Connect with us

News

Firies GAA launch “The Big Drop’ for Irish Community Air Ambulance

Published

on

0233653_DC_3.jpg

 

Firies Football, Hurling and Ladies Football club has launched an innovative fundraising drive to develop their new playing facilities in Firies village while also raising funds for the Irish Community Air Ambulance Service and the vital work they provide throughout the country.

The club has grounds and facilities at Páirc Eamonn in Farranfore but, due to the substantial growth in the club over the past ten years, the grounds can very scarcely accommodate all juvenile football/ladies football teams as well as a vibrant hurling club serving the mid-Kerry hinterland.

The club has planning permission obtained for a new training facility adjacent to Firies village which includes grass pitches and a community walking track. In order to finance this development, the club are organising “Firies Big Drop” with prizes worth €25,000.

On Saturday, October 1, Firies Football, Hurling and Ladies Football grounds in Farranfore will be virtually divided into a grid with 4000 squares. Taking advantage of the clubs’ proximity to Kerry Airport, a helicopter will fly over Páirc Eamonn, dropping ten balls. Each ticket sold is allocated a random grid box and if the ball lands on your grid box, you could win a top prize of €10,000. There will also be prizes of €5,000, €2,500, €1,500 and six €1,000 on the day.

At the fundraiser launch, Chairman of Firies Football, Hurling & Ladies Football; Tom Kelliher said:
“The club is in a fortunate position of experiencing phenomenal growth and while we have secured land and planning permissions for the new pitch, substantial funds are now needed to ignite the spark in Firies. We believe this fundraiser will help Firies secure the future for our players and community for years to come.”

Firies Football, Hurling & Ladies Football Club Finance Committees’ Tim Clifford added “10% of all profits form the big drop will go to the Air Ambulance to acknowledge the phenomenal work that they are doing, not only in Firies but beyond."

Tickets for Firies Big Drop are on sale now from https://pallaslotteries.ie/firiesbigdrop at €50 per ticket with the added incentive of an early bird draw of two All-Ireland Football Tickets and overnight accommodation in Dublin when the ticket is purchased before July 16.

Advertisement

News

Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

Published

on

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

Continue Reading

News

Tributes to Paudie O’Callaghan of the Fáilte Hotel

The town of Killarney and the wider Kerry community have been mourning the loss of Paudie O’Callaghan, who passed away peacefully over the weekend after a long illness. Paudie, pre-deceased by […]

Published

on

The town of Killarney and the wider Kerry community have been mourning the loss of Paudie O’Callaghan, who passed away peacefully over the weekend after a long illness.

Paudie, pre-deceased by his father Dermot and his brothers Donal and Dermot, was deeply loved by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Valerie, his daughter Megan, granddaughter Rubie, his mother Eileen, his brothers Michael, Colm, and Niall, sisters-in-law Noreen, Eliza, Carol, and Kathy, and extended family, including nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours, and friends.
Paudie was widely recognised as a true gentleman and a cornerstone of Killarney’s business and social life. Minister Michael Healy-Rae TD paid personal tribute, saying: “This week brought very sad news with the passing of my great friend, Paudie O’Callaghan. Paudie was one of life’s true gentlemen, full of life, laughter, loyalty, and heart. He was a man who’d do anything for a friend, and I was blessed to count him as my very best. Even in difficult days, Paudie’s strength and spirit never left him.”
Minister Healy-Rae recalled meeting Paudie every Saturday in Killarney, walking the town together, meeting people, and enjoying the simple but meaningful moments that defined their friendship. He also noted the pride Paudie had in becoming a grandfather, a joy that brightened his final weeks.
The Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce also paid tribute to Paudie’s contribution to the town. A statement from the Chamber said: “Paudie O’Callaghan played a very active and progressive role in the business life of Killarney and was always willing to lend a hand and contribute positively to whatever projects the town was engaged with. He spearheaded the Killarney Vintners Association for many years and was a very able and influential representative for that sector. His enormous contribution to the sporting and social life of the town is already well documented, and he contributed hugely to the town he loved in so many ways.”
Paudie reposed at the Fáilte Hotel on Monday evening. The funeral cortège arrived at St Mary’s Cathedral,on Tuesday morning, followed by burial at Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.
Tributes highlighted Paudie’s warmth, loyalty, and dedication to family, friends, and the Killarney community.
Minister Healy-Rae summed up the sentiment shared by many: “People come and go throughout our lives, but every so often, someone truly special comes along who makes life better just by being part of it. That was Paudie. I’ll miss him dearly.”

Photos by Eamoon Keogh

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport