Connect with us

News

Mental health for farmers central to Macra vice-president bid

Published

on

B

By Sean Moriarty

A Beaufort postman has announced that he will be running as a candidate for Macra na Feirme Munster vice-president in this year’s elections.
Trevor Coffey will face opposition from three other candidates from Munster when the elections take place on April 10.
Coffey, who is also a jarvey based at the Gap of Dunloe, says he will tackle the growing problem of mental issues and depression in the farming community if elected.
“I’m in Macra na Feirme five years. I didn't know much about Macra but I was struggling with mental health issues and decided to go to a table quiz and haven’t looked back since,” he said.
“Macra na Feirme helped me when I was really struggling and helped me develop and gave me a new lease of life, now is the time to give back and that’s why I have decided to run for Munster vice-president. If elected I would encourage anyone that is in a bad place or suffering from depression to join Macra na Feirme. Rural Ireland can be a lonesome place, but I would like to show Macra can be a place for friendships.”
Coffey is very active in the Mid-Kerry branch of Macra. He is the current sports and social officer for the club, a member of the South Kerry Ploughing Championship committee and has previously represented Kerry on the national council for two years.
He is part of a committee that hopes to bring the National Marcra na Feirme Rally to Killarney in 2020.
It is 30 years since County Kerry hosted the national conference, but Coffey is hopeful that the local branch will know by April or May this year if the bid for the October Bank Holiday weekend event next year has been successful.
“1990 is a long time ago and it is long overdue,” he added. “The Kerry branch is in a strong place now, we have the numbers of people to get it off the ground. It would be great for the county if our bid is successful.”

Advertisement

News

New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

Published

on

By

A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

Continue Reading

News

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Published

on

By

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport