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Kidney patients face additional stress as a result of restrictions

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SUPPORT: Members of the Irish Kidney Association’s Kerry Branch pictured ahead of their now postponed walk: Noreen Buckley, Stephen Byrne, David Clifford (Kerry GAA star), Theresa Looney (Patient Support Officer Kerry Branch IKA) and Brendan Herbert (Chairman Kerry Branch IKA).

By Sean Moriarty

Vulnerable kidney patients that need to attend urgent dialysis treatment in University Hospital Kerry (UHK) are one of the hardest people in society hit by the new movement and social distancing restrictions.

Dialysis patients attend the Tralee hospital three days a week. Some groups attend the service on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while others attend Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Killarney-based patients would usually share a taxi to get them too and from the hospital but the Irish Kidney Association’s Kerry Branch Patient Support Officer Theresa Looney says this no longer possible.

“Their immune system is very vulnerable, they risk cross-contamination from other patients,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

Patients will now have to rely on family members to ferry them to and from UHK. Cars will have to be disinfected before each leg of the journey adding time and stress to an already difficult situation.

Theresa also warned that vital life-saving transplant operations are likely to be suspended as less and less medical staff and hospital beds become available as the crisis escalates - putting even more lives at risk.

The local branch was forced to cancel its fundraising walk in Killarney National Park tomorrow (Sunday), but the public is encouraged to support the work of the Irish Kidney Association and can Free text KIDNEY to 50300 to donate €4 and the Irish Kidney Association will receive a minimum of €3.60.

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Irish feature film set for Killarney cinema debut

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A new feature film, created by Irish writer and director Liam O Mochain, is set for release in Killarney next Friday, November 7.

Mr O Mochain said he is delighted to bring ABODE to a Killarney audience following its sold out world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh and a screening at the recent IndieCork film festival.

ABODE is a feature film with five stories connected by the theme of home and what it means to the different characters in the film.

It shows that home has an importance and a different meaning for everyone.

In ABODE, everyone wants to belong somewhere. The film was shot over a three-year period and finished in early 2025.

O Mochain says that the stories are a mix of drama and comedy, inspired by true stories, events or incidents.

It is set on the theme of home which is very relevant today.

Ryan Lincoln, Sophie Vavessuer, and Liam O Mochain are among the cast.

ABODE is O Mochain’s fourth feature film. His 2017 feature film ‘Lost & Found’ screened at festivals around the world from the Galway Film Fleadh to the Austin Film Festival

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Local pharmacies restock Lions ‘Message in a Bottle’

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Killarney pharmacies are restocked with ‘Message in a Bottle’, an initiative by Killarney Lions Club.

It is a small plastic container, available free of charge, with an information form which people can fill out with their basic medical details for use by Paramedics, Gardaí, Fire-fighters and first responders in an emergency.

Once the information form is complete, the bottle should be placed in the fridge.

Self-adhesive green cross labels should be put on the front door of the home and on the fridge so that first responders know its there.

Bottles are available at the following pharmacies: Allcare (New St.), Boots (Deerpark), CarePlus+ (Park Rd.), Kennelly’s (Reeks and New St.), Reens Life (Plunkett St.), O’Sullivan’s (New St.), Sewell’s (New St.), Sheahan’s (Main St.), Trants (Park Rd.) and Aherns Farranfore.

Jason Higgins, President of Killarney Lions Club, said that the initiative has been very well received to date as hundreds of people are already using the bottles.

He said: “We just want to make sure everyone who wants a bottle can get one, so the support from the pharmacies is fantastic and if it helps even just one person to get the help they need more quickly and effectively, it is well worth it.”

More information about the Message in a Bottle initiative can be found on the Lions Ireland website: https://lionsclubs.ie/service/message-in-a-bottle/

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