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Killarney publican behind nationwide campaign

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CAMPAIGN: John C O'Shea with his mother Joan, sister Brigitte Whelan and her children James and Ellie outside their popular High St bar.

 

EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

 

A Killarney publican was behind a nationwide social media campaign that highlighted issues being faced by rural pubs who are not allowed open during current COVID-19 restrictions.

Last weekend publicans from all over Kerry and beyond took to social media with their campaign 'Support Not Sympathy' to get their message across.

As of today (Friday) it is 156 days since March 15, they day pubs were told to close. And publicans say their appeal to Government is far from over with further plans to increase the pressure this week - instead of photographing family members or customers outside their pubs - they will now show a sign highlighting the number of days they have been forced to close.

They are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of Government support and action a pubs have been closed since March 15. Those who don't serve food have to remain closed for now while bars that sell a ‘substantial meal’ have been allowed open since June 29.

The Kerry Vintners Association has been particularly vocal on the situation. They wanted to have one voice on social media platforms so set up an online group called 'The Pubs of Kerry' and the new social media campaign was the brainchild of publican John C O’ Shea whose family run the Jack C’s on High St.

The campaign, which quickly spread from Kerry to include pubs in every county, was calling on the Government to offer support to rural pubs. Publicans and their families were photographed outside their closed premises, which was then shared on social platforms and tagged prominent politicians.

It was a direct attack on comments made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last week that he was is “sympathetic” to the difficulties publicans faced.

The campaign was popular on Facebook but gained more traction on Twitter.

“I have experience in running such campaigns,” John C told the Killarney Advertiser. “Some pubs have a Facebook account, some have a Twitter account and some have neither. They sent their photos to me and uploaded them to social media. Twitter is the preferred communication channel of Government. It was a dignified protest but sometime I wonder of the farmers are right – they would have the whole of Dublin city centre blockaded by now.”

He added that publicans can open their bars safely and should be allowed to do so.
"We have spent €12k to €15k preparing our bar – we have the Perspex, we have an outdoor seating area in the lane,” he added. “The only reason we have to stay closed is that we do not do food. We would have to spend another €15k on a proper kitchen and take on more staff. We have never done food. We get a lot of trade from Gaby’s and Bricín across the road. People come to us before or after their meal in the place that does do food.”

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Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

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Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

RETIREMENT NIGHT: Pictured at the retirement party held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday, October 3, celebrating a combined 185 years of service with An Post, are Connie Brady, James Foley, Terry Potts, Pat Cronin, and D.J. Cahill.


Five well-known local postmen celebrated their retirement at a special function held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday night, October 3.


The event brought together current and former An Post colleagues to mark the combined total of 185 years of service delivered across Killarney and surrounding areas.
Delivery Services Manager Terry Potts retired after 43 years with An Post. He began his career in Dublin, where he worked for 10 years, before moving to Killarney in 1993 for a further 33 years.
Pat Cronin completed an impressive 51 years of service between Killarney and Farranfore, spending 44 of those years delivering post on the Farranfore route.
James Foley served 35 years with An Post, delivering on routes across Killorglin throughout his entire career.
D.J. Cahill marked 32 years of service based out of Killarney post office, delivering mail across Killarney town, Killorglin, Kilcummin, and Headford.
Connie Brady retired following 24 years with the postal service, spending 17 years in Killarney town before completing his service in Killorglin.
The celebration offered local postal staff an opportunity to gather and catch up ahead of the busy Christmas rush.

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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