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Fossa woman wins classic Toyota in fundraising raffle

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3 years ago

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INTERVIEW: Tom Leslie of Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club tells Meabh Swarbuck that she has just one a classic Toyota Starlet. Photo: Sean Moriarty

By Sean Moriarty

The family of a Fossa woman who won a classic car in a raffle said the win was “totally unexpected".

WINNING TICKET: Jordan Lee is watched by Brendan Fuller as he pulls out the winning tickets.

WINNERS: Alan and Meabh Swarbuck accept the Toyota Starlet on behalf of Meabh's mother Mary Terry. Photo: Sean Moriarty

CLUB: Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club members and supporters at Kellihers Garage in Tralee. Photo: Sean Moriarty

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PRIZE: Alan and Meabh Swarbuck accept the Toyota Starlet on behalf of Meabh's mother Mary Terry. Photo: Sean Moriarty

CROWD:Some of the large crowd that attended Thursday night's raffle. Photo: Sean Moriarty

TOP SELLER: Thresa Looney of the Irish Kidney Association with Brenda Houlihan Tralee who sold 145 ticket for the draw: Photo: Sean Moriarty

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club drew the winning tickets for its annual raffle on Thursday evening (November 24) at Kelliher’s Garage in Tralee.

The top prize was a 40-year-old Toyota Starlet that was lovingly restored by the members of club earlier this year.

Members sold tickets over the past six months to support four local charities which included the Irish Kidney Association Kerry Branch, Killarney Valley Athletic Club, Recovery Haven and Cuan Mhuire.

The winning ticket was drawn by Radio Kerry DJ Brendan Fuller and Toyota brand ambassador Jordan Lee.

Mary Terry from Fossa was the lucky winner of the car but she was not present at the draw.

However, members of the club contacted her family and her daughter Meabh, son-in-law Alan and her two grandsons Finian and Keelan made their way from Fossa to Tralee just in time for the tail end of the celebrations.

“This is a big surprise, it is totally unexpected,” said her daughter Meabh Swarbuck.

“We gave mam a ring on the way over, she is unsure what to do with the car. She is 77 and still driving.”

Her two sons are members of Killarney Valley Athletic Club, one of the beneficiaries of the raffle and the winning ticket was sold by athletic club members Breeda Stack who has sold the winning ticket on three of the last four times the vintage club has run a fundraising raffle.

Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club chairman, James Looney, thanked everyone who has supported this and other restoration raffles over the years.

“This is the fourth time that the top prize has not left the county,” he told the large crowd gathered in Kelliher’s Toyota showroom in Tralee.

Entertainment was provide by Killarney School Of Music and refreshments from Kathleen, Mags and Sylvia of Ross Cafe Killarney.

“Huge thanks go to Brendan Fuller as our Master of Ceremony and we were also honoured to have Paralympian Jordan Lee help us draw out the winning tickets on the night,” said club secretary Rich O’Donoghue.

“A huge thank you again to our many sponsors and supporters who made the restoration possible.”

The other lucky winners on the night were:

2nd prize €1,000 cash - Lauren McGilloway

3rd prize €500 voucher - O'Callaghan Coaches, Ken Manley

4th prize €250 voucher - Castleisland Tyre Centre Brendan O’Reilly

5th prize €150 voucher - Garret's Restaurant Killarney, Mary O'Shea

6th prize 30 bags of turf - Tommy Drumm

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Gleneagle Concert Band cast in major Hollywood Film

  Members of The Gleneagle Concert Band have been cast in a major Hollywood movie currently filming in West Cork. The WWII biopic is inspired by Hollywood legend James Stewart’s […]

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14 hours ago

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14 October 2025

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Members of The Gleneagle Concert Band have been cast in a major Hollywood movie currently filming in West Cork.

The WWII biopic is inspired by Hollywood legend James Stewart’s life, highlighting his time as a combat pilot after putting his entertainment career on hold to join the U.S. Army Air Corps.
It’s set to be the biggest film production filmed in Ireland this year, with a U.S. release scheduled for November 2026.

Band Musical Director Vincent Condon said the opportunity came about through a mix of curiosity and perfect timing.

“I read that a major film was being shot in West Cork and got in touch to see if they needed a band. Wartime movies often feature military bands, and they were delighted that I reached out. The film required an all-male band under 25, which is historically accurate. Filming took place at the start of October, and it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved.”

Band Manager Ciaran Lynch described the experience as unforgettable.

“The band was excellent. We did everything asked of us with no fuss, and it was amazing to see how a major movie comes together. In a year or so, we’ll be able to sit in the cinema with our families and point to the screen saying, ‘We were part of that!’”

This latest experience follows the band’s highly successful summer tour to Seville and Gibraltar, where they performed alongside the Midleton Concert Band beneath Seville’s spectacular Las Setas structure. The trip marked the band’s eighth international tour, continuing a proud tradition of representing Killarney abroad.

With opportunities ranging from international tours to movie sets, the Gleneagle Concert Band continues to give its members unique and creative musical experiences both at home and overseas.

Anyone interested in joining the band or enrolling for instrumental lessons is encouraged to get in touch on 087 222 9513.

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Local schools launch initiative to promote healthy technology use for children

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14 hours ago

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14 October 2025

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Holy Family NS Rathmore, Raheen NS, Meentogues NS and Shrone NS have teamed up with three other schools on the Cork side of the border to launch an innovative project called Agree to Agree.


This is a community wide effort to help families navigate the challenge of children and technology.


The initiative encourages parents of primary school pupils to make a voluntary pledge around healthy technology use at home.


For younger pupils, this includes keeping children smartphone-free, following age-appropriate guidelines for games and apps, and staying off social media during primary school years.


For older pupils who may already own phones / devices, the project suggests practical steps such as reducing screen time, keeping phones out of bedrooms, avoiding age-inappropriate apps, and learning about digital citizenship and online safety.


In the coming weeks, children will bring home information packs and families will have the chance to sign the voluntary agreement. Two parent webinars are already scheduled for October 26 and February 26.


This Pilot was funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the then Minister of Education and Skills – Norma Foley TD. Schools were invited to participate through Tralee Education Support Centre Director, Terry O’Sullivan.


The other participating schools are Ballydesmond NS, Kiskeam NS, and Knocknagree NS.

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