttime worker and you are on sick leave during a public holiday, you are entitled to benefit for the public holiday, once you worked for your employer for at least 40 hours in the previous five-week period .

However, there are some exceptions. You are not entitled to pay or time off for the public holiday if you are on sick leave immediately before the public holiday, and either of the following apply:

• You have been off work for more than 26 weeks due to an ordinary illness or an accident

• You have been off work for more than 52 weeks due to an occupational accident

Q. What can I do if I am not getting my public holiday entitlement?

If you are not getting your public holiday entitlement, you should discuss this with your employer.

You can also complain to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) under the Organisation of Working Time Act. You must make your complaint using the WRC’s online complaint form within 6 months of the dispute or complaint occurring. This time limit may be extended for a further 6 months, but only where there is a reasonable cause which prevented you from bringing the complaint within the normal time limit. You should contact your local Citizens Information Centre for information and assistance re making a complaint to the WRC and the WRC Adjudication process.

If you need further information about any of the issues raised here or you have other questions, you can dropin to your local Citizens Information Service in Tralee, Killarney or Caherciveen.

Killarney, Tel: 0818 07 7820

Email: Killarney@citinfo.ie

IRISH CLASSICS BY CANDLELGHT CONCERT: As part of St. Patrick’s Festival Killarney events, featured ‘Irish Classics by Candlelight’, by Frank McNamara, featuring Soprano Megan Ruby Walsh and Violinist Anne Phelan at St. Mary’s Church of Ireland. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

TO LET: 3-bedroom cottage, new renovated with new kitchen and bathroom extension. 15-minutes’ drive from Killarney. No pets or smokers. Suitable for professional couple. Contact 087 1614930.

TO LET: 3-bedroom house in Kilcummin area. Contact 086 4409784.

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE

FOR SALE: Privet and Griselinia bare root hedging. All plants in excess of 3ft with strong root system. 087 6187008.

FOR SALE: Hardwood & Softwood for sale. Full and half loads, Delivering across Kerry. Call 087 3831953.

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE: MUSIC LESSONS - piano, violin, fiddle, guitar, banjo. Garda vetted. Leaving Cert Music grinds and Online Option also available. Tel John: 087-6801392 or Maggie: 087-6961681.

AVAILABLE: Lawn cutting, overgrowth clearance and general maintenance. Mini digger and Dumper with driver, new lawn layout, patios, kerbing, driveways, drainage, etc. Tel: Darragh on 087 9118357.

AVAILABLE: Trusted house cleaner available in Killarney, with experience cleaning hotels, schools, and private homes. Contact me by phone or via WhatsApp at 083 0819200.

AVAILABLE: Driver with Pick up hire and Digger hire available. Contact Mike on 087 2538441.

ANIMALS

ANIMALS: HUG: Homes for Unwanted Greyhounds. For further details please contact us on 087 6932090 or email info@homesforunwantedgreyhounds.ie

ANIMALS: KLAWS (Kenmare and Locality Animal Welfare Society) We have several adult cats (all colours) awaiting homes. 087 9729240 or 087 9704480.

TO LET: Rooms to rent in Tralee town. Contact 087 2944505.

PROPERTY WANTED:

WANTED: Houses and apartments to rent in the Killarney area. Contact 086 8136888.

MOTORING

FOR SALE: Pat Collins Car Sales – 087 2630218. 171 Renault Capture, 1.5 Diesel, New T/B Kit, alloys, air con, reversing camera and leather. NCT 2025. 2012 Fiat Punto, .3 Diesel. NCT 2025 and taxed. 2009 Kia Rio, 1.4 Petrol, NCT 2025.

WANTED

WANTED: Receptionist, cleaners and garden/maintenance person, flexi-hours, for Fleming’s Caravan Park, Whitebridge. Tel: 086 3630266 for further details.

FOUND

FOUND: A One 4 All card and cash found on lower New Street, Killarney. Contact 087 6542043.

FREE TO GOOD HOME

DOG: 3-year-old male sheepdog. Very friendly, great on a lead and would make an ideal pet. Call 087 6316718.

DOG: Beautiful 9-month-old female Blue Merle/Collie pup is free to a good loving home. She has a wonderful temperament. Suitable for farm work and/or a family pet. Call 087 2563582.

CAT: My name is Maretta. I am a pretty, affectionate young cat with a long fur coat. I am under two years, though I do not have a birth certificate. I am seeking a position as a house companion/mouse terrorist. I would love to snuggle up with you on the couch and be your best friend. I have been spayed so I come with no baggage. If you have a place for me in your happy home please phone me on 087 2257282.

DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN REPEAT AN ANNIVERSARY BY PHONE?

We store all anniversaries on a database for easy placement. Simply call 064 6632215 with date and name of the deceased.

You can also place an anniversary online at www.killarneyadvertiser.ie

First anniversary and acknowledgements should be emailed to info@killarneyadvertiser.ie or visit the office.

29TH & 14TH ANNIVERSARIES

FLYNN

In loving memory of Paddy Flynn late of St Mary’s Terrace, Killarney who died on 7th March 1995 and Michael Flynn late of Elm Grove, Killarney who died on 26th April 2010.

As each day dawns and starts anew

As each day ends we think of you

And in between no matter where Deep in our hearts you both are always there.

Always remembered and never forgotten by your loving family. xxxxxx

44TH ANNIVERSARY O’DONOGHUE

In loving memory of Donal O’Donoghue Gortacooish, Glenflesk who died on 16th March 1980.

Death is not the end Death can never be the end Death is the road Life is the traveller The soul is the guide.

Forever missed, fondly remembered by Con, Marian, Bridget, Helen, Donal P., daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and relations.

PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude, Healer of the hopeless, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us. Amen. (Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, by the 9th day prayer will be answered, it has never been known to fail - publication must be promised.) BH

31ST & 11TH ANNIVERSARIES MCGILLICUDDY

In loving memory of Tim and Mary McGillicuddy late of Tiernaboul, Killarney

Tim who died on 22nd February 1993

Mary who died on 25th March 2013.

May they Rest in Peace.

Hearts of gold, lives so true Love and respected by all they knew Always willing, helpful and kind What beautiful memories they left behind.

Remembered always by your son Pat, Val, Sam, and family.

53RD & 29TH ANNIVERSARIES

O’LEARY

In loving memory of John and Joan O’ Leary late of Knocklebede, Kilcummin Killarney

John who died on 23rd April 1971 and Joan who died on the 22nd March 1995.

Memories are precious They don’t fade away We think of you always Not just today.

Always remembered by your loving family.

Anniversary Mass on Sunday 7th April at 11:30 am in Our Lady of Lourdes, Kilcummin.

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you this special one, (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. BH

Deadline 5.30 p.m. Tuesday

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, loved in all tabernacles until the end of time. AMEN. May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and Glorified now and forever. AMEN Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Mary. AMEN. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us and hear our prayer. AMEN Pray this prayer, followed by Our Father BH MIRACLE PRAYER

JESUS

May your Sacred Heart Lord Jesus, be praised, glorified and honoured throughout the whole world now and forever. Repeat this 3 times. BH

ST. THERESA

St. Theresa the Little Flower, please pick me a rose from thy heavenly gardens and send it to me with a message of love. Ask God to please grant me the favour I thee implore and tell him I will love him each day more and more. Amen. MD

O Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal. You gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things you have given me as you confirm once again that I never wanted to be separated from you in spite of all material illusions. I wish to be with you in Eternal Glory. Thank you for mercy towards me and mine. This prayer must be said for three days, after three days the favour will be granted. ES

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & 1ST ANNIVERSARY CAHILL

In loving memory of Sheila Cahill Woodlawn Park, Killarney who passed away on 30th March 2023.

As we lovingly remember Sheila on her first anniversary, her daughter Valerie, son-inlaw Tom, and grandchildren Ciara, Patrick and Eimear, wish to express our heartfelt thanks to all who sympathised with us and supported us on her passing.

Thank you to those who attended the removal, requiem mass and burial, those who called to our house and brought food and refreshments, and to those who sent mass cards, flowers and messages of condolences.

Thank you to the family, neighbours and friends who gave so generously of their time to ensure that the funeral ran smoothly from our house.

