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Kenmare locals are ‘Happy to Chat’

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By Michelle Crean

Kenmare locals are encouraging more human contact after installing a number of benches inviting strangers to stop for a chat.

New 'Happy to Chat' bench signs have been installed in Kenmare in a joint venture with Kenmare Family Resource Centres Linkworker and Kenmare Tidy Towns.

The four benches located in the town have been fitted with 'Happy to Chat' plaques in order to invite passers-by to stop and engage in a friendly chat with those sitting on the bench.

"By providing a platform for people to support one another and offering genuine connection we can increase compassion and empathy, reduce the rate of loneliness and boost the level of healthy conversation that happens in our community," Paula McElligott from Kenmare Family Resource Centre said.

"Some people may go days or even weeks without the simplest of human contact, so the 'Chat Bench' seeks to break down that social barrier and allow us to all say "Hello". We hope the signs help break down the invisible social barriers that sometimes exist between people who are sharing the common space of a bench."

Loneliness and isolation persist in Kenmare, despite a friendly and big-hearted community, so new approaches to encourage and facilitate engagement and interaction are required, now more than ever, Paula added.

"The benches are an opportunity for us all to make a connection with someone new."

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10-minute plays will linger in the memory

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The West End House School of Arts is delighted to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Festival with a special evening of entertaining readings on Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm.

It promises to be a vibrant showcase of five original 10-minute plays written by emerging local playwrights, each of whom has recently completed a playwriting course with Fiona Doyle (pictured).


Diverse in style and subject matter, these beautifully crafted pieces promise an evening of laughter, tears, and powerful storytelling and each reading will be performed by West End House actors from Kerry.


Together, they highlight the remarkable talent of these up-and-coming writers and actors, who are the future of theatre in our community.

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Get your scrap together

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Following the success of the first ever Killarney Lions Club scrap metal collection in 2025, the Club will again run the event this year in partnership with KWD Recycling on March 28, at Killarney Racecourse.

Similar to 2025, money raised through recycling the metal will go towards improving facilities for families attending the children’s cancer unit in Cork University Hospital, as part of an overall fundraising drive being coordinated by Lions Clubs all over Munster.

The Club is asking people to bring non-ferrous scrap metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, zinc and stainless steel (no white goods such as fridges/cookers washing machines). Volunteers will be on hand from 9am until 4pm to take donations of scrap and work with KWD Recycling to remove it for processing.

“Although Lions Clubs in Munster have already raised some funds for CUH, more is still needed, so we’re delighted that KWD Recycling is working with us again to support this very worthwhile cause”, said Jason Higgins, President of Killarney Lions Club. “We’re asking anyone who has scrap metal at home, at work or on the farm now or in the next few weeks to please bring it to the Racecourse on the day because everything we collect will make a difference.”

Tadhg Healy, Sales Manager at KWD Recycling added that “We will recycle any high quality scrap metal that we collect – it can be quite valuable and of course it’s better for the environment if it’s recycled instead of being dumped. On top of that, the main thing with this collection is to help families of children with cancer, so hopefully we’ll get a good response from everyone and raise as much money as possible through this event”.

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