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Community is at the heart of new zero waste business

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NEW ENTERPRISE: Staff pictured at the new 'Going Green' shop and cafe on Beech Road include: Bethany Wynne-Morgan, Maria Culebra, Marilyn Catapat-Counihan (KASI), Shamoli Akter, Majella O'Sullivan, Mary Wood, Susan McElligott and Olga Gaeva. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

 

A brand new business is the first of its kind in Killarney town centre and ticks all the boxes when it comes to living a sustainable life.

Going Green KASI and Zero Waste/Refill Store, which has just opened its doors on Beech Road, is going against the grain by not only creating 10 jobs as the country once again enters lockdown - but is a combined cafe using organically grown and locally sourced goods from Killarney and surrounds. And it also provides eco friendly products such as washing up liquid and detergent which customers can come in and fill up their containers themselves, reducing packaging waste.

The former O'Brien's Sandwich Shop had just opened to the public when Level 5 restrictions came into force so for now they plan to operate as a take away service.

"This project ticks all the boxes from a social, environmental and economic impact," Marilyn Catapat-Counihan from Killarney Immigrant Support Centre (KASI), who is one of many who shear-headed the unique project, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"Community is at the heart of this project. It's a good team effort."

[caption id="attachment_34340" align="alignleft" width="307"] ECO FRIENDLY: Marilyn Catapat-Counihan pictured next to the eco-friendly items in the new 'Going Green' shop and cafe on Beech Road. Photo: Michelle Crean[/caption]

Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers or jars and can stock up on spices, cereals, flour, pasta, herbs, etc., which helps save on packaging and waste - so they only pay for the produce not the packaging.

"The environmental side of the refill store is about raising awareness about how we could all be part of saving our planet."

All takeaway dishes and cups are compostable or recyclable, she added.

And most of the produce is from KASI's organic garden in Ballcasheen. The staff were involved in a social enterprise with St Oliver's NS but restrictions paused that project for now.

"The staff are already trained. And we aim also to support local producers with bread from Cormac Finn, Cheese from Wilma's in Killorglin, we get chicken from Michael Gleeson from Ballyhar, Mary Carroll from Faha supplies the pastry, and we have free range eggs, and milk from Ballymac. If we cannot get it locally we get it made in Ireland to reduce food miles. We're subtly raising awareness about making a difference for a greener environment."

During this period of lockdown the cafe will operate as a takeaway only as per Government guidelines, and will be open from 8.30am-4.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

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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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