EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

The Killarney vaccination centre will close before the end of October, the HSE has confirmed to the Killarney Advertiser.

With the majority of the population in Kerry now vaccinated and the current phase of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign drawing to a close, the Monavalley Industrial Estate in Tralee will now become the county's new vaccine centre.

More than 61,000 vaccinations were administered at the Killarney vaccination centre at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre since it opened in April.

The Killarney centre held its last walk-in vaccination clinic yesterday (Thursday) but will be used as a base over the next two weeks for the teams travelling to nursing homes and residential settings to administer third doses to residents aged over 65.

“We are very grateful to Kerry County Council and to Killarney Sports and Leisure for their support throughout the pandemic, and especially for their assistance in the smooth running of the Killarney vaccination centre,” Michael Fitzgerald, Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“As we move to a new phase of vaccinations and indeed in our relationship with COVID-19, we have been planning locally for the best way to deliver any future vaccinations. This includes reorganising and consolidating our vaccination programme with the establishment of a new regional vaccination centre in Tralee in the Monavalley Industrial Estate.”

BASKETBALL

The move is good news for St Paul's Basketball Club. The National League side was facing the prospect of being left without a home venue if the centre remained operational.

Only two venues in the town are suitable for National League Basketball but cross-town rivals, The Killarney Cougars already play at the Presentation Gym.

The basketball season starts this weekend so it was a close run thing for St Paul’s. However they had anticipated that the centre would move and were able to change some of the early season ‘home’ games to ‘away’ matches.

“It is fantastic news, the senior and juvenile members can start playing again,” St Paul’s vice-chairman Padraig Weldon told the Killarney Advertiser.

“There are only two venues that can cater for the crowds in Killarney and the Aura has always been our home.”

Thanks to the club’s foresight, St Paul’s won’t play their first National League ‘home’ game until mid-November after agreeing with opponents to play the first few rounds on the road.

However, and depending on how fast the HSE vacate the sports centre, the local team could play a Cup match as early as October 23 at home.

Tasks like the dismantling of the vaccination booths and a full deep-clean of the premises will have to be completed by October 22.