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Killarney Valley Athletics Club shines in record-breaking 2024 season

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Killarney Valley Athletics Club has set a new benchmark for excellence in 2024, achieving unprecedented success in national and regional competitions.

The club's athletes have garnered a remarkable 55 national medals and 128 Munster medals, setting a new record for the club. This extraordinary haul is a testament to the dedication, skill, and hard work of the athletes and coaches alike.

One of the standout features of this year has been the performance of the club's relay teams. Killarney Valley Athletics Club has had seven relay teams compete at the national level, showcasing their strength in teamwork and coordination.
This achievement highlights the club's depth of talent and its ability to compete at the highest levels of Irish athletics.

The club's men’s senior 4x 400 relay team placed second in the national senior indoor championships and the U20 mixed 4 x 400 team were crowned national champions whilst setting a national championships record.

The club is also celebrating the crowning of ten national champions in 2024.

These champions have excelled across a range of disciplines, underlining the club's versatility and comprehensive training programs.

The disciplines in which the club has achieved national medals are diverse, including all jumps—long jump, high jump, triple jump, pole vault—as well as all sprints from 60 meters to 400 meters, and middle-distance events up to 1500 meters.

This breadth of success speaks to the club's commitment to nurturing talent across all track and field events.

Killarney Valley Athletics Club's athletes have consistently represented Ireland on the international stage since 2017. This year, Dominik Wasila has continued this proud tradition by being selected for Irish International representation in the long jump.

Wasila's achievement underscores the club's role in developing athletes who can compete and excel at the highest levels of international athletics.

In addition to their competitive success, the club's athletes have been recognized for their academic and athletic potential.

Several athletes have secured full athletics scholarships, furthering their education and training at prestigious institutions. Most recently, Oisin Lynch has taken up a scholarship at Adams State University in Colorado, joining the ranks of Killarney Valley athletes who have gone on to combine higher education with elite athletic training.

Looking to the future, Killarney Valley Athletics Club has set ambitious goals to enhance its facilities and support its growing membership.

The club is planning to build a dedicated pole vault training area, providing athletes with the specialized infrastructure needed to excel in this challenging discipline.

This new facility will be a significant asset, allowing for more focused and effective training sessions.

Additionally, the club is launching a fundraising campaign to maintain and repair its well-used athletics track as well as finance the building of the Pole Vault area.

The track is experiencing significant wear and tear due to heavy usage, and continuous maintenance is essential to ensure it remains in top condition for training and competition.

The club is seeking community support to build up a fund dedicated to these repairs and the Pole Vault construction, ensuring that athletes have access to high-quality training surfaces for years to come.

“The achievements of Killarney Valley Athletics Club in 2024 are a source of immense pride for the club and the local community,” said coach Jer Griffin.

“The club's record-breaking year is a reflection of its robust coaching programs, the dedication of its athletes, and the unwavering support from the local community.

“As Killarney Valley Athletics Club continues to build on this success, it remains a beacon of excellence in Irish athletics, inspiring future generations of athletes to strive for greatness while investing in the infrastructure necessary to sustain its legacy.”

The link to the GoFundme to where contributions can be made is https://www.gofundme.com/fundraise-to-build-our-polevault-runway

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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 […]

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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.

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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 […]

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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

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