Thank you to the staff of University Hospital Kerry for the great care that was given to Sheila in her final weeks.

Thanks you to Fr. Sean Jones and Fr. Padraig Kennelly for the lovely mass, and to Ger Healy for the beautiful music at the church and at the graveside.

Thank you to O’Shea’s funeral home for their great kindness, guidance and professionalism.

As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deepest gratitude. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been offered for your intentions.

When you are walking down the street

And you’ve got me on your mind

I’m walking in your footsteps

Only half a step behind.

First Anniversary Mass for Sheila will be on Saturday 23rd March at 6.15 pm in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney.

4TH ANNIVERSARY O’REGAN

In loving memory of Mikie Joe O’Regan. late of Meenagishaugh, Gneeveguilla who passed away on 21st March 2020.

For you were someone special

Always such a joy to know

And there was so much pain

When it was time to let you go.

That’s why this special message Is sent to heaven above

For the angels to take care of you

And give you all our love.

Always remembered by your loving wife Laura, sons Dermot, Fred, Anthony, Adrian and Mike, Mike’s partner Deirdre and grandsons Mikie D, James T and Kai J.

Anniversary Mass on Friday 22nd March at 7.00pm in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Gneeveguilla.

2ND ANNIVERSARY O’SHEA

In Loving memory of Sheila O’Shea late of Woodville, Woodlawn Rd, Killarney who died on 26th March 2022.

Mother, you left us beautiful memories

Your love is still our guide

Although we cannot see you

You are always at our side.

Never forgotten and forever loved by your son Ted, daughter-in-law Nora, granddaughters Clara, Haley and Ali, and also, Daniel and Chloe.

5TH ANNIVERSARY O’BRIEN

In loving memory of Michael O’Brien Ballyspillane and Marian Terrace who died on 22nd March 2019.

Just a prayer from the family who loved you

Just a memory fond and true

In our hearts you will live forever

Because we thought the world of you.

Our hearts are full of memories

With pride we speak your name Though life must go on without you It will never be the same.

Always loved and missed by Mary, Micko, Georgina, Mia, Ryan, and extended family.

6TH ANNIVERSARY O’SHEA

In loving memory of Mary O’Shea, late of 5 O’Kelly’s Villas, Killarney whose anniversary occurs on 23rd March.

They say there is a reason

They say that time will heal

But neither time nor reason

Will change the way we feel.

We want to tell you something

So there won’t be any doubt

You’re so wonderful to think about

But so hard to be without.

Always loved and never forgotten, Mam, Joan and Paudie, Peggie and Ian, grandchildren Sophie, Lisa and Robert, and great grandchildren Conor, Freya, Laura, Paul and Jack.

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

You have said, O Divine Jesus, who said, ”Ask and you will receive, Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Relying on these promises, I come with confidence during this Novena to beg of you the favours that I need: Amen. DG

1ST ANNIVERSARY MOYNIHAN

In loving memory of Michael Moynihan Forest View, Lissivigeen, Killarney who passed away on 25th March 2023.

Time passes, memories stay Quietly remembered every day.

Always remembered by Dave, Christy, Mary and Peggie.

Anniversary Mass for Michael will take place on Monday 25th March at 9.30am in the Church of the Resurrection, Park Road.

3RD ANNIVERSARY

NEHER

In loving memory of Kurt Neher late of 33 Countess Grove, Killarney and Germany who died on 23rd March 2021.

He never looked for praises

He was never one to boast

He just went on quietly working

For the ones he loved the most.

His dreams were seldom spoken His wants were very few

And most of the times his worries

Went unspoken too.

He was there ... a firm foundation

Through all our storms of life

A sturdy hand to hold on to

When in times of stress and strife.

A true friend we could turn to

When times were good or bad

One of the greatest blessings

The man that we called Dad.

Forever loved and sadly missed by your children Karin, Roland, Yuri and Erika, daughters-in-law Joanne and Muireann, and grandchildren.

4TH & 7TH ANNIVERSARIES

In

3RD ANNIVERSARY HICKEY

In loving memory of my husband Timmy Hickey Aunaskirtane, Rathmore. who died on 24th March 2021.

I little knew that morning

That God was going to call your name In life I loved you dearly

In death I do the same.

It broke my heart to lose you You did not go alone

For parts of me went with you

The day God called you home.

Sadly missed and forever loved by your loving wife Margaret.

3RD ANNIVERSARY HICKEY

In loving memory of our father Timmy Hickey Aunaskirtane, Rathmore who died on 24th March 2021.

Dad You held our hands when we were small

You caught us when we fell You’re the hero of our childhood And our later years as well.

And every time we think of you

Our hearts still filled with pride

Though we’ll always miss you Dad We know you’re by our side.

In laughter and in sorrow

In sunshine and through rain We know you are watching over us Until we meet again.

Loved and missed every day by your sons and daughters, Neilus, Mairead, Timothy, Flora and John, and families.

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

You have said O Divine Jesus, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you. Relying on these promises, I come with confidence during this novena to beg of you the favours that I need (make request). For whom shall I ask Lord Jesus, if not from you whose heart is an unfailing source of graces and merits. Most loving heart of my God. I believe in your power, I believe in your knowledge I believe in your personal love for me, and therefore O Sacred heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you. Our father, Hail Mary and Glory, say 3 times for 3 days must promise publication. POS

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you this special one, (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your Father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. RF

8TH & 39TH ANNIVERSARIES CRONIN

In loving memory of John and Peggy Cronin late of Knockeenduve, Killarney Peggy who died on 13th March 2016 and John who died 26th March 1985.

We hold you dear within our hearts

And there you shall remain

To walk with us throughout our lives Until we meet again.

Lovingly remembered and missed by Eileen, Paul, Nicole and Paula.

9TH ANNIVERSARY O’SULLIVAN

In loving memory of Patrick O’ Sullivan late of ‘Killarney Villa’, Lissivigeen, Killarney who died on 26th March 2015.

Treasured memories keep you near

As time unfolds another year

Out of our lives you may be gone

But in our hearts you still live on.

Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by Rose, Cathal and Briet.

11TH ANNIVERSARY MOLONEY

In loving memory of Tom Moloney Clash, Lissivigeen, Killarney who died on 21st March 2013.

In God’s care you rest above

In our heart’s you rest with love Never more than a thought away Loved and remembered everyday.

Sadly missed by his loving daughter Patricia, son-in-law Pat, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Rest in peace Dad. Love you always. xx

NOVENA TO ST. CLAIRE

Ask St. Claire for 3 favours, one business, two

impossible and say nine Hail Mary’s for nine days with lighted candle. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish on ninth day. Powerful Novena. May the sacred heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified and loved today and every day throughout the whole world forever Amen. Say six times daily for nine days. Your request will be granted no matter how difficult it may seem. Favour publication must be promised. JOR

11TH ANNIVERSARY DOHERTY

In loving memory of Jack Doherty Rosnacarton, Beaufort and late of Lisnagrave, Headford who died on 17th March 2013.

Slowly the leaves of memories fall Gently we stoop and gather them all They bring a smile, sometimes a tear But always a wish, that you were here.

Today is a day of memories so sad of the ones we love and wished we had Times slips by, but you still stay As near and dear as yesterday.

Sadly missed by the Doherty family, Lisnagrave.

15TH ANNIVERSARY O’SULLIVAN

In loving memory of a wonderful husband, father and grandfather Donal O’Sullivan late of 85 Ardshanavooly, Killarney who sadly departed from this world on 28th March 2009, aged 61.

A thousand words could never say

How much I miss you every single day

My thoughts are always with you Your place, no one can fill.

So dearly loved and sadly missed by your loving wife Nor. xxx

***

For those who still have their Dads Treat him with tender care You will never know the emptiness As you turn and he’s not there.

From your loving daughter Majella, sons Padraig and Gerard, daughters-in-law Elaine and Jenny, son-in-law Kieran, grandchildren Lauren, Jason, Adam, Rebekah, Doireann, Daniel and Daithí. xxxx

Anniversary Mass on Saturday 23rd March at 6.15pm in St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney.

MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked You for many favours. This time I ask you this very special one (mention favour). Take it, dear Heart of Jesus and place it within Your own Heart where Your Father sees it. Then, in His merciful eyes it will become Your favour not mine. Amen. Say for three days, promise publication and favour will be granted. NS

NOVENA TO ST. CLAIRE

Ask St. Claire for 3 favours, one business, two impossible and say nine Hail Mary’s for nine days with lighted candle. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish on ninth day. Powerful Novena. May the sacred heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified and loved today and every day throughout the whole world forever Amen. Say six times daily for nine days. Your request will be granted no matter how difficult it may seem. Favour publication must be promised. JOR

12TH & 41ST ANNIVERSARIES O’LEARY

In loving memory of our loving parents

Julia and Denis O’Leary late of Knockdurath, Headford, Killarney whose anniversaries occur on 3rd and 24th March.

We look back in fondness every day

At the joyful times we had No one could wish for such a perfect pair

As our special Mum and Dad.

We are grateful for what you taught us

And we are grateful for your love And we know that you watch over us

From the Heavens up above.

Although you’re missed so dearly

And so many tears we’ve cried

It is so sweet and fitting

That you sleep softly side by side.

You shared your love, you shared your life

Many precious times together

Now you will spend eternity Hand in hand forever.

Lovingly remembered by your daughters and sons, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Anniversary Mass on Thursday 21st March at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church, barraduff.

17TH ANNIVERSARY FLEMING

Treasured memories of our loving mother Bunny (Mary) Fleming late of 44 St. Brendan’s Terrace, Killarney who died on 21st March 2007.

A special person, a smiling face Someone we love and can never replace A loving nature, a heart of gold the very best this world could hold.

Your memory is so precious

Your presence missed so much

You will always be remembered And loved by all of us.

Loving remembered by Derry, Michael, Maria and all the family. xxx

Anniversary Mass on Saturday 23rd March at 6.15pm in St. Mary’s Cathedral.

PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN MARY

Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary That never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired y this confidence I fly to Thee O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother, to Thee I come before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the world incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. CD

12TH ANNIVERSARY KELLY

In loving memory of Emily and Alannah Kelly Shronedraugh, Headford, Killarney 22nd March 2012.

To our cherished little Angels

You’re so missed, beautiful girls We long to hold your hands

And see your pretty smile

Our time with you was precious But sadly cut too short

There’s not a day that goes by

When you’re not in our thoughts

I know you’re out there somewhere

In the heavens above

I can’t forget our tender cuddles

Our hearts are still so full of love

Losing you is sometimes hard to bear

And only time will ease the pain

Sleep well our little princesses

May you always rest in peace.

Love you always and forever, Mom, Dad, Darragh, Jayden and Odhran.

20TH ANNIVERSARY O’LEARY(NÉE O’SULLIVAN)

In loving memory of Eileen O’Leary (née O’Sullivan) Killeagh, Farranfore Entrusted to God’s loving care on 21st March 2004.

God called your name so gently that only you could hear No one heard the footsteps Of angels drawing near.

Softly from the shadows

There came a gentle call You closed your eyes and went to sleep You quietly left us all.

Grandmother

Memories grow and memories fade But the memories we have of you Nan Will never go away.

Fondly remembered and never forgotten by your family.

5TH ANNIVERSARY MORIARTY

Treasured memories of a dear husband, father and grandfather Gene Moriarty

Lawlor’s Cross, Kilcummin, Killarney who died on 28th March 2019.

We shared your laughs

We shared your tears

But most of all

We shared great years.

Always remembered by your loving wife Chris and family.

Anniversary Mass on Thursday 28th March at 7.30pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Kilcummin.

| By Adam Moynihan

SPORT

DOUBLE HEADER

Both Kerry senior teams set for final round showdown in the Park

Kerry’s men’s and ladies’ teams are both in action at the Fitzgerald Stadium this Sunday and both are in the hunt for a spot in their respective league finals.

Jack O’Connor’s men are joint second going into the last round of fixtures and victory over Galway would be enough to secure a top two finish if Dublin slip up at home to Tyrone (all four matches

will take place simultaneously). They can also sneak into the final if they win, Dublin win and leaders Derry lose, but in this scenario they would require a significant swing in points difference to get over the line. Derry are at home to Roscommon, who are favourites to join already-relegated Monaghan in Division 2 next season.

Tyrone and Mayo (who play Monaghan) have a miniscule chance of climbing up to second on the final day but they would both require big wins and for Kerry to lose to Galway. Pádraic Joyce’s understrength team need a point to guarantee their safety, but they will also survive if Roscommon fail to win in Celtic Park.

LADIES

The picture for the ladies is much clearer. Win against Galway and they will qualify for the Division 1 final where they will face runaway leaders Armagh.

If Kerry fail to win and third place Dublin beat Armagh in the Athletic Grounds, the Dubs will overtake Kerry and set up a rematch with the Orchard County. That Armagh v Dublin match takes place on Saturday so Darragh Long and Declan Quill will know what is required of their charges well before the ball is thrown in on the Sunday.

Tickets for the Kerry v Galway double header at the Fitzgerald Stadium are available via Ticketmaster at a cost of €20. U16s can attend for free – they do not need a ticket.

Goal-getter Joe gives Kerry plenty to smile about

In last Sunday’s match against Roscommon, Joe O’Connor and Barry Dan O’Sullivan combined for 1-3 in Kerry’s 1-17 to 1-11 win. It was the largest scoring total for a pair of Kerry midfielders for eight years.

The last time Kerry’s 8 and 9 scored 1-3 between them was in March of 2016 when David Moran (1-1) and Kieran Donaghy (0-2) helped Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side to an eight-point away win in Monaghan. Both midfielders scoring in the same match is not common as far as The Kingdom are concerned; you have to go back to July 2021 for the last such instance (Moran and Diarmuid O’Connor got 0-1 each against Tipperary). It just goes to show how impressive Joe O’Connor and Barry Dan’s haul was last weekend.

Barry Dan took his two points well and overall it was good performance by the Dingle man. It was needed, too, as he tries to stake his claim for a prominent role in the team come championship time.

As for Joe, his late strike in Hyde Park was his second three-pointer of the season following his expertly taken goal against Dublin in February. Remarkably, he is the only Kerry player to score more than one goal in the league up to this juncture.

With David Moran retiring last year and with Jack Barry now taking a sabbatical, there’s a starter’s place up for grabs alongside Diarmuid O’Connor and so far this season the candidate from Austin Stacks has looked the part. Yes, there were difficult assignments against Derry and Dublin when he found the going tough but, generally speaking, you’d have to say that he has firmly put himself in the frame for the number 9 jersey heading towards the Munster Championship.

Athletically speaking he is a specimen. He runs with great power and intent both with and without the ball, which is why he gets on the end of moves and finds himself in threatening positions quite regularly.

In terms of his attitude, I’ve been very impressed by his demeanour throughout his first proper run in the team. He plays the game with a smile on his face which is actually surprisingly uncommon considering the fact that this is a “game” we’re talking about. We all know intercounty is serious business but you’d like to think that players are enjoying themselves out there, at least when things are going well. Few footballers show us

that kind of emotion, though, so seeing O’Connor smiling and laughing is a breath of fresh air.

Even when things are getting tetchy around him, as they did against Tyrone and Roscommon, the Tralee man smiles while others seethe. (As Seán O’Sullivan said this week on The Kerry Football Podcast, we’d probably smile too if fellas were trying to fight us and we had Joe’s size.)

Kerry’s new-look midfield won’t face real judgement until they’re landed into the furnace of summertime football, and there is a mountain of work to be done between now and then, but there are signs that Joe O’Connor can be a potent scoring threat from the middle third.

Considering the team’s record in this department over the past several years, that can only be a good thing.

SCORING THREAT:

Joe O'Connor got 1-1 for Kerry in their victory over Roscommon on Sunday. Photo: Brendan Moran/ Sportsfile.

