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St Mary’s of the Angels faces underhanded closure threat

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Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae believes the government and the HSE are using underhanded tactics to force the closure of St Mary’s of the Angels.

The Beaufort-based care facility is home to around 76 people with physical and intellectual disabilities ranging from moderate to profound.

Many residents have been living here for most of their lives.

However, Healy-Rae says that new residents are not being invited to take up rooms at the facility. If one resident passes away or moves to another location a new client is not being offered their room.

He believes that this is an underhand way of forcing the closure of the facility.

“Sadly people who are residents here when they pass on there are no new residents moving in so it is effectively being closed in a slow but sure fashion,” he said.

“It has over the years provided an excellent friendly happy place for people to live their lives. I appreciate some people’s disability and care requirements might mean they could live in a de-congregated setting. My point throughout all of the years has been that one shoe does not fit all sizes.

“I have again raised this matter with the Government and the HSE to try and ensure that St Mary the Angels will be not allowed to close but I have again being told no that the policy is that all people living in congregated settings will be moved to dispersed housing in ordinary communities and will have the same entitlement as any other citizen.

“I believe that in time all politicians will wake up to this fact and realise that this was an error but it will be too late at that stage. Continuous Minister’s for Health have failed to fully appreciate the appreciation of families for the services of St Mary the Angels. It will be a loss beyond belief to see it eventually closing down.”

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Motorists advised to be careful during bad weather

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Kerry County Council is appealing to people to stay away from exposed coasts while the weather warnings are in place this week.

Met Éireann has issued an Orange Warning for wind for Kerry which is effective from 7am to 3pm on Tuesday. There is also a Yellow warning for rainfall which is in place from 9pm tonight to 9am on Tuesday.

Storm Bram is expected to bring a very strong to gale force southerly winds with the strongest winds along the coast.

Motorists are advised to expect travel disruption on Tuesday with surface water likely on many routes.

Wave overtopping and high tides are expected to contribute to possible flooding in coastal areas.

The Local Coordination Group which includes Kerry County Council, the HSE, An Garda Síochána, emergency services and utilities, is meeting this afternoon to prepare for the impact of Storm Bram.

Kerry County Council announced today that Rossbeigh beach car park had been closed to the public until further notice. Members of the public are also advised not to park or walk near the coast during this period.

Kerry County Council’s weather emergency phoneline will be operational during the weather warning and issues can be reported to 066 7183588.

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Killarney Civic Arts Group to hold first AGM

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Killarney Civic Arts, a new group formed to advance cultural awareness and promote participation in the arts, is inviting the public to its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) this month.

The group, made up of artists and arts workers, aims to share experiences and insights with the community regarding the future and direction of cultural development in Killarney and the wider Munster region.


Killarney Civic Arts invites anyone who cares about shaping creative places in the community to connect with them and share their thoughts and stories.


The first AGM will be held in the Deer-hunter lounge at the Dromhall Hotel, (V93PY80), on Saturday, December 13, at 10.00am. The event offers free entry and is hosted in an accessible room.


For further information, the public may contact Dolores Lyne at 087 263 8720.

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