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Kerry farmers behind plan to save Air Ambulance

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By Sean Moriarty

 

 

Kerry farmers have backed a plan to keep the Irish Community Rapid Response(ICRR) Air Ambulance in the sky.

 

The Millstreet, County Cork-based service could be grounded unless over €330,000 is found immediately to fund the charity service.

 

Since its launch in July 2019 the service has flown in 250 missions but, without any sort of Government support, it needs public funds to pay pilot wages, fuel and to cover other costs including its requirement to pay VAT to Revenue on all purchases.

 

Earlier this month the charity put out an urgent plea for funds to keep the service operating.

Last week, the charity raised €61,848 of a €400,000 target it set for a two-week GoFundMe campaign.

 

As a result the service was cut from seven to five days to ensure it could carry on for another six weeks, during which time it said it would try and come up with more money.

 

Farmers in Kerry are being asked to donate €20 each to help run the service.

 

The idea was first mooted at a directors’ meeting of Kerry Co-Op farmers in Tralee last week and since that meeting it has gathered momentum and could be expanded Munster-wide.

 

Firies-based dairy farmer Tom Murphy is a member of the 23-strong Kerry Co-Op farmers board and he was first to put the idea to his colleagues.

 

“We have arranged a meeting with the Air Ambulance team in Tralee on February 6 where we are going to discuss a three-year plan with them,” Mr Murphy told the Killarney Advertiser. “After that meeting we hope to come up with a plan to get all of the farmers in Kerry and Munster behind it.”

 

There are around 3,300 members in the co-op and this does not include dairy farmers who supply other creameries or non-dairy farmers.

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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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.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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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.

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