Ladies should make the final but men may fall short

Two very important league games for Kerry are on offer this weekend. The ladies had a resounding 1-15 to 0-5 win over Meath last weekend where unbeaten Armagh are through to the league final (the only team to beat Kerry in this campaign). Kerry should make the final with a home win against Galway on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jack O’Connor’s charges won their away game versus Roscommon much easier than the scoreline suggests. Galway and Roscommon are possible teams to be relegated along with Monaghan, whose fate is already sealed. There are several possible (if not probable) outcomes depending on how the results pan out this weekend. Specifically, can Kerry still sneak into the final? Surely with both teams at home, Dublin will beat Tyrone and Derry will consign Roscommon to relegation. That will mean a Derry v Dublin decider. Does Jack O’Connor want to reach the final? If so, why did he book sunny Portugal for the intensive sun-splashed venue preparing for the championship? The first game is the Munster semi-final against Cork or Limerick in the Fitzgerald Stadium. Is there a hint of a resurrection in Cork? John Cleary will be happy with how they beat Meath 1-11 to 1-8, scoring

the last seven points unanswered. That means Cork will avoid relegation and it will lift the spirits for the match against Kerry in the Park. That was a blistering finish away to Meath and a morale booster after a poor league campaign. I expect the Kerry ladies to qualify for their league final and the Kerry men, Portugal bound, to let Dublin and Derry fight out the league final at Croke Park.

SPORT IN BRIEF

It was great to see Ireland winning the Six Nations after a tough win against

Scotland. It was just reward for captain Peter O’Mahony, but they will rue missing out on the Grand Slam, certainly the one that got away in Twickenham. Surprise, surprise, Liverpool are fallible and Manchester United are on the way back. Or are they? Is it a false dawn? Finally, they have given a hint of their once proud tradition. In the glamour FA Cup tie it went to extra time at Old Trafford and in the final minute, Amad Diallo struck for the 4-3 winner, dumping Liverpool out of the cup. They now face

Coventry in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, it will be Chelsea v Man City on the other side. How about an all-Manchester final? We must talk to Fr John Aherne about that one. Was it a onceoff by United or will they work another miracle?

McIlroy and Lowry didn’t come close last weekend so they will be gearing up for the first big golf event of 2024. It was March for Cheltenham and in April Augusta will take centre stage for these millionaire golfers.

| By Eamonn Fitzgerald

ON THE LINE: Kerry managers Declan Quill and Darragh Long before the Lidl LGFA National League Division 1 match between Meath and Kerry in Ashbourne, Meath. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

SQUAD: The Kerry panel that defeated Meath in Round 6 of the National League. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Last week we recorded the history of cricket in the Killarney area, a game for the ascendancy class but not for the general population as hurling, football, camogie, handball and rounders were developed for the native Irish population.

Rounders is still an official game of the GAA, but the silence from Croker is deafening in its omission. Maybe Jarlath Burns, the new president, will resurrect that great sport.

There were also other games played locally here in Kerry. There may have been no All-Ireland but they were still hugely popular, especially the game of ‘cat’ (not to be mixed up with ‘caid’).

Fr Tom Looney gave a great insight into the game of cat for members of the Kerry Archaeological and History Society. Also very informative is Tony Horgan who worked in Hilliards boot factory (Hilliards & Palmer), the company that provided so much employment for the people of Killarney before Liebherr and Pretty Polly arrived. He came back home from Hammersmith in 2014 to launch his autobiography. It is a fine record of social history and the autobiography of an Irish boy growing up in Killarney in the hungry 1930s who boarded the cattle boat to England.

Older readers will recall when the Railway Road (East Avenue Road) was lined with trees so it was easy to cut out a wooden club, a cross between a golf driver, a hurley and a hockey stick. The ball wasn’t the expected sliotar but a

SUMMER DAYS:

When Killarney boys played the game of ‘cat’

Eamonn Fitzgerald remembers ‘cat’, a unique sport that kept the local youths busy in the good old days

wooden ball. The improvised game of cat was played more or less by the rules of cricket. Hence the lingo: pitcher, striker, bowler, runs, bat etc. It was popular on the Railway Road in the 1930s as recalled by Tony Horgan.

Michael Leane, that fount of knowledge of times past in Killarney, remembers it in Ross Road in the 1940s. In O’Sullivan Place there were two venues where Johnny Culloty, Tadhgie Fleming and Seánie O’Shea Sr played. Christy Sheahan (Bishop Moynihan Crescent) and that other great follower of all sports Kieran O’Keeffe played on the Sandpit (now High Street car park). By 1960 that was the unofficial Wembley Stadium for the half-day Thursday games of clandestine soccer – even though the GAA Ban came down heavily on transgressors.

The young Garda Dan Harrington organised the teenagers to form Killarney Athletic AFC.

Summertime and school holidays pro-

vided ample opportunities to invent such games as cat or to play other games and swim at the Sandybottom. Many will recall postman Dick Hanley, a prizewinning photographer who snapped the Bunrower Navy made famous in the song of the same title. The stars included Patsy Looney, Andy Lucey, Seán Sugs, Eddie Kelly, Donie Lucey, Mick Lucey, Paddy Kelly, John O’Shea, Mick McCarthy, Patsy Looney, Dick Hanley and Pat O’Sullivan.

The Kings of the Sandybottom were Johnny Healy (one of the best school footballers of the 1950s that I saw playing), Michael Clifford, Sonny Johnson and Patsy Cahill. The late Christy Healy from New Street and his neighbour Christy Godson mapped out a mini-golf course at Bunrower for young sports enthusiasts, so this pitch and putt course predated the venues at Deerpark and the Gleneagle.

Cat and rounders were local games and a bit of fun. Great craic, no affiliation fees,

no fixture list, and no problem with the split season. No cards, be they black, yellow or red. The coin was tossed, heads or harps. However, once the ball or (the cat) was thrown in, rivalries took off in these self-regulated games. Referee, how are you? The dander was up in several local - very local - impromptu games.

The Park Road had its own parish rule. It was a case of Up the Road v Down the Road for the Rounders game at Curtayne’s Cross after mass on Sundays. The dividing line was Hackey Aherne's house (now Cotter’s Orthodontic Clinic). Rigid parish rule and no transfer market. You may talk about the Berlin Wall, the Blue Line of the UN in Lebanon, the McMahon Line between North and South Korea and the Mason-Dixon line, but when it came to intensity, Sundays after mass on the Cork Road was no-go area. Civil War is the worst of all wars and nowhere was that more evident than 100 years ago in Kerry.

Johnny Healy, Sonny Johnson, Michael Clifford and Patsy Cahill at the Sandybottom in Killarney in the 1950s.

Killarney girls advance to another final

Last Saturday the Killarney U18.5 girls travelled to West Cork and in horrendous conditions defeated a very spirited Bantry/Dunmanway team to reach the Munster Cup final. Down three players who were involved in the Irish U18 camp and a number of other players, Killarney had to dig deep to win a high-scoring game by 43 points to 20.

Playing with the elements, the home side started off very strongly and were first to score a try, which wasn’t converted. After some good running rugby by the visitors, Killarney skipper Ali O’Donoghue had a great interchange with Marina Eagar out wide before setting up Mary Ellen McDonald. The Glencar speedster had too much for the oncoming defence and she touched down under the posts. The outstanding Killarney scrum half Bronagh Dorrian converted. Five points to seven to the visitors inside the first eight minutes. The Kerry side were determined to score next and they duly did as Niamh Dorrian was at the end of a very good run from the Killarney hooker Ella Guerin-Crowley.

Bantry then scored a fine try which left the score at 10-12. The home side were clearly more than up for the challenge. McDonald was next to score after some good play by Joanne O’Keefe and Molly

FINALISTS: The Killarney team who beat Bantry/Dunmanway in the Munster Cup semi-final.

Gabbett, which made it 10-17 half-time.

Bantry kicked off the second half and they were straight on the attack and crossed the try line. Game on. Now playing with the elements, Killarney really kicked into gear and played some great expansive rugby and scored some super tries through Niamh Dorrian, Crowley and McDonald (her third) to finish off the contest in style and advance to the Munster Cup final.

“No matter what you throw at this team

Lakers hyped for playoff quarter-final

The Scotts Lakers are in playoff action this Saturday when they take on UCD Marian in the Division 1 playoff quarter-final in Dublin. Tipoff at the Oatlands College Gym is at 7pm.

