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Family and friends to walk in Damien’s memory

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The people of Keel and the wider community are set to remember the late Damien Foley with a memorial walk on Sunday, July 10.

Beginning at Keel GAA grounds at 10am, Damien's family, friends and neighbours will complete the Keel Loop Walk to mark what would have been the occasion of his 40th birthday. Damien passed away from Cystic Fibrosis in July 1999 just a few days before his 17th birthday. Damien was a much loved member of the community of Keel and was an avid sports fan, with the Kerry team and Aston Villa being his particular favourites.

Damien attended Castledrum National School and Presentation Secondary School, Milltown, and is fondly remembered by his former school mates as a popular, funny and caring friend. Damien was also a much valued member of Keel underage football teams, with whom he wore the white jersey with immense pride.

Damien’s family and friends are asking people to come out and walk all, or even part of, the route with them on Sunday the 10. The walk will begin at 10am sharp, leaving Keel GAA and heading west along the R561 to Whitegate Crossroads, before turning south to Lachtacalla Quay, following the bank of the River Maine to Boolteens, then to the hill via Lassabee and back to Keel GAA via Gortanedin. In all, the route measures approximately 13km and is easy to moderate in difficulty. People are advised to wear trail shoes or walking boots and dogs are not permitted. Refreshments will be served before and after the walk at Keel GAA and it is expected that the event will have concluded well in time for people to go and watch Kerry take on Dublin on television later that afternoon.

"All proceeds raised by the memorial walk for Damien will be shared between the Cystic Fibrosis Ward at University Hospital Limerick, Irish Community Air Ambulance and Keel GAA Club," Damien Foley from the Memorial Walk Committee said.

Contributions are purely voluntary and can be made on the day, in collection buckets in local businesses or online through the following GoFundMe link: The Damien Foley 40th Birthday Memorial Walk.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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