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45 companies donate €10k to Pieta

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Inspirational Killarney man Ian O’Connell has unveiled the new Open for Business Wall in the Departures Hall at Kerry Airport.

Also, on behalf of the many sponsors involved in the project, he presented a cheque for €10,000 to the Kerry Branch of Pieta.

Every one of the local companies who have added their logos to the wall are encouraging people to choose Kerry as their work base for a lower cost of living, a better quality of life and ease of access to international markets.

Kerry Airport CEO John Mulhern, Fred McDonogh, Managing Director of Red Chair Recruitment, Killarney and Chris Fitzgerald, Proprietor of Slógadh Signs, Killorglin have driven the campaign since 2021 to raise awareness of the many job opportunities that exist in Kerry.

"We’ve been reminded over the past three years that resilience and a sense of community are essential for our mental well-being," CEO of Kerry Airport Ireland, John Mulhern, said.

"The Open for Business Wall in the Departures Hall at Kerry Airport began with 26 local companies making donations to Pieta. They each shared concerns for the increasing marginalisation of rural Ireland and the isolation many feel as population centres and opportunities for social interaction shift relentlessly into urban centres. We are proud to unveil the updated wall with 20 additional companies who also support Pieta and are proud to promote Kerry as a wonderful place in which to work and live.”

He added that it’s been a privilege to have Ian O’Connell as their special guest.

"Ian’s love of life, and never-give-up attitude is an inspiration to us all. He was once told that he would be on a ventilator for the rest of his life. We’re proud to have Ian as an ambassador to invite more people to this county to share the fresh Kerry air that he is so happy to breathe every day.”

Pieta’s Regional Community Funding and Advocacy Team Lead, John Dempsey, thanked the businesses for their support.

The new Kerry-based companies who have added their names to the Open for Business Wall in support of Pieta are: TLI, Maguire & Liston, Killarney Brewery, Kerry GAA Store, Skinlab, Southern Scientific, Munster Technological University, Athena Analytics, MC Group, Kerry District League, John Lane & Sons, University Hospital Kerry, Enercon, Orbitus (formerly CDS Tax & Law), HR Buddy, Corcoran’s Furniture, Corcorans Food Equipment, Skellig Six18, RDI Hub, Avalanche Designs, Egg Design and Glencar Construction.

They have joined the 26 companies who set the ball rolling on the project in 2021:
Adams of Tralee, A Fit Body, Aherns Castleisland, Astellas, Bathrooms4U, Boyles Killorglin, CSG (formerly Casey Stephenson) Accountants, Cremur Heating, FEXCO, Gallarus Industry Solutions, Gary Corcoran Car Services, Greenway Health & Hygiene, Irish Drain Services, JRI America, Keane's SuperValu Killorglin, Kerry Group, Lámha Therapies, Liebherr, Matthew Murphy Photography, Retrofit, O'Sullivan's Bakery, Portwest, and Vertex Inc (formerly Taxamo).

The wall will be renewed in January 2024 and anyone interested in promoting their business to a local, national, and global market, while supporting Pieta, is invited to contact Fred McDonogh at Red Chair Recruitment at Fred.McDonogh@redchairrecruitment.ie.

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Adventure runner completes all Dublin streets

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Adventure runner completes all Dublin streets


Killarney native Seanie Clifford has completed an extraordinary 25-day endurance challenge that saw him run all 4,400 named streets in Dublin while sleeping rough on the city’s pavements every night.



The local athlete completed his final stretch in the capital on Saturday, August 29, after covering a total distance of 2,000 kilometres. Running under the project banner 4400 Streets & Nowhere to Go, Clifford undertook the gruelling schedule to raise vital funds for Focus Ireland, Liberty Soup Run, and Dublin Homeless Awareness.

To mirror the reality faced by thousands of individuals across the country, the Killarney man spent 25 consecutive nights sleeping out on the very streets he ran during the day. Averaging close to 80 kilometres every 24 hours, he navigated heavy traffic, intense asphalt heat, and constant route adjustments alongside his partner and sole support crew member, Alicja.

Reflecting on the experience, Clifford praised the overwhelming backing he received from members of the public throughout the capital. He stated that he went into the challenge with extreme positivity and was rewarded with extraordinary kindness from people across Dublin, with residents from Ballymun to Donnybrook coming out to offer support.

Local support carries



By the midpoint of the challenge, physical exhaustion presented severe hurdles. However, local running clubs and individuals joined Clifford on various sections of the daily routes to assist his progress.

On Day 12, runners from Artane Beaumont Running Club and local supporters joined him on the road, allowing him to complete his daily 80-kilometre target ahead of schedule as community support carried him through the toughest miles.

The final stage of the run coincided with the release of official monthly figures from the Department of Housing, which recorded a record 17,527 people living in emergency accommodation across the country, including 5,659 children.

During the closing days of the project, Clifford was invited into Leinster House to meet with TDs and discuss the conditions he witnessed while sleeping on the streets. He stressed throughout the campaign that while his temporary homelessness would end with a return home to Kerry, thousands of families across Ireland remain without permanent shelter.


Triple Crown completed



Following his arrival at the final street, members of the national ultra-running community confirmed that Clifford had achieved what is widely regarded as the Triple Crown of Irish Endurance.

A former student of St Oliver’s Primary School and St Brendan’s College in Killarney, Clifford first set a national record in 2024 by running all 275 Irish mountains over 600 metres in 21 days. In 2025, he ran the entire 2,700-kilometre length of the Wild Atlantic Way from Malin Head to Kinsale in under 30 days.

Despite his previous mountain and coastal records, Clifford described the urban street challenge through Dublin as his most difficult undertaking to date.

Clifford, who now organises trail running retreats and uses endurance projects to highlight mental health and social issues, finished his final street run on Saturday afternoon to complete the historic trilogy of Irish endurance challenges.

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Kerry Stars volunteer appreciation night

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Kerry Stars volunteer appreciation night


Kerry Stars Special Olympics Sports Club hosted a volunteer appreciation night at the International Hotel on Monday, August 31, ahead of the upcoming sports season.


The event brought together both new and long-standing volunteers to celebrate their contribution to the club, which provides sporting opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the region.
Run entirely by volunteers, the club relies on helpers who dedicate an hour each week from September through May. The gathering provided a chance to recognise their effort following a successful summer where four Kerry Stars athletes secured a haul of gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games in June.
The club caters to both competitive athletes and members who participate primarily for the social aspect and inclusion. With the new season resuming in mid-September, Kerry Stars is inviting new volunteers and athletes to join its weekly training schedule.
Weekly sessions take place at various local venues, including Monday athletics at Spa GAA from 6pm to 7pm, Wednesday basketball at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre from 7pm to 8pm, and Thursday soccer at the same location from 7pm to 8pm. The club also runs therapeutic horse riding and swimming programs in Killarney and Tralee, both of which currently operate waiting lists.
Anyone interested in getting involved as a volunteer or athlete can contact the club directly at kerrystars63@gmail.com.

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