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‘Let’s help Alexis’ fund launched for Killarney girl with rare condition

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TRUST: The 'Let's help Alexis' trust has been set up to raise funds for Stephen and Teresa O'Mahony's four-year-old daughter Alexis to help with her care needs. Photo: Michelle Crean

 

By Michelle Crean

 

A new charitable trust has been set up this week to support a four-year-old Killarney girl who suffers from a rare condition.

A committee of five have launched the 'Let's help Alexis' fund online including a GoFundMe page which has so far raised almost €4,000 of their €50k goal to give Alexis a comfortable life as she grows older.

Currently her parents Steve and Teresa are 24 hour carers for the little girl who has a rare primary metabolic condition called Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency which has led to a brain abnormality called Ventriculomegaly as well as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, global developmental delay, double hip displacement, cortical visual impairment and sleeping difficulties. Some immediate supports include upgrading their small Seat Leon to a wheelchair accessible vehicle as she has outgrown her car seat making it difficult and uncomfortable for her on long journeys to Dublin for necessary appointments.

The committee is made up of five people who are not related to Alexis' parents and will make all the financial decisions independently of both Steve and Teresa to prioritise Alexis' needs.

"A few people suggested to us a few years ago to set it up," Steve told the Killarney Advertiser this week.
"The committee are planning a number of fundraisers and have set up the fundraising page. I'm delighted that it's independent of us. It's about what is in the best interest of Alexis and the committee will decide. We're very grateful to them for giving up their time."

  He explained that Alexis is now almost 15kgs and has outgrown her car seat and that as their car is compact it's a struggle to fit everything they need for the long trips to appointments in Dublin.

"She is getting big now and her car seat is too small. She has been sanctioned for a wheelchair but it won't be suitable for our car. She needs a van with a ramp for the wheelchair. Before you could stop and lift her out but it's harder now. Even stopping on the long trips she's now too heavy for the nappy changer when we take a break in places like Obama's and then there's health and safety - especially now. With a van we'd have the space for everything. She's on a special Ketogenic diet and food for 24 hours has to be made up the night before and brought with us. And then there's the medicine bags and change of clothes."

Funds raised would also go towards extra physio for her, he added.

"She's getting private and public physio but it would mean we can pay for more private sessions. We're also looking into therapeutic horse riding."

And with the physio, which is done at home, comes an increase in the cost of heating oil which is double what most people spend, he added.

"The trust will mean that Alexis will have everything she needs as she grows older. We just want to give her the best chance possible, not just for now but for the years ahead."   

He added that messages of support from all over have been pouring in since the committee launched the trust.

"You see the good in people. It lifts your spirits and it just shows that everybody in society is equal."

To make a donation to help the family go to GoFundMe: Let's Help Alexis and you can also search the same name on Facebook to find out more.

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Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

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Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

RETIREMENT NIGHT: Pictured at the retirement party held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday, October 3, celebrating a combined 185 years of service with An Post, are Connie Brady, James Foley, Terry Potts, Pat Cronin, and D.J. Cahill.


Five well-known local postmen celebrated their retirement at a special function held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday night, October 3.


The event brought together current and former An Post colleagues to mark the combined total of 185 years of service delivered across Killarney and surrounding areas.
Delivery Services Manager Terry Potts retired after 43 years with An Post. He began his career in Dublin, where he worked for 10 years, before moving to Killarney in 1993 for a further 33 years.
Pat Cronin completed an impressive 51 years of service between Killarney and Farranfore, spending 44 of those years delivering post on the Farranfore route.
James Foley served 35 years with An Post, delivering on routes across Killorglin throughout his entire career.
D.J. Cahill marked 32 years of service based out of Killarney post office, delivering mail across Killarney town, Killorglin, Kilcummin, and Headford.
Connie Brady retired following 24 years with the postal service, spending 17 years in Killarney town before completing his service in Killorglin.
The celebration offered local postal staff an opportunity to gather and catch up ahead of the busy Christmas rush.

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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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