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Kidney patient welcomes new vaccine priority list

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WELCOME: Barth Flynn has welcomed the new vaccine priority list

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By Sean Moriarty

 

A local kidney patient has welcomed the Government’s changes to the COVID-19 vaccine allocation priority list which was updated on Tuesday - saying it's "far more comprehensive".

It now means all organ transplant recipients and people on dialysis aged 16 to 69-years-old are moved to cohort 4 consistent with their medical risk.

Kidney transplant patients affected by COVID-19 have 20 percent mortality rate according to research by The European Society for Organ Transplantation.

Barth Flynn (37), attends dialysis at University Hospital Kerry three days a week. The Fossa man suffered kidney failure as a baby and the condition grew progressively worse in adulthood.

He received his vaccine last week. However, he was vaccinated through his job as the former Director of Nursing at Killarney Nursing Home and not because he is medically vulnerable.

Speaking with the Killarney Advertiser last month, he raised serious concerns about the Government’s vaccine plan.

He felt kidney patients were too far down the list and if they picked up COVID-19 in the meantime it could create an untold amount of problems for them and in turn at the kidney and dialysis unit at University Hospital Kerry (UHK).

“The new list makes far more sense,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “The last one was something that looked like it was only thrown together. I am delighted to see the new list – and it is not just about me – I know several people with respiratory conditions who were a way, way, down the old list. They were very scared and concerned. This new list is far more comprehensive.”

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€1m EuroMillions win still unclaimed at Centra The Reeks

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€1m EuroMillions win at Centra The Reeks

Anthony O’Connor, Ciaran Culloty, Conor Healy, Elizabeth Nagle, and representatives from the National Lottery


Celebrations are underway in Killarney after Centra at The Reeks Gateway on Tralee Road sold a EuroMillions ticket worth €1,005,000 in the Friday, August 21 draw.


The lucky winner secured the life-changing sum through the special Ireland Only Raffle event after purchasing a Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw.
Store owner John Bowler, who has operated the shop for over 20 years, expressed his delight after receiving the news from the National Lottery.
“There’s a great buzz around the store and we’re absolutely delighted,” Bowler said. “We have a mix of local customers and visitors coming through our doors every day, so the winner could be anyone. While we’ve sold fantastic prizes over the years, this is by far the biggest. It’s wonderful news for Killarney.”
National Lottery spokesperson Emma Monaghan urged anyone who bought a ticket at the store on Friday to check their numbers carefully. The ticket holder is advised to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact the National Lottery prize claims team to arrange collection.
All photos: Eamonn Keogh

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Pig’s Lane crowned Bar of the Year

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Pig’s Lane crowned Bar of the Year


Killarney’s subterranean venue Pig’s Lane emerged as a triple winner at the Bar of the Year 2026 Awards in Dublin on Monday night.


The College Street venue was named overall Bar of the Year, alongside taking Gold for both Cocktail Bar of the Year and Best Designed Bar / Inside Space. The announcements were made at a gala ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road.
Operating under the family-run O’Donoghue Ring Collection, the underground cocktail bar and whiskey parlour opened in 2023. The venue previously secured Innovative Bar of the Year in 2024 and Best Designed Bar in 2025 before taking the top national prize this year.
Judges praised the venue for its “unmatched excellence across the board”. The broader O’Donoghue Ring Collection earned eight finalist nominations across three properties, including Café du Parc and The Kenmare Rooms.
“We are so proud to be crowned Ireland’s Bar of the Year 2026,” said founder Gemma Ring. “A huge amount of work, creativity, and passion goes into everything we do”.
Pig’s Lane derives its name from the historic 1800s designation for the thoroughfare connecting College Street to Railway Road. On September 11, the bar will host a collaborative evening featuring Michelin Bib Gourmand tapas from Dingle’s Solas paired with bespoke cocktails.

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