Brian Clarke’s side completed their regular season on positive note by seeing off the challenge of SETU Carlow last weekend with five players scoring 10 points or more. The 89-83 win mattered little in terms of league placings – the Killarney team had already secured a fourth-place finish in the Southern Conference – but it was a welcome outcome nevertheless following a run of three straight defeats. Their opponents tomorrow night are the Northern Conference winners so the task facing the Lakers is a difficult one, but they can take a lot of encouragement from the fact that they won the only meeting between the teams this season. An impressive fourth quarter showing that carried on into overtime saw them take the spoils in an exhilarating contest in the capital. Seven players contributed

on the scoresheet in those last fifteen minutes with Terion Moss, Braden Bell and Paul Clarke to the fore. Unfortunately, injury has ended both Clarke’s and Moss' seasons but other players have stepped up in their absence.

Bell, Eoin Carroll, Rui Saravia, Leondre Washington, Jack O’Sullivan and Jamie O’Sullivan are sure to be important figures as the Lakers look to upset the seeding and book their place in the Division 1 semi-finals.

In the other quarter-finals, SETU Carlow host the Drogheda Wolves, the Limerick Celtics face Moy Tolka Rovers and the Limerick Sport Eagles take on the Panthers in Portlaoise.

If they win, the Lakers will have a home tie in the last four against the winners of Carlow and Drogheda.

Elsewhere, the St Paul’s women’s team have qualified for the semi-final of the League Trophy after beating the Dublin Lions by 13 points in Duagh. The next round will take place over the Easter weekend.

they are ready for it,” Killarney Co-Coach Diarmuid O’Malley said. “Losing Clodagh Foley after 15 minutes was a massive loss but what’s amazing with this special bunch of girls is they all show up and play like a team.

“In tough conditions the girls showed how good rugby players they are. We had got news from Killarney earlier that our U16s had won their cup semi-final so we were determined to join them on cup final day on March 30 in Virgin Media Park.

KEY PLAYER: Braden Bell scored 15 points in the Lakers' victory over SETU Carlow. Photo: Pat Shanahan Photography.

“It will be a historic day for girls rugby in Kerry.”

KILLARNEY: Molly Gabbett, Ella Guerin-Crowley, Emer O’Keefe, Joanne O’Keefe, Isabella O’Leary, Melissa McCarthy, Sarah O’Connor, Clodagh Foley, Bronagh Dorian, Cara Reilly, Holly O’Sullivan, Niamh Dorrian, Ali O’Donoghue (captain), Mary Ellen McDonald, Marina Eagar, Nell Crowley, Jasmine Dwyer. Coaches: Josh Whelan, Diarmuid O’Malley. Manager: Elaine Clifford.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

SWIMMING: Aoife Coffey and Juan Avila of Loughquitanne NS will compete in the National Irish Minor Schools Swimming Finals at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin this weekend. They are pictured here with school principal Alison Coffey.

CAPTAINS: Referee Shane Curley with team captains Monica McGuirk of Meath and Niamh Carmody of Kerry before the National League Division 1 match in Ashbourne. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

The

SOCCER:

MEK U12 boys who fought bravely against Dingle Bay Rovers.

CELTIC: The Killarney Celtic squad who advanced in the Tom Hayes U14 Shield by beating Castleisland.

CAMOGIE: Killarney Camogie Club players Bríde Breen, Caoimhe Dineen and Sinéad Murphy who were members of the Kerry U14 team that played Tipperary.

SWIMMING: Evan O'Donoghue of St Oliver's NS will compete in the National Irish Minor Schools Swimming Finals at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin this weekend. He is pictured here with school principal Colm Ó Súilleabháin and teacher Graham O'Sullivan.

STILL SMILING: Mary Ellen McDonald and Niamh Dorian were part of the Killarney RFC U18.5 team who overcame Bantry/Dunmanway (and the conditions) to advance to the Munster Cup final.

Killarney Athletic

U12 PREMIER: Killarney Athletic 2-0 St Brendan's Park. Artem Dzhandra, Myron Svyripa. Well done to all of the Killarney Athletic U12 As today on a well-deserved hard fought 2-0 victory over Park FC A’s. The boys played with confidence and was rewarded with a spectacular individual effort by Artem Dzhandra bottom corner finish to make it 1-0. Jack Doyle narrowly missed a hard worked chance to put the lads up 2-0 before half. The second half started well as Myron Svyripa put the boys up 2-0 with a fine strike. Each and every player contributed to the hard-fought victory today. They all worked their socks off, defended for their lives against a very good Park FC team and supported each other. Ewan Marshall kept a clean sheet with a confident performance. Very proud of all the young men today. Man of the match for Athletic today was captain and centre midfield Rory Moynihan who had his best performance of the year leading his team. Thank you to Park FC for a very sporting match.

U14B CUP: Killarney Athletic 3-3 Ballyhar. Athletic win on penalties. Cracking cup tie in Ferndale, we were 3-1 up and cruising but a gritty Ballyhar battled back to draw level and Darragh Lucey was the hero saving 3 pens in the shootout. Scorers: Corkery, Aodhagan and Marshall. On to the next round, well done boys.

U15 CUP: Killarney Athletic 8-1 Killarney Celtic. Jayden Hurley, Ryan Kissane, Alex Doolan, Juan Martin, Junior Mayunga, Samuel Sjogren. Our U15s took on Killarney Celtic B team this evening in Woodlawn in the cup and while the boys ran out convincing winners, the victory was overshadowed by a bad hand injury to one of the Celtic players. Everyone at Killarney Athletic wish him all the best and a speedy recovery. Our boys started and finished the game in dominant fashion scoring some excellent goals. There was a couple of belters in there from Ryan, Jayden and Sam. Alex notched a header, Juan and Junior scored with 2 great finishes. It has to be mentioned Ryan Kissane put in a wonderful performance with 2 goals and 3 assists. We wish Celtic all the best in the shield and next up for our boys is an away trip to Tralee Dynamos next weekend.

PARADE: Thank you to everyone that took park in the St Patrick Day Parade.

Killarney Celtic

LOTTO: Numbers drawn 3, 6, 14, 20. No jackpot winner. Match 3 winner received €75. Next jackpot €6,600 on Monday March 25th. Tickets available from The Dungeon Bookshop, club members and online through Clubzap.

RESULTS: McCarthy Insurance Group Munster Junior Cup Semi-Final - Villa FC 7-0 Killarney Celtic. U16 Tucker Kelly Cup - Castleisland AFC 1-0 Killarney

Celtic. U14 Tom Hayes Shield - Castleisland AFC B 3-5 Killarney Celtic B. Marco Mosca 2, Jason Harrington 2, Marc Sheehan. U12 Div 1 - Killarney Celtic White 5-1

Listowel Celtic. Kyle Fleming 2, Richard Ivan, David Ajibare, Keenan McCarthy. U12 Div 2 South - St Brendan’s Park 4-2

Killarney Celtic Gold. Noah Murphy, Aodhan O’Halloran.

GIRLS: U17 Premier - St Brendan’s Park 0-6 Killarney Celtic. Casey Mulry 2, Hannah Casey, Saranya Ryan, 2OG.

PARADE: Many thanks to all who marched with the club in the St Patrick's Day Parade.

MEK Galaxy

GIRLS: Our U10 Girls team had a fantastic morning defending well, scoring lots of goals and showing great teamwork in their first ever U10 game against Ballyhar Both sides can look forward to the future of Girls football.

BOYS U12 PREMIER: MEK Galaxy 0-4 Dingle Bay Rovers. Fair play to the lads who toughed it out in gale force conditions at Gallarus. A battling display against Dingle Bay, who play in the last 16 of the FAI National Cup next weekend. We wish them well.

BOYS U14 SHIELD: Mastergeeha 0-4 MEK Galaxy. A great display by the lads. Man of the match Cade Jameson scored a hattrick with Mikey Cooper getting 1. A brilliant team performance by Maurice and the boys!

Dr Crokes GAA

ACADEMY: Our Academy continues every Saturday morning, for boys and girls between 4 and 11 from the Killarney area. Hurling from 10-11 and Football from 11:15-12:15. Fun and friendship guaranteed. Bring a friend.

EASTER CAMP: Our Annual Easter Camp will take place on Wednesday 3rd April to Friday 5th April from 10am to 2pm.

MEMBERSHIP: Dr. Crokes GAA Membership for the 2024 season is now open online. This is the last week for membership. If membership is not paid players will not be able to play or train with the club. Register via Clubforce.

MOTHERS & OTHERS: Our Mothers & Others team continues training on Monday nights. New members are always welcome. Contact Catherine Keogh on 087 2827626.

FR. PADDY’S CARDS continue every Wednesday at 8pm in the clubhouse. There is lots of money to be won. All you need is €5 and a partner. All are Welcome.

GENTLE MOVEMENT CLASSES with Kathleen have now finished. They will resume again after Easter on Monday 15th April.

LOTTO took place March 18th. Numbers drawn were 4, 14, 15, 26. Jackpot of €8,300 was not won. 5 patrons matched 3 numbers and received €80. Jackpot for draw on March 25th will be €8,600. Play online via Clubforce.

DR. CROKES SHOP: You can shop worldwide on our online shop.

BINGO: Dr Crokes Bingo continues every Sunday in St. Mary's Parish Hall. Doors will open at 7pm with the first game commencing at 8pm.

OLD CLOTHES BANK is located at the rear of the clubhouse. All clothes should be deposited in bags. Donations will help to provide valuable funding to our club.

NOTES: If anyone has anything they want to add to our club notes please email pro.drcrokes.kerry@gaa.ie.

Kilcummin GAA

LOTTO: There was no winner on Friday 15th March 2024 of the Jackpot for €9,400. Numbers drawn were 04, 07, 08, 20. Consolation prizes of €50 went to M & P Culloty Lyretough, Barry Duggan, Eugene McSweeney, and Caroline Hurley. The next draw will be on Friday 22nd March for Jackpot of €9,600.

Fossa GAA

LOTTO: The numbers drawn on 17/03/2024 for a jackpot of €10,500 were 1, 21,24, 26. There was no jackpot winner, and the €40 consolation prize winners were Siobhan Kiely, Online; Donald O’Sullivan, Online; Margaret Cunningham, Fossa; Sheila Moynihan, Two Mile; David Butler, Dromin. Tickets are available from our sellers and can also be bought online via Clubforce.

SYMPATHY: Club members were saddened to hear of the passing of our vice president Seamus Weldon on Saturday, and would like to extend sympathies to Eileen, Kathleen, Mike, James, Padraig, and their extended families. Seamus was born and raised in Mulhussey, Co Meath and like many more that time, travelled to England for work when he finished an apprenticeship. Here he met Eileen Griffin from Barleymount, they returned home to get married, and a year later in 1967 returned to Barleymount for good. Seamus worked on the buildings for a couple of years before joining Liebherr. He left them after 17 years to start his own, very successful lawnmower servicing and sales business, taking on the main Ireland John Deere agency in 1993. Seamus was very involved as a coach in Fossa GAA for over 20 years from the late '80‘s and had great successes with many juvenile teams and also South Kerry Development squads. A Fossa/Listry minor combination managed by Seamus in 2000 won the East Kerry Div 2 Championship and in winning that gave them a crack at the Div 1 East Kerry C'ship which they also won. Seamus took on our Senior team in 2002 for 3 years, winning the County Novice Shield with them in 2002. Seamus was a very active executive member during this time also and was hugely instrumental in several fundraising initiatives. He was involved in the very successful car draw towards the development of our fine facilities in

Gortroe in 1994 when he carried the car all over the county and beyond, and also in the day-to-day finances of the club. Seamus and Mick Myers were to the fore in setting up the club lotto and several Race Nights in the '00's. Seamus was elected as a vice president of the club in 2017 as a recognition of his great service. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

SENIOR

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE:

Round 1 - Fossa 3-14 Listry 4-8. An incredible 2nd half performance saw Fossa overcome Listry in the 1st round of the Development League. Losing at half time, 4-6 to 1-3, it was not looking good. However, every player stood up in the 2nd half and put in a huge shift. With 10 different scorers on the day, this was a real team effort. Team: Lee Linehan (01), Cian Myers, Francis Moran, Joe Cahillane, Sean Dineen, Anthony O’Keeffe (0-1), Darragh O’Brien, Mark Donnellan (0-2), Kevin McCarthy (0-1), Darren Cronin (0-1), Ted O’Gorman (1-2), Ryan O’Leary (0-1), Jack Sugrue (1-0), Rocco Sheehan (0-5), Peader Kelliher (1-0), Tadgh O’Sullivan.

MINOR COUNTY LEAGUE: Fossa played Tarbert/Ballylongford in a cracker of a game in Fossa on Saturday afternoon. Fossa raced into an early lead with points from Fionn Doyle, Dylan O’Meara and Conor O’Mahony. Tarbert/B’longford were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute, which they scored, and they added three more goals between that, and the 20th minute and Fossa looked to be in trouble. This is where character was needed and Fossa weren’t found wanting, Shay McCormick kicked two points to keep the scoreboard ticking and the half time score was Tarbert/B’longford 4-03, Fossa 0-07. Fossa responded brilliantly in the second half, Ryan Brady got stuck in at midfield, Darragh Whelton pulled off a couple of brilliant pointblank saves in goal to keep his team in the game and every player upped the ante, big time. Dylan O’Meara had the ball in the net twice in the opening 10 minutes, Sam Clerkin kicked a point, then David Butler went on a searing run forward and he offloaded to Mikey Moroney who hit a great shot to the net. Game on, Dylan O’Meara kicked a free and the teams were all square after 19 minutes of play. Tarbert/B’longford hit back with a goal and a point but Fossa refused to lie down, they contested every ball and three frees from Dylan O’Meara had them right back in this game. With time up, Fossa trailed by two points when they got a free which was floated into the square. Mark Kennelly rose highest and got a brilliant flick on the ball but agonisingly, it went just over the top of the crossbar. Time ran out and Tarbert/B’longford finished strongly to run out victors on a score of 6-09 to 3-14. This was a game that Fossa scarcely deserved to lose, their attitude was excellent, and they played with great spirit and endeavour.

SPORT NOTES

There was a minute’s silence observed before the game in memory of Seamus Weldon, a man who trained numerous underage teams over the years and who gave phenomenal service to Fossa GAA club. May He Rest in Peace. Team: Darragh Whelton, Luke McCann, Fionn Doyle (0-01), Derek O’Gorman, Jack Hallissey, David Butler, Conor O’Mahony (0-01), Mark Kennelly (0-01), Ryan Brady, Sam Clerkin (0-01), Dylan O’Meara (2-08), Cathal Breen, Ronan Bennett, Mikey Moroney (1-0), Shay McCormick (0-02), Charlie O’Connor.

LADIES FOOTBALL: Congratulations to Seodhla Colleran who helped the Kerry minor team in their win over Waterford in the Munster Minor Championship in Banteer on Saturday.

MEMBERSHIP: Club membership is now due and needs to be paid before 31st March. It can be obtained on the Clubforce app or from any one of our club officers.

Listry GAA

LOTTO: Numbers drawn 1, 3, 13, 24. €100 Luke Clifford Keel. €50 Mary O’Sullivan Rockfield West. €50 Abigail & Jacob Gallagher. €25 Seamus O’Mahony. €25 Noreen O’shea Lissivane East. Next week’s jackpot €3,450.

SENIORS: Credit Union SFL Division

3 Round 1 - Listry v Currow Saturday 23/03/24 at 5pm.

East Kerry GAA

MONTHLY MEETING: Our next monthly meeting takes place at the Heights Hotel, on Tuesday March 26th, at 9pm.

CONDOLENCES: Sympathies to the family of Ger (Gerald) Healy. Knockancore, Kilcummin, Killarney, Kerry, on his recent death.

Beaufort GAA

FIXTURES: Beaufort minor men will be away to Beale, Saturday, 23rd March at 12 midday in round 1, back game in Co League. Good luck to senior men’s teams and managements as they will begin Co League next weekend. Beaufort will be away to John Mitchels at 5pm, Saturday, 23rd in Division 2 and away to St Michael’s/Foilmore at the same time in Division 6.

