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Presidential salute for Margaret

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A WOMAN who once thought she was too old to return to learning has been honoured by none other than the President of Ireland.

Killarney’s Margaret Scully was a special guest of President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, and was there to represent Kerry people who have returned to learning to address the literacy skills they missed out on first time round at school.

The event coincided with National Literacy Week and the National Adult Literacy Agency’s First Step Campaign.

Margaret has been taking classes in reading, writing, math and technology with Kerry Education and Training Board (ETB) over the last seven years. Like many people, her learning journey started when her young boys went to school and needed help with their homework.

“I would make every excuse not to help them because I had nothing to draw from. I got six years of education. I started at 6 and finished at 12. That was my education,” said Margaret.

At the start she was worried she would not be able, or that people would laugh. “I was terrified. But I thought I have to do something. In the long run you have to take that first step and do it for yourself,” she said.

Since starting literacy and adult basic education classes with Kerry ETB, not only has her literacy developed, but she has done other things with her new found confidence and skills, including taking up community roles, such as being the South Kerry Coordinator for the Team Hope Project that organises shoe boxes as presents for disadvantaged children at Christmas time.

She has also trained as a NALA Literacy Ambassador, to go out and give talks to others about her experience. “Meeting the President of Ireland representing Kerry adult learners was a great honour,” she said.

"My motto is to encourage others. It is not like going back to school. There are no teachers. No one will talk down to you. I stay away from those words– they have connotations for me. Now when you go back as an adult, it is your choice and your decision. You work with a tutor not a teacher alongside you. You are equals. They make you feel so welcome.”

Kerry ETB has eight Adult Literacy & Basic Education Centres spread around the county. Call 066-7193900 or go to www.kerryetb.ie for further information.

 


 
Above: Patron of the National Adult Literacy Agency President Michael D. Higgins congratulates Margaret Scully at a reception in Aras an Uachtarain to celebrate Literacy Awareness Week. Picture: Colm Mahady/Fennells

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s


World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.


The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.

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Deerpark Retail Park placed on market for fifteen million euro

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Deerpark Retail Park in Killarney has officially been placed on the market with a guide price in excess of 15.4 million euro, excluding VAT.

International real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed as the sole sales agent to handle the high-profile commercial property sale on behalf of its current owner, Investcorp.

Investcorp, a global investment management firm headquartered in Bahrain, had previously acquired the prominent shopping complex.


The sale represents one of the largest commercial property offerings to launch in County Kerry this year.

Located roughly 1.3 kilometres west of Killarney town centre, the scheme enjoys strong regional connectivity and sits adjacent to independently owned operations including a Tesco Extra store, a Tesco petrol filling station, JYSK, and Aldi.


Constructed in 2006, the development extends across approximately 10,482 square metres, or 112,835 square feet.

The scheme comprises a mix of modern retail warehouse units and a complementary neighbourhood centre, offering 13 individual units in total with Part Open and Part Bulky Use planning permission.

The units range in size from 94.6 square metres up to 1,994.9 square metres. Visitors have access to approximately 248 customer parking spaces across the commercial grounds.

The park is currently 100 per cent occupied by a strong line-up of established national and international brands.

Key retail tenants include Marks & Spencer, Boots, DID Electrical, Maxi Zoo, and Mountain Warehouse.

The neighbourhood centre element accommodates service and convenience operators such as Costa Coffee, Card Factory, and Salon B.

The first-floor accommodation is fully let to Peak Performance Academy, which provides additional rental diversification.

Additionally, the scheme benefits from an agreement with Tesla to operate eight electric vehicle charging bays within the customer car park.


Commercial figures show that the property generates a total current rental income of 1,326,458 euro per annum, with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 4.45 years to break options and 6.46 years to lease expiry.

Cushman & Wakefield noted that the quoted guide price of 15.4 million euro reflects a net initial yield of 7.83 per cent, assuming standard purchaser costs of 9.96 per cent.

The selling agents highlighted that the fully occupied asset offers investors an attractive income profile alongside scope for additional income generation through parking commercialisation.

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