News
Concerns over potential sale of St Mary of the Angels
B
By Sean Moriarty
There's huge concern this week about the future of much loved care facility St Mary of the Angels when it was revealed that national disability and mental health service providers St John of Gods faces debts of €32.5 million.
St John of Gods runs the Beaufort facility which provides living and education facilities to Kerry adults with special needs - but shocked members of the St Mary of the Angels Parents and Relatives Association have hit out saying action must be taken to avoid the move.
“St Mary’s is as much a part of Kerry as the National Park,” chairman Jack Fitzpatrick told Killarney Advertiser.
“It was gifted to St John of Gods by the Franciscan Sisters, this was done to protect the future of the service in Kerry and now there is a risk it could be sold. St John of Gods, like every charity in the country are severely underfunded and that is why they find themselves in this situation. The title [of the property] is with St John of Gods and following the full letter of the law they could sell it.”
St Mary of the Angels has been run by St John of Gods since the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood Religious Order handed over the facility in 2005.
The national charity revealed earlier this month that it faces massive debts and that it may have to sell some of its assets.
St John of Gods said last September it would be ceasing the majority of its services due to its financial funding crisis and that it would transfer responsibility to the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Two years ago the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood Religious Order sold a 110-acre farm adjacent to the care centre.
The land was bought by legendary London-Kerry construction supremo Dan Tim O’Sullivan who has direct family connections to the care facility. He made the move to prevent it from falling into the hands of developers.
The farm was originally donated to the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood Religious Order by the Doyle family in the 1960s after their only daughter joined the Order.
The Order decided to sell the land to fund the retirement of its nuns with the sale of the farm which was handled by Killarney auctioneer, Tom Spillane in July 2019.
Contactless payments launched on Local Link services
Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using...
How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?
Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place...
Town centre-based software firm marks two years in business
A Killarney-based software company is celebrating two years in business since expanding into the European market. QT9 Software Ltd, which...
High-profile keynote speaker at Chamber lunch
The vastly experienced Liam Hession, a partner with BDO – one of the world’s leading accountancy and advisory firms –...
MARIE MEETS: No use crying over spilt milk… Unless it’s Mike’s last round
By Marie Carroll O’Sullivan. So, what does almost four decades on the road as a milkman look like when it...
Fossa Swimmers make a splash at County Finals
The Fossa Swim team pictured at the Tralee Sports Complex following their successful outing at the County Finals of the...
On the Ball Part 2 of the Mikey Daly Interview
Éamonn Fitzgerald EF: Killarney Celtic are invited to participate in an Irish competition. That has big financial implications for travel,...
LUKE MANGAN recently caught up with Kerry FC’s manager, Colin Healy.
He spoke to him about his careers as a player and manager. Here’s how it went: When you began your...
Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic
Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1) Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell Saturday 7.30pm Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre...
Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan
After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork...