RESULTS: Beaufort 6.12 Ardfert 3.06 and Beaufort 1.02 Moyvane 2.07 in Co League. Beaufort 1.09 Milltown/Castlemaine 2.14 in round 1, Development League.

LOTTO: No jackpot winner on Sunday, 17th March. Jackpot €2,800. Numbers: 9, 18, 23, 25. Consolation Prizes. €80 Chris O’Riordan, online. €50 Roisín Kennedy, Dunloe, Alan Kearins, Mary and DD, c/o Beaufort Bar. The next draw for a jackpot of €3,000 will be on Sunday, 31st March.

MEMBERSHIP: Beaufort G.A.A. Club membership is now due. Gym and facilities membership is also available. Please contact Patie 087 2515311. For Ladies

football, LGFA membership has to be paid by 22nd March. For more information, please contact Sue 086 2632219.

GOOD LUCK to our competitors in Scór na bPáistí and Scór Sinsir next weekend. Scór na bPáistí will begin at 11.30am on Saturday, 23rd March in Tintean, Ballybunion. Scór Sinsir will be at the same venue starting at 7pm on Saturday, 23rd. The exception are the two quizzes which will be held in John Mitchels GAA On Friday, 22nd March.

Milltown/Castlemaine GAA

LOTTO: Sponsored by Almas Takeaway, Milltown. The most recent fortnightly club lotto draw took place on Tuesday, March 19th at the club grounds. There was no jackpot or match 3 winner on this occasion. The numbers drawn were 12, 21, 26 and the bonus ball was 7. Lucky Dip Winners were as follows: €50 Katherine Giles, Castlemaine. €50 Kieran Woods, Callinafercy. €25 Theresa Foley, Milltown. €25 Colin McKenna, Castlemaine. €25 Tom Hanafin, Milltown. €25 Haulie Clifford, Milltown. Our next club lotto draw is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 1st at 19:30pm in the Clubhouse where the jackpot will be €13,000. Get your draw tickets or renew your yearly tickets online on Clubforce or get your tickets for the next draw from all the usual local outlets. Mile búiochas do gach duine for playing Milltown/Castlemaine Clubs Fortnightly Fundraiser, the money raised is vital to the day to day running of our club and your support is sincerely appreciated.

MEMBERSHIP: Milltown/Castlemaine GAA Club Membership is now due for the 2024 season and is open to Adult Players, Adult Non-Players, Juvenile Players and Families. New Members are always welcome too. Join online via Clubforce. There will also be in-person opportunities to pay your membership in the coming weeks at the club grounds and these will be communicated to members in advance. Should you have any questions or queries on membership, or whether you are a member currently, please contact your teams’ head coach or send an email to mcgaaclubregs@gmail.com.

FIXTURES: The Credit Union County Senior Football League will get underway for our Senior 'A' side on Saturday, March 23rd as we meet Glenflesk at the Paddy Burke Memorial Park, Milltown with a throw-in time of 2:00pm. All support is welcome. Milltown/Castlemaine's Senior 'B' side are also kicking off their County Senior Football League campaign this weekend as they welcome Dr. Crokes 'C' to the Paddy Burke Memorial Park on Sunday, March 24th with a throw-in time of 11:30am.

RESULT: Milltown/Castlemaine 'C' welcomed Beaufort 'C' to the Paddy Burke Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon and had a very promising start to the season with a 2-14 to 1-08 victory. Well done to the players and management

involved. The teams next outing will be on April 13th when they travel to take on Rathmore 'C' in Rathbeg. Time to be confirmed. Milltown/Castlemaine's Minors took on Kilcummin last Saturday afternoon at the Paddy Burke Memorial Park, Milltown in Round 5 of the Keane's Supervalu County Minor Football League. After a lively game between two good teams, nothing could separate them, and the tie finished level on a score of 0-14 to 1-11. The Minors have two wins, a draw and a defeat from their four games so far in the County League. They have one remaining fixture which is a Round 3 backgame which will take place on Thursday, March 28th in Killeen, Tralee. Time to be confirmed.

PARADES: Great to see the One Club Model in all its glory in the Milltown/ Castlemaine club parade on St Patrick's Day. Representatives from all our teams walked together in a glorious show of green. Thanks to our MC Minis, U7 Boys, U8Girls, U9 Boys, U10 Girls, U11 Boys, U12 Girls, U13 Boys, U14 Girls, U15 Boys, U17 Boys, Senior Ladies, Senior Men, Mothers & Others and GAA4All. Massive thank you to both the Milltown & Castlemaine Parade committees on a hugely successful day. What a great day to represent where you come from.

U15 FIXTURES: Milltown/Castlemaine's U15 Boys will begin their Lee Strand County Football League campaigns next week. In Division 3B, Milltown/Castlemaine will take on Kenmare Shamrocks on Wednesday, March 27th in Fr Breen Park, Kenmare at 6:00pm. Meanwhile on Monday, March 25th, Milltown/ Castlemaine will take on Keel/Listry at 6:00pm in Keel. Best of luck to both our teams for the year ahead and, as ever, all support would be very welcome for the boys.

Killarney Camogie Club

UNDER 8 & UNDER 10: Training continues next Monday from 6-7pm in Spa. Age 5 upwards. Hurleys & helmets provided. Please come along and try out a few sessions. Only need to bring runners and water. Contact Secretary Eimear Flynn for more information 087 6481736

UNDER 12 TRAINING: Under 12 training continues on Friday 22nd March. Venue & time tbc. Bring runners, boots, hurley, helmet & water. New players welcome. Contact Secretary Eimear Flynn for more information 087 6481736

KERRY U14 CAMOGIE: Congratulations to Killarney players Bríde Breen, Caoimhe Dineen & Sinéad Murphy who played their first challenge game for Kerry last weekend v Tipperary in UL. A fantastic achievement and no doubt the first of many for these talented girls.

REGISTRATION: Registration is now open for all age groups on Foireann. Please check out our Facebook page for details on how to register. Contact Registrar Louise Moynihan or Secretary

Eimear Flynn with any queries.

FÉILE MEDAL PRESENTATION: Our Féile medal presentation takes place on Friday 19th April at the Gleneagle Hotel. Members of last year's winning Division 2 Féile team will receive their county medals. More details to follow.

PAT SHEEHAN MEMORIAL TOURNA-

MENT: After the success of last year's tournament, this year's blitz for small teacher schools will take place on Friday 19th April in Spa. More details to follow.

Deerpark Pitch & Putt Club

ST PATRICK’S WEEKEND RESULTS:

Sunday - Fourball Betterball - First Nett: Sean O'Brien & John Murphy 37, Gross: A tie between the pairings of Daniel Kelly & Robbie O'Brien Snr & Daniel Kelly & Niall O'Loughlin on 49 as Daniel's score as common partner counted on every hole on B9 and Second Nett: John Murphy & Betty O'Brien 39. Monday - Two Ball Scramble - First Nett: Niall O'Loughlin & John Murphy 39 and Gross: Sean O'Brien & John Looney 50.

CLUB MATCHPLAY: Anyone that wants to play in Club Matchplay on Easter Sunday March 31st (sponsored by Murphy’s Bar) please note you must be a paid-up member of club by the end of this Sunday March 24th.

COUNTY MATCHPLAY: Entry sheet now on noticeboard for this event which we host on April 14th. Entries to be taken up until Sunday April 7th. Fee: €10 per player. Please ensure you are a registered member and are playing in the correct handicap grade prior to entering.

2024 FIXTURES: Please note that a complete list comprising the full 2024 Fixture List of all events of local interest is now on the website and the noticeboard for viewing.

TIM SCANNELL MEMORIAL INTER-CLUB MATCHPLAY: Please note the County Board are starting this event on Tuesday April 30th this year and clubs are allowed enter second teams this year if interested. Anyone interested please contact Jason regarding same.

DEEPEST SYMPATHIES: The club offers it sympathies to the family and staff of one of our suppliers in Weldons on the death of its founder Seamus Weldon in the past week.

