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Killarney guesthouse shortlisted for prestigious award

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By Michelle Crean

Five Kerry businesses – including one from Killarney town – have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2019 Georgina Campbell Irish Breakfast Award.
By Michelle Crean
All will be revealed next Tuesday as the Killarney Lodge on Countess Road, Shelburne Lodge Guesthouse in Kenmare, the Park Hotel Kenmare, Dingle Benners Hotel and the Castlewood House, Dingle, will hear the results at the InterContinental Hotel Dublin which will be attended by up to 200 representatives from the hospitality industry, food writers and food organisations and special guest, chef Neven Maguire.
The Irish Breakfast Awards celebrates the finest Irish food producers and those who take special pride in serving the best breakfasts and brunches in Ireland to tourists and locals alike.
Each establishment has been commended by Georgina Campbell’s independent assessment team for creating a breakfast menu that stands out from the crowd.
For Catherine Treacy, who has been running the 16 bedroomed Killarney Lodge to a high standard since 1996, hearing about the nomination was quite a shock.
“I got an email one day from Georgina Campbell and I was shocked,” Catherine told the Killarney Advertiser on Wednesday.
“I couldn’t believe it but I’m delighted.”
Breakfast at the Killarney Lodge is cooked to order and includes home-made scone and brown bread baked by Catherine herself. She also serves up fresh fruit salad each day.
“Everything is cooked to order using local fresh produce sourced locally where possible,” Catherine, who is married to accountant Marcus Treacy, said.
And she added she has a hard working team of staff when the business is open from March to October.
“I have very good staff in fairness. They certainly make it a success.”

Renowned food writer and author, Georgina said that some of her most memorable meals have been around the breakfast table.
“It’s amazing to see how Irish establishments are shaping the breakfast culture on our little Island with hotels, guesthouses, visitor attractions and cafés embracing the uniqueness that the first meal of the day can offer as a dining experience,” she said.
“Breakfast is an especially important meal for many establishments as it is the last thing guests will eat before they leave – and before they pay the bill. It may also be the reason guests and tourists return in the future. Those shortlisted in the Georgina Campbell Breakfast Awards are setting standards that others in the Irish food industry should strive towards.”

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Killarney welcomes home Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin

Boxer Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin received a warm homecoming in Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar on College Street on Sunday evening following his victory in Dublin last weekend, where he was […]

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Boxer Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin received a warm homecoming in Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar on College Street on Sunday evening following his victory in Dublin last weekend, where he was crowned Irish Light Heavyweight Champion.

Mayor of Killarney Cllr Martin Grady was on hand to officially welcome the new champion home, congratulating him on what he described as “a proud moment for Killarney and for Kerry sport.”
Cronin, who is sponsored by Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar, claimed the vacant national title after a hard-fought ten-round battle against Cork’s Cathal Crowley at the National Stadium, Dublin, on Friday night last.
The Kerry fighter won by majority decision, with the judges scoring the contest 95-94, 97-93 and 95-95. The result capped off years of dedication and hard work for Cronin, who now holds an 11-3-1 professional record.
Speaking at the homecoming, Cronin thanked his supporters and sponsors for their backing throughout his career.
“It’s unbelievable to bring this title to Kerry,” he said. “The support from home means everything. This one’s for everyone who’s been with me from the start.”
Crowds packed into Jimmy O’Brien’s Bar to celebrate the achievement, with music, photos and plenty of local pride on display.

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Concerns over future of St Mary of the Angels

Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for […]

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Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for children and adults with profound disabilities and special needs.

The campus, set on lands generously donated by the Doyle family, offers 30 acres of grounds, existing buildings, and services, making it a valuable asset for the provision of respite care in Kerry. TD Michael Cahill emphasized that the Doyle family’s wishes should be respected, and that the grounds should be made accessible immediately.
“The special needs community in Kerry has a major respite crisis and families don’t have time to wait. Families need help — they are not asking for full-time residential care but respite care, a break, a helping hand,” Deputy Cahill said.
He added that a bespoke approach is needed to meet the individual needs of children attending St Francis Special School. “Many of the children in the county with profound needs need a safe haven where they can roam the grounds freely, and St Mary of the Angels offers this.”
Deputy Cahill has accompanied several Ministers to the Beaufort campus to highlight its value to Disability Health Service providers. A working group has been formed including St John of Gods, the HSE, representatives of residents at St Mary of the Angels, and St Francis Special School, to explore options for maintaining and expanding respite services.
“Parents are worn out and at the end of their tether. This needs to be dealt with expeditiously, in an environment of cooperation between the relevant Government Departments of Health, Disability, and Education. We need to get this across the line urgently and put it permanently in place,” he said.
Deputy Cahill pointed to the current shortfall of respite services in Kerry. “As of now, Cunamh Iveragh respite in Cahersiveen is only open Friday to Sunday, running at half capacity — two adults per night instead of four. The issue is staffing, and the HSE will not release funding to open full-time. The Beaufort campus is available and should be utilised as parents are crying out for overnight respite. Cooperation and compassion could see this done quickly.”
TD Danny Healy Rae echoed these concerns during a Dáil speech this week. “We are still short of respite beds on the southern side of the constituency. Families caring for people with disabilities just want a break, but there is nowhere available locally. Places are being offered only in Tipperary or Meath for those needing new residential care. It makes no sense. St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort has 40 or 50 acres of grounds that could be expanded, with facilities already in place such as swimming pools. It could be developed as a model for the rest of the country.”
Both TDs are urging the Government and the HSE to take immediate action to utilise the Beaufort campus for respite care, in line with the intentions of the Doyle family and the needs of Kerry families.

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