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‘We have lost a friend, a colleague and a leader’

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The late Canon Pat Horgan. PICTURE: EAMONN KEOGH

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HEARTFELT tributes were paid this week following the passing of Canon Pat Horgan. Hundreds are expected to attend the funeral Mass which takes place this morning, at 10.30am, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney.

Canon Horgan celebrated the diamond jubilee (60th anniversary) of his ordination with a Mass at The Church of the Resurrection, Killarney, last year.
A native of Dromtariffe in north Cork, Canon Pat was one of the most respected clerics in the Kerry diocese.
He passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Marymount Hospice in Cork.

Canon Horgan was ordained on June 19, 1955, after completing his studies in Maynooth. He started off his life as a priest in Salford Diocese in Manchester.
He went on to serve in Rathmore parish before moving to Moyvane in north Kerry.

After spending time in Ballyferriter he took up a teaching post at St Brendan’s College in Killarney. He would go on to spend 21 years teaching French and Maths at the college.

In 1978 the canon was appointed principal of St Michael’s in Listowel and during his seven years there oversaw the building of an extension to the school.
He returned to parish work in 1985 and was the parish priest at Our Lady of St Brendan’s in Tralee until 1996. In July 1996 he became the parish priest of Rathmore.

Canon Pat was involved in many community organisations including Kerry Mental Health Association. He retired from fulltime ministry a decade ago but remained very active in the diocese.

Canon Pat was a founder member of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society. His friend and colleague on the committee, society chairman Jerry O’Grady, described Canon Pat as “inspirational”. “No one has put more energy and passion into achieving our objectives, than Fr Pat,” said Mr O’Grady.
“In his 85th year, his drive and enthusiasm were undiminished and he was a shining example to us all.”
Mr O’Grady added: “We have lost a friend, a colleague and a leader. May he rest in peace.”
 


 
The late Canon Pat Horgan. PICTURE: EAMONN KEOGH

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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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