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41,000 people receive Christmas Bonus in Kerry – Griffin

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A 100% Christmas Bonus is being paid this year to 41,000 people in Kerry, according to Deputy Government Chief Whip, Brendan Griffin TD.

The Christmas Bonus is