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How Killarney man saved life of former Taoiseach

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FORMER Taoiseach Enda Kenny has revealed how a Killarney man’s heroism saved his life after he almost choked to death on a piece of steak.

Mr Kenny was staying in Killarney, where he has a holiday home, and was dining out following a day spent climbing Carrantuohill.

He was eating a steak in The Laurels restaurant when he began to choke and needed to be given the Heimlich Manoeuvre.

The former Fine Gael leader told The Irish Star that restaurant owner Con O'Leary's quick thinking saved his life. He said: "People thought I was playacting, standing up turning blue, and by coincidence, Con was going from one end of the premises to the other and said: 'don't worry I have him'.

"He did the Heimlich manoeuvre on me, which meant that I lived to tell the tale."

Mr O'Leary, 79, said: "We had been talking away for two or three minutes and I walked away from him but then everything went silent and I looked around and the two of them were standing up.

"I knew straight away he was choking and in distress so I gave him the Heimlich manoeuvre and out popped a bit of steak. I was just lucky I got it up".

He revealed that he had learned the lifesaving technique after he had a similar experience.
 


 
Above: Con O'Leary, The Laurels Pub & Restaurant, Killarney. Pic: Don MacMonagle

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Glenflesk GAA hosts cardiac screening clinic

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Glenflesk GAA hosts cardiac screening clinic


Glenflesk GAA Healthy Club recently welcomed the Dillon Quirke Foundation to run a cardiac screening clinic for its young members.


A total of 45 club players aged 12 to 18 underwent vital heart checks designed to promote early detection and heart health awareness among young athletes.
Medical personnel from Advanced Medical Services conducted the screenings with professionalism and care, while the club’s Healthy Club Team oversaw the smooth operation of the event.
The Dillon Quirke Foundation operates without government funding, relying entirely on public support to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) and provide non-cost cardiac clinics to sports clubs across Ireland.
Glenflesk GAA encourages anyone wishing to support the foundation’s ongoing screening work to consider making a donation online at dillonquirkefoundation.com.

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Traditions past and present meet at Muckross School House

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Two distinct eras of Irish storytelling collided at Muckross School House last week, showcasing how traditional culture adapts across generations for National Heritage Week 2026.

Representing the classic lineage of Irish folklore, renowned local historian, musician, and seanchaí Dáithí Collopy delivered an authentic masterclass in old-school storytelling.

Performing alongside his children Sadhbh, Siún, and Daithí Óg, Collopy relied on the ancient oral tradition to captivate the audience through spoken word, presence, and music.


Contrastingly, social media creator Eoin Reardon brought traditional heritage into the modern digital age.

Known for sharing his traditional green woodworking craft with millions online, Reardon hosted a hands-on workshop demonstrating traditional utensil crafting techniques while engaging attendees through the lens of modern storytelling.


The events brought together two completely different methods of preserving Irish heritage—one rooted in the timeless art of the fireside seanchaí, the other leveraging modern platforms like TikTok to keep historic skills relevant for a global, digital audience.


Photos: Valerie O’Sullivan.

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