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Killarney schools shut for strike

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ON STRIKE: Teachers from Killarney Community College joined the national teacher's strike on Tuesday. Pictured were: Niamh Mulligan, Lorraine Cosgrave, Dympna Healy, Lorraine Crowley, Mary Fuller and Denise O'Sullivan. Photo: Grigoriy Geniyevskiy

 

By Sean Moriarty

Secondary schools and other second-level education centres in Killarney were forced to close on Tuesday as members of the Teachers Union of Ireland took part in a one-day strike to highlight pay differences between teachers.

Teachers and lecturers who joined the sector since 2012 are paid at a lower rate for the same work as their colleagues, according to the TUI representative for Kerry and Limerick, Les Begley.

Local schools that were forced to close on Tuesday included St Brendan’s College, St Brigid’s Secondary School and Killarney Youth Reach. The biggest picket was outside Killarney Community College on New Road where teachers there were joined by their colleagues from smaller schools in town.

St Brendan’s and the Community College remained closed for the day while St Brigid’s made alternative arrangements to look after students.

Over 40 teachers in total from the Killarney branch of the TUI took part in the strike action. Some members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) also joined the picket.

“Their main gripe is that teachers who joined after 2011 are being paid lower than those who were there before that for doing the same job,” Les told the Killarney Advertiser. “It is having a knock-on effect on recruitment. Second-level students, who are now thinking about college courses are aware of the low pay in the sector and are not taking up teaching. It is almost impossible to get local Home Economics and Language teachers these days.”

 

 

 

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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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