Killarney Valley AC

RACE: On behalf of the Killarney Valley AC committee we would like to notify the public of the road race which is to be held on Good Friday evening. There are full road closures from 6-8pm on New street, High street, Beech road and partial use of New Street car park. There are partial road closures on the New Road with no traffic allowed from Rock Road and St Anne's road direction via New Road and no traffic from the New Road to Port Road section heading left back to New Street for the duration of the event. The race commences at 6.30pm sharp at Killarney House and covers two miles

there and via the Killarney National Park at Knockreer. The runners will then emerge from the park crossing onto New street, the first runner is expected to emerge from the park at approximately 6.39pm. The athletes and runners will then proceed up New Street, towards Market Cross turning left up High Street, then back via New Road and Port Road keeping left back to New Street. They will complete two full laps of the inner section of the town route totalling three miles. On completion of the town loop twice they will head for the finish line via Beech Road and into the New Street car park turning right parallel with the tourist office where the finish line logistics will be in operation. The first runner is expected to finish in approximately 25 minutes with the final runners to take up to 1 hour. With a major traffic management operation plan to ensure the safety of all, can we thank the public for their cooperation and would ask drivers if at all possible to avoid the area at this time and assist the stewards in ensuring a safe event. In advance can we thank the gardaí, Kerry County Council, the residents and the business owners for their cooperation. With hundreds of runners coming from all over Ireland and beyond the showpiece event from Killarney Valley AC assists the maintenance and viability of the athletics track within the town.

Killarney Rugby

PARADE: Last Sunday we took part on what must be the best St. Patrick’s day Parade yet in Killarney. Our kids sang their hearts out along the route, engaging with the crowd and had a wonderful time at what must have been the biggest parade to date. Thanks to all who took part and to all who looked after our kids on the parade.

U16 GIRLS: First up our Killarney/Iveragh/Listowel U16's hosted a very tough Midleton/Youghal in the Bank of Ireland U16 Girls Munster Cup semifinal at Aghadoe in brutal weather conditions. Killarney/Iveragh/Listowel started well, retaining possession well into the first period. This led to an early try which was converted. The opposition respond well, coming back with a score try of their own. A period of back-and-forth possession was followed by our 2nd try, scored in the backs after good through the hands ball, which seen us go into half time at 12 to 5. The 2nd half started with our kick off and after winning possession. With good defence play followed by good possession phase play and good hands the movement of ball out wide led to a 3rd try. Killarney received the kick off, keeping the ball away from their string packs and rucks resulting in a 4th try which was converted.

SENIORS: Very well done to our Seniors who also won their semifinal at the weekend. The lads hosted a tough Rugbai Chorca Dhuibhne at a sunny Agha-

doe in perfect playing conditions on St. Patrick's day. A cracking day for a match, with both teams evenly matched, there would never be much between both sides. With tries from Donnchadh Greally, Shane Looney and Harry Kelly, our side proved the stronger. Ciaran O'Brien's conversion and penalty proved the difference in this hard-fought victory for our lads. Next weekend the lads take on Carrick-on-Suir in the Final at Virgin Media Park and kick off is at 2pm on Sunday. All support is very welcome.

RESULTS: U14 Girls Semi-final: Castleisland/Killarney 27-14 Midleton/Youghal. U16 Girls: Killarney/Iveragh/Listowel 315 Midleton/Youghal. U18 Girls: Dunmanway/Bantry 20- 43 Killarney. Seniors

Semifinal: Killarney 20- 17 RCD.

FIXTURES: Seniors Martin O'Sullivan Cup Final v Carrick on Suir, Virgin Media Park, Sunday at 2pm.

Muckross Rowing Club

NATIONAL TRIALS: Well done to Ian Coffey and Daniel Fleming who were invited to compete in the latest round of national squad selection trials for U19 and U23 rowers, held at the National Rowing Centre in Cork on the weekend of March 9-10th. Congratulations also to our university rowers among the U23 triallists, including Ethan O’Neill (UCC RC), Patrick Buckley (UL RC) and Caoimhe O’Sullivan (UL RC).

CORK HOR: On Saturday, March 2nd, the club competed in the Cork Head Of the River. Despite very challenging conditions, the club had some excellent performances and took home a number of wins. Congratulations to the winning Men’s Senior Quad, Men’s Club

2 Quad, Men’s Masters Quad, Men’s J16 Quad and Rachel Fuller in the Women’s

this weekend. Evan O'Donoghue, 5th class at St Oliver's NS (pictured with school principal Colm O'Suilleabhain and teacher Graham O'Sullivan) will compete in the 50M Fly and the 100IM. Aoife Coffey and Juan Avila will represent Loughquitanne NS (pictured with school principal Alison Coffey). Aoife will compete in the 100IM, and Juan will compete in the 50M Back. Cora Sheehan from Kilgobnet NS Beaufort will compete in the 50M Free. She is pictured here with her principal Maura O’Connor. All four swimmers achieved qualifying times for this competition at the Munster Minor Schools Finals in October of last year. This is a huge achievement for them to be swimming at a National Level.

Killarney Salmon & Trout Angling Club

J18 Single. The club was also second in the Women’s J16 Double, Men’s Club

2 Quad, Men’s Masters Single (Danny Lyne) and Men’s J15 Octuple. Five crews placed third including the Men’s Intermediate Single (Cathal Coffey), Women’s J18 Double, Men’s Senior Quad, Men’s Masters Quad and Men’s J15 Quad.

TRIBESMEN HOR: After an extended absence from the events calendar, the Tribesmen Head Of the River relaunched in Galway for the St. Patrick’s Festival weekend. Two Muckross crews made the journey - well done to both of our Men’s J16 Quad crews who brought home the pennant for the fastest J16 Quad and a very solid fourth place finish. Special thanks to Sean Real and Eoin Moynihan for supervising the outing.

Workmen’s Rowing Club

APRIL: Our crews are preparing for a number of up and coming flat water slider events in April 2024. The first event will be the Bantry Regatta on the 6th April, followed by the Skibbereen Regatta on the 13th & 14th April 2024. Training continues as usual for all members. We are preparing an open day at Workmen’s Rowing Club at Ross Castle for any potential young rowers, date and time to follow. In the meantime, we would love to hear from 5th & 6th class boys and girls interested in trying rowing. If you are interested, please contact Mary on 086 8098182 or Derva on 086 2040469 for fun on the water at Ross Castle.

Killarney Swimming Club

SCHOOLS: Four Killarney Swimmers will represent their schools at the National Irish Minor Schools Swimming Finals at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin

FINAL REMINDERS: Entries for the Munster Lake Competition, being fished on Sunday 12th of May on Lough Lein, and the Munster Senior River Championship, being hosted by Cahir District Anglers on Sunday 28th of April - are closing this Sunday 24th March - any members still interested, please contact the secretary before then.

Fossa Bridge Club

RESULTS: A Club Fundraiser Competition was held on Thursday March 14th. Thanks to all our Members who generously contributed. Results: North/South - 1st Ciaran Broadbery and Horst Rosler, 2nd Conor Dwyer and Ger McSweeney. East/West - 1st Mary Rose Felle and Ann Clerkin, 2nd Breda Counihan and Ann Wrenn.

Kilcummin

KILCUMMIN COMMUNITY: The Kilcummin Hospice walk will take place on Good Friday, March 29th starting at 10.00am. There will be a choice of two family friendly walks, 4km or 8km. The walk starts and finishes in the Recreation Hall with refreshments and free draw for all participants after the walk finishes. Donations will be accepted on the day.

KILCUMMIN LOOKING GOOD: Kilcummin Looking Good AGM will be held on Tuesday 26th March at 8pm in the Pastoral Centre. We would like as many people as possible to attend and volunteer to help out with various tasks throughout the year. Looking forward to hearing new ideas, everyone is welcome to attend.

ANABLA NS PARENTS ASSOCIATION:

Anabla NS Parents Association will be holding a clothes collection on Thursday, 11th April at Anabla National School. Clothes can be dropped to the school yard under canopy from Wed 10th April.

COOLICK SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION: Coolick School Parents Association are holding their Church Gate Collection on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th March.

NATIONALS: Cora Sheehan from Kilgobnet NS Beaufort will compete at the National Irish Minor Schools Swimming Finals at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin this weekend. She is pictured here with school principal Maura O'Connor.