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Councillor calls for Killarney mortgage holders to be given a break

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By Sean Moriarty

A Killarney councillor is going to write to Finance Minister Paschal O’Donoghue calling for a moratorium on mortgages for people on long-term Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan is concerned about the number of people in the Killarney area who are struggling to make ends meet as a result of being out of work due to the pandemic.

While the problem is a national one, it is greatly increased in the Killarney region given the large numbers of people usually employed in the now shutdown tourism industry.

It's been one year since Ireland entered lockdown and, apart from a few weeks in the summer and in the run up to Christmas, hospitality has not operated at all in the last 12 months.

Last September, the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce estimated that there was 3,500 people directly employed in this sector in Killarney.

This figure increases further when indirect employees like taxi, coach tour drivers and jarveys are taken into account.

Taking third party workers like food and beverage suppliers, their delivery drivers and maintenance workers into account, and the situation is even more bleak.

Banks allowed a moratorium on mortgages for the first three months of the pandemic but that counts for little today as more and more locals struggle to meet their monthly commitments and continue to provide for their families while on a PUP payment of €350 a week. That figure is reduced further for part-time workers.

Cllr O’Callaghan was prompted into action after a local mother who has not worked in nearly a year approached him in tears after she was forced to borrow a large some of money from her family to pay her mortgage.

“The Finance Minister needs to sit down with the banking institutions, cut these people some slack,” Mr O’Callaghan told the Killarney Advertiser. “It is not like the banks will never get their money. The people need a break and anybody who was paying their mortgage before the pandemic should get a break. Once they go back to work the moratorium can be lifted – the banks will know anyway as their wages are paid directly into their accounts.”

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Angland family celebrate Munster Fleadh triumph

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Angland family celebrate Munster Fleadh triumph


Glenflesk CCE and the local traditional music community are celebrating a major haul of silverware following the Angland family’s outstanding performances at the Munster Fleadh Cheoil in Lismore, County Waterford.


Siblings Colleen, Olivia, Seán, and Grace Angland earned a impressive collection of provincial titles, podium finishes, and All-Ireland qualification spots across multiple music, singing, and dancing disciplines.
Seán Angland delivered a stellar run in the 12-15 category, taking first place in the Melodeon alongside second-place finishes in Piano, Accompaniment, and Mouth Organ. He also secured second place in both the Duet and Trio competitions alongside his sister Olivia and Aoife Hobbert of Lixnaw CCE.
Olivia Angland added to the family success with third-place finishes in both the 12-15 Fiddle and Lilting competitions. She also excelled on the dance floor, winning first place in the 12-15 Mixed Set Dance and third in the Ladies Set Dance with Killarney CCE.
In the 15-18 age group, Colleen Angland secured double silver with second-place finishes in both the Flute Slow Airs and Whistle Slow Airs. Colleen, Olivia, and Seán also joined forces as members of the Cork-based Baile Átha an Spidéil Grúpaí Ceoil (15-18) to take third place in a competitive field.
Meanwhile, Grace Angland earned second place with the An Ríocht Senior Grúpaí Ceoil. The achievement sees Grace return to the All-Ireland stage in Belfast, following her national title win in Senior Piano at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann last year.

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Local musicians and dancers head for Belfast All-Ireland Fleadh

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Local musicians and dancers head for Belfast All-Ireland Fleadh

Musicians, singers, and dancers from both the Killarney and Kilcummin branches of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann are heading to Belfast this weekend for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann following major success at the Munster Fleadh in Lismore, County Waterford.


The All-Ireland competition runs from August 2 to August 9, with competitors from across the two local parishes travelling north to compete on the national stage.
Kilcummin CCÉ enjoyed an outstanding provincial tournament across music, language, and dancing. Eoin Foley claimed a Munster title in the 15 to 18 Button Accordion, while Micheál Healy took gold in the Over 18 Melodeon alongside a third-place finish in the button accordion. Brynn McCarthy secured her spot in Belfast after qualifying in Comhrá Gaeilge for 9 to 11 age group, while also picking up third place in Under 12 English Singing.
Dancers from the Moriarty School of Dancing dominated the set dancing competitions in Lismore, winning five Munster titles across Under 12 Ladies, Under 12 Mixed, Under 18 Ladies, Over 18 Mixed, and Over 35 Ladies. These five sets now join four previously qualified Kilcummin sets—the Over 18 Mixed, Ladies, and Half sets, along with the Over 35 Mixed—bringing a total of nine set dancing teams from the parish to the Belfast finals under trainers Adrian, John, and Mary Moriarty.
Killarney CCÉ members also celebrated a highly successful provincial championship, securing a haul of Munster titles and top-three qualification spots across various music, singing, dancing, and Irish language categories.

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