News
Friars move to Outlet Centre to meet and greet parishioners
By Sean Moriarty
For the first time ever the Friars have taken over a vacant store in Killarney Outlet Centre.
Instead of passing on their Christmas message on the town’s streets like other years, they are inviting locals to receive a blessing in the shopping centre.
The Brothers are a familiar sight on the streets of Killarney every Christmas as they walk the town to meet and greet their parishioners ahead of the Holy Season.
This year, forced by COVID-19 restrictions, storms and other reasons, instead of mingling with Christmas shoppers on the town’s streets, the Friars have gone indoors.
“What we're doing in the Outlet Centre is about going out into the highways and byways, into the shopping centres, into the streets, and just meeting people, befriending people and learning from them. We have much more to gain from meeting people outside the Friary than what they gain from meeting us,” Brother Pat Lynch told the Killarney Advertiser.
The move to the Outlet Centre was made possible by the Outlet Centre’s Paul Sherry and Noreen O’Sullivan.
Brother Pat has a lot of experience of this type of ministry.
He was Vocations Director for the order for 15 years and had stands at the Ploughing Championships over many years in shopping centres in Cork, Athlone and Galway.
“In those places the aim was looking for vocations but in the Outlet Centre it is just about being present among the people. He is distributing prayers for the family and for the care of creation. It's a 'money free zone' and he has insisted he doesn't want any money as people have too many expenses at this time leading up to Christmas,” added Anne Marie O’Leary of the Friary Office.
Herbert descendants visit Muckross House
Scott and Sandra Patterson recently visited Muckross House and Gardens to explore their family heritage, meeting with Muckross House Research Library archivist Patricia O’Hare.
The couple are the great-great-grandchildren of Charles Herbert (1842-1891), the second son of Colonel Henry Arthur Herbert and Mary Balfour. Following their marriage in 1837, Colonel Herbert and Mary Balfour moved to Killarney and began construction on the current Muckross House, which was completed in 1843.
The family, which included children Eleanor, Henry Arthur, Charles, and Blanche, spent much of the Great Famine years in England. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Rotary Club welcomes District Governor
Killarney Rotary Club was honoured to welcome Rotary District Governor George Roche and his wife, Maeve, during their official visit to the club, marking an important occasion in the Rotary calendar and celebrating the club’s commitment to serving the local community.
The visit provided members with an opportunity to showcase the work being undertaken in Killarney and to discuss plans for the year ahead as Rotary clubs across the district embrace this year’s theme, Creating Lasting Impact.
Newly elected President of Killarney Rotary Club, Yolande Nieman, welcomed the District Governor and Maeve on behalf of the club.
“It was a pleasure to welcome George and Maeve to Killarney and to share the enthusiasm and dedication of our members,” said Ms Nieman. “Rotary has a proud tradition of bringing people together to improve lives, both locally and internationally. As President, I am excited to lead our club in supporting this year’s message of Creating Lasting Impact. Together, we want to continue delivering projects that strengthen our community, support local organisations, and create positive change that will be felt for years to come.”
During the visit, District Governor George Roche commended the members of Killarney Rotary Club for their commitment to service and encouraged them to continue identifying opportunities where Rotary can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Killarney Rotary Club has a long history of supporting local charities, community groups, youth development initiatives, and international humanitarian projects. Under President Yolande Nieman’s leadership, the club will continue to build on that legacy while developing new partnerships and initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of the Killarney community.
Herbert descendants visit Muckross House
Herbert descendants visit Muckross House Scott and Sandra Patterson recently visited Muckross House and Gardens to explore their family heritage,...
Rotary Club welcomes District Governor
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