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Local families at risk of homelessness

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Fourteen families in Killarney are at risk of homelessness after eviction notices were issued.
The termination letters were sent by Xerico Ltd., a foreign landlord registered in Cyprus.

Every home in the Loreto Convent Estate has been served with a Notice of Termination which will make more than 40 people homeless. This includes infants, schoolchildren and people with disabilities.

The residents have set up a petition on change.org to fight against the eviction. ( Petition · Prevent a Mass Eviction by a Foreign Landlord – Protect Families and Killarney’s Heritage - Ireland · Change.org)

13 children currently attend the local national school, some of those students require additional supports.

Three of those students are looking to apply to secondary schools, however now they don’t know where to go.

For years, the neighbours have built a small, supportive community which is now under threat due to the eviction notices.

If the families are forced to move elsewhere, local businesses will lose also their employees.
Dorota Kowalczyk has lived in the estate for ten years and she described the situation as “very hard”.

“It’s a terrible thing to happen. We worry about it every day, especially for our children. We have loved living here; we love our neighbours. We looked after each other during Covid, we have barbecues, we celebrate birthdays, it’s our home.” She told the Killarney Advertiser.

The neighbours received their letters in stages, some in June and July. Dorota’s letter arrived in the mailbox at the end of September.

Ms Kowalczyk explained her life is in Killarney and she doesn’t want to go elsewhere, however it’s impossible to find a place to rent in the town.

In the current housing climate, Killarney faces a huge crisis, with limited stock available and soaring rents.

The residents say that forcing dozens more people into homelessness is not just unethical, it damages the towns stability and economy.

The families are calling on Kerry County Council and Killarney authorities to act immediately.

They believe the situation can be resolved by a Tenant-in-Situ purchase, an Approved Housing Body partnership or any other available mechanism.

They are urging the council to protect their families, safeguard their community, support local businesses and preserve Killarney’s heritage.

It is not the first time that the Cypriot property company has evicted several tenants.

The Dublin Inquirer reported last October that RTB figures revealed that tenants of Xerico Ltd. were issued eviction notices at a much higher rate than other landlords.

They also found that 191 eviction notices were issued in 2023, with a chunk of them cited as Part 4 tenancy ending.

The Killarney Advertiser has contacted the Home Club and Xerico Ltd. for comment.

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Ballymac Vintage Club raises over €7k for local charities

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Ballymac Vintage Club raises over €7k for local charities


The Ballymac Vintage Club raised over €7,000 for two worthy causes following the 16th running of its annual Classic Car and Honda 50 Run over the bank holiday weekend.


Despite a wet start to Sunday morning, more than 100 registered vehicles turned out at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant. Entrants brought a diverse selection of classic cars, vans, and campers, including several vehicles making their first appearance at a Kerry vintage event.
The day began with a Cars and Coffee gathering, allowing participants and spectators to catch up, inspect the vehicles, and enjoy light refreshments.
Proceeds from the event and Saturday’s street collection in Castleisland will support two local causes: St John of God Oileán Beo Castleisland, which provides services for adults with intellectual disabilities, and the Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, which supports sick and infirm pilgrims alongside volunteers and medical staff.
A range of spot prizes were awarded throughout the morning, with organisers extending sincere thanks to local donors and main sponsors BG Motors Killarney, Brownes Agri Steel Castleisland, and Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant.
The run departed Ballymacelligott shortly after 11am, travelling back roads through Castleisland before making a short stop in Brosna. Drivers then completed the final leg to Knocknagoshel, where refreshments were served by the Knocknagoshel Meals on Wheels team.

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Dromhall team takes top spot at Crokes Golf Classic

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The annual Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Classic proved to be another major success last weekend, drawing 64 teams to Killarney’s Mahony’s Point course over two days of competition.


The Dromhall Hotel team of John Brosnan, Mike Dwyer, Shane Kelly, and Ger O’Meara took first place. Second place went to the O’Carroll Engineering team of Anthony O’Mahony, John O’Driscoll, Derek McAllister, and Michael O’Sullivan.
Third place went to the Quills team (Vincent Casey, Colm O’Brien, Evy O’Brien, and Donie Buckley), while Diarmuid O’Carroll Electrical (Mark O’Carroll, Brian McCarthy, Ben Kelliher, and Luke O’Shea) finished fourth.
Rounding out the top positions were Fexco in fifth (Andrew McCarthy, Ivo O’Sullivan, Ross Brosnan, and Niall O’Shea), Money Maximising Advisors in sixth (John Lenihan, Michael Lenihan, Des McCarthy, and Peter Bellew), and The Gleneagle Hotel in seventh (Patrick O’Donoghue, Mike McAuliffe, Margaret Gill, and T Buckley).
Raffle prize winners on the night were David Cotter (1st), Eugene Browne (2nd), Donal Brosnan (3rd), and Colm Murphy (4th).
The prize presentation took place at Charlie Foley’s Bar on Friday night, with sponsor Colm Foley handing over the honours. Dr Crokes expressed thanks to all who entered teams, sponsored tee boxes, and donated prizes, as well as Colin Finlay and the team at Killarney Golf Club for the superb condition of the course.

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