Taoiseach makes historic first visit to Beaufort schools

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin made a historic visit to St Francis Special School and St Mary’s of the Angels on Wednesday afternoon, marking the first time a serving Taoiseach has visited either Beaufort facility.

The visit followed a recent Dáil invitation extended by Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill, who accompanied the Taoiseach alongside local Councillor Tommy Cahill. During the tour, the Taoiseach met with management, staff, residents, and families to observe the services firsthand and discuss operational challenges.
Both Michael and Tommy Cahill welcomed the visit, emphasizing the campus’s potential to become a super respite centre of excellence for children and adults with profound disabilities.
“This was a truly historic occasion,” Deputy Cahill said. “The Taoiseach had the opportunity to see the excellent facilities on the campus first-hand and, importantly, to hear directly about the challenges and concerns they face. There is huge potential here to further develop respite and enhanced services.”
Councillor Tommy Cahill added that the visit was a significant day for service users and staff. He confirmed ongoing engagement with government departments, St John of God, the HSE, and local stakeholders to ensure the site’s full potential is realised.

Polish hiking pilgrimage heading for Carrauntoohil

A 27-strong Polish hiking group left Dublin on Monday to begin a three-week, 500km trek across Ireland that will conclude in Killarney on September 15.

Organised by NINIWA—the youth ministry branch of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Poland—the ‘Eurotrip: West Coast Ireland’ expedition will see participants trek through the Wicklow Mountains, Mayo, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, and Kerry, before completing an ascent of Carrauntoohil.
The group travels “by faith”, carrying all equipment in backpacks without support vehicles or pre-booked accommodation, pitching tents wherever their daily route ends. Daily Mass is offered along the way with prayers dedicated to the young people of Europe.
Originally planned for New Zealand, the route was redirected to Ireland due to Middle East flight disruptions.
The expedition holds major personal significance for team leader Fr Dominik Ochlak OMI, who worked as a carpenter in Killarney before joining the priesthood. This trip marks his final expedition after nine years leading NINIWA’s hiking projects.
“For me, this journey is a return to my roots. I spent a very important chapter of my life in Ireland, in Killarney, where I lived and worked as a carpenter before becoming a priest. You could say that where everything once began, something is now coming to an end,” Fr Ochlak said.
“I truly believe this will be one of the most demanding—and at the same time one of the most beautiful—expeditions in NINIWA’s history,” he added.
NINIWA has run international expeditions for 20 years, with past groups covering 80,000km across 57 countries, including rides to Siberia, Norway, and Jerusalem.