Connect with us

News

Drive-by birthday for 90-year-old Sheila

Published

on

B

By Michelle Crean

With beeping horns and traffic back to back - it certainly wasn’t the 90th celebrations one Headford lady had planned last Friday – but Sheila O’Leary certainly will remember it!

Sheila from Beheenagh, who has eleven children, 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren was hoping for a large family gathering in the Height Hotels in Killarney, where she celebrated her 80th in style. She was hoping to be joined by her sister Ana Nash from London who was due to travel over with 10 family members.

Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Sheila who lives at home with her son Fr Gerard, is ‘cocooning’ and thought there would be no way to mark the very special day.

However, her family had other plans and surprised with a ‘drive-by birthday’ instead as they beeped and waved before physically distancing in the yard of her home to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. The moment was captured on video on the day by her granddaughter Muiríosa O’Leary.

“The drive-by birthday idea was by her son Dan O’Leary,” Sheila’s grandson Padraig O’Sullivan told the Killarney Advertiser.

“She's cocooning at home but came out to the back door to blow out the candles of her cake which was made by her granddaughter and godchild Sheila.”

Video messages were compiled by her granddaughter Mary O’Sullivan which included loving words from her family, neighbours and friends, including her grandson Conor Dineen all the way from Dubai.

“We actually had to have one more blast of ‘Happy Birthday’ before we left the yard for her granddaughter Mary Lane who turned 32 the same day!”

For now a bigger celebration is postponed with the family hoping they can get-together in August or late September once the health restrictions are lifted.

[video width="288" height="640" mp4="https://killarneyadvertiser.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/VID_20200404_114452.mp4"][/video]

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