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Opinion: Killarney faces further government building dereliction

Indecisiveness by a government agency could lead to more dereliction in Killarney.

This week the Health and Safety Executive said it was to review the future of both the District Hospital and St. Columbanus Home.

The new community hospital is currently under construction on a site adjoining the by-pass on the old St Finan’s site.

It is expected to open later this year or early next year and while it is a welcome addition to the town, there should also be alarm bells going off.

Government agencies and Killarney have a very poor record when it comes to managing state-owned assets that are no longer in public use.

St Finan’s is a prime example. Vacant since 2012, nobody seems to know what should be done with the listed building and the more the never-ending debate continues the more it falls into further disrepair.

But that is not the only building in Killarney that has been allowed to depreciate over the years.

The Áras Phádraig on Lewis Road in another example.

Plans for the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig were given the go ahead by elected councillors last year.
The popular local community centre has been idle since May 2009 when the Franciscan Community attempted to transfer ownership of the facility to the town council; however this ran into trouble as the authority is not a charity.
It took until 2017 before the legal hitch could be overcome with the site now derelict and in need of considerable investment.
Five years later Killarney Municipal District approved plans to re-develop the site under Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

To qualify for the funding, councillors were told that the inclusion of the Primary Care Unit was a redline issue as without it funding under Urban Regeneration and Development Fund the would not be forthcoming for the entire project.
That in itself raises further alarm bells. A year on nothing has been done to the Lewis Road site and we are fast approaching 15 years of idleness.
But, this week at a Cork/Kerry Community Health Forum meeting TD Danny Healy-Rae asked that when the District Hospital and St. Columbanus Home become unoccupied that, at least one of them could be turned into a primary care unit.
“I again raised a very important issue about the Minor Injuries Unit and pointed out they will have two wonderful sites available to them when Killarney closes as these are ideal locations with adequate parking for the Minor Injuries Unit and central to East Kerry, Mid Kerry and South Kerry and would also help to reduce the chaos at the A and E in University Hospital Kerry, I am glad that I received a favourable response from the HSE where they said they would give this request active consideration,” he said.

So, if Healy-Rae’s proposal gets the favourable response he has been promised what becomes of the Áras Phádraig plans.

Killarney does need a primary care unit, it does not need two. So either the Lewis Road project gets shelved to make way for the Healy-Rae proposal or the latter idea never gets off the ground.

What eveR the outcome, one this is certain, Killarney faces more state-owned dereliction and the town’s track record in suce matter is very, very poor.

AnONE know what is happening at the council-owned Pretty Polly site?

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

Following the violent death of Jamey Carney in Killarney on Tuesday, national charity Women’s Aid has released a stark update regarding violence against women in Ireland.

According to the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch for the Republic of Ireland, eight women have died in violent circumstances so far this year.

This figure already exceeds the total of seven women recorded during the entirety of 2025.

Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid, said:

“Violence, abuse, and even at its extremes, death, are still a reality for many women living in Ireland. After the devastating murder of Ashling Murphy in 2022, Ireland said never again. But Ireland has not lived up to that promise.

“Since then, 40 women have died violently in Ireland. That is 40 women with lives, dreams, family, friends and communities.

“Since we started the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch in 1996, 286 women have died violently in Ireland. Every death is an outrage. An absolute tragic loss of life resulting in utter heartache and trauma for those left behind.

“We are thinking today of those who will be deeply impacted by the loss of life in Killarney. Prevention of all domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is crucial and urgent.”

“The Women’s Aid Femicide Watch shows that 87% of women (where the case has been resolved) were killed by a man known to them. We also know that in Ireland, one in three women has been subjected to domestic abuse of some kind.

“Every woman has the right to be safe in her home and in her community, and this is just not the case. We must do the work required to achieve equality and safety for all, to make Ireland a country that truly has zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”

Support is available on the Women’s Aid 24-Hour National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900, or go to womensaid.ie to use the Instant Message Service or for more information on domestic violence and abuse.”

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

Gardaí investigating the discovery of a woman’s body at a residence on Muckross Road in Killarney are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the direction of their inquiries.

It is understood that a full murder investigation is expected to be launched.

The deceased has been named locally as Jamey Carney, an American national in her 40s and the mother of a 13-year-old girl.

The scene at the domestic residence remains cordoned off today for a full technical examination, with a visible Garda presence continuing at the location.

An incident room has been established at Killarney Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer. Local businesses in the area have already begun supplying CCTV footage to assisting officers.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, local councillor Martin Grady expressed the deep sense of shock in the area.

“I want to offer my condolences to the family,” Cllr Grady said. “This is an awful shock to the local community. I encourage anyone to come forward with any information they may have to An Garda Síochána. Whoever committed such a crime is a cowardly person and should get the maximum penalty.”

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Muckross Road area between the evening of Monday, July 6 and the afternoon of Tuesday, July 7 to come forward. They are particularly appealing to road users and business owners who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from the area during those times.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

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