Connect with us

News

Cycling the Ring of Kerry to support kidney transplant patients

Published

on

0280854_volunteers_and_cyclists_for_the_IKA_at_the_ROKCC_24_Ava_ODoherty__Joan_OCallaghan__Theresa_Looney___Margaret_Canty_Kerins__Eleanor_Doherty.jpg

 

Four local ladies completed last Saturday’s Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle to support the Irish Kidney Association.

Deirdre Lyne Killarney who cycled the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association.

Dr. Colm Henry Chef Commercial Officer with the HSE with Sarah Buchanan Irish Kidney Association at the on Saturday.

Joseph Foley Troy Francis whose father received a transplant Edde Borlan Paul Moynihan at all cycled the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle for the Irish Kidney Association.

Pat Looney who cycled in the inaugural Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle 40 years ago with his 20214 finishers medal.

Volunteers and cyclists for the Irish Kidney Association at the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle on Saturday.

The four ladies, Edel Lehane from Gneeveguilla, Sinead Kelleher, Karina Kelleher and Karina’s daughter Eve Moynihan, from Rathmore cycled the 170km to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association as their families were impacted by kidney disease.

John Paul Lehane received a kidney donated by his brother in 2018 and the four cyclists were grateful to the family of the deceased donor for the kidney transplant Donal Kelleher underwent in June last year.

“We are delighted, it’s been a great day. The four of us stuck together as a team and friends all the way. We supported each other up and down the hills, and on the hardest climbs what kept us going was thinking of how much tougher it is for all those people in organ failure and their families, so we pushed through,” said Edel Lehane after the four crossed the finish line together.

“The Irish Kidney Association has been very good to our family and have always supported us so it’s nice to be able to do this for the charity to help other families of patients like my husband John Paul and Donal also.”

Further donations to the good cause can be made via: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/EveMoynihan618

Advertisement

News

Concerns over future of St Mary of the Angels

Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for […]

Published

on

Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for children and adults with profound disabilities and special needs.

The campus, set on lands generously donated by the Doyle family, offers 30 acres of grounds, existing buildings, and services, making it a valuable asset for the provision of respite care in Kerry. TD Michael Cahill emphasized that the Doyle family’s wishes should be respected, and that the grounds should be made accessible immediately.
“The special needs community in Kerry has a major respite crisis and families don’t have time to wait. Families need help — they are not asking for full-time residential care but respite care, a break, a helping hand,” Deputy Cahill said.
He added that a bespoke approach is needed to meet the individual needs of children attending St Francis Special School. “Many of the children in the county with profound needs need a safe haven where they can roam the grounds freely, and St Mary of the Angels offers this.”
Deputy Cahill has accompanied several Ministers to the Beaufort campus to highlight its value to Disability Health Service providers. A working group has been formed including St John of Gods, the HSE, representatives of residents at St Mary of the Angels, and St Francis Special School, to explore options for maintaining and expanding respite services.
“Parents are worn out and at the end of their tether. This needs to be dealt with expeditiously, in an environment of cooperation between the relevant Government Departments of Health, Disability, and Education. We need to get this across the line urgently and put it permanently in place,” he said.
Deputy Cahill pointed to the current shortfall of respite services in Kerry. “As of now, Cunamh Iveragh respite in Cahersiveen is only open Friday to Sunday, running at half capacity — two adults per night instead of four. The issue is staffing, and the HSE will not release funding to open full-time. The Beaufort campus is available and should be utilised as parents are crying out for overnight respite. Cooperation and compassion could see this done quickly.”
TD Danny Healy Rae echoed these concerns during a Dáil speech this week. “We are still short of respite beds on the southern side of the constituency. Families caring for people with disabilities just want a break, but there is nowhere available locally. Places are being offered only in Tipperary or Meath for those needing new residential care. It makes no sense. St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort has 40 or 50 acres of grounds that could be expanded, with facilities already in place such as swimming pools. It could be developed as a model for the rest of the country.”
Both TDs are urging the Government and the HSE to take immediate action to utilise the Beaufort campus for respite care, in line with the intentions of the Doyle family and the needs of Kerry families.

Continue Reading

News

Cardiac Response Unit’s ‘Restart a Heart’ training event

Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) is set to run a range of events as part of the global initiative Restart A Heart, which aims to increase awareness and actual rates […]

Published

on

Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) is set to run a range of events as part of the global initiative Restart A Heart, which aims to increase awareness and actual rates of bystander CPR worldwide.

The main event, titled RAH 2025, invites the public to learn life-saving skills and the basic steps in the chain of survival. This will take place on Saturday, October 18, at the Killarney Outlet Centre.
Members of the public are encouraged to join KCRU at the centre between 10:00 am and 5pm.
Key feature of the day will be the CPR Competition, offering “fantastic prizes to be won.”
For further information, visit www.killarneycru.ie/rah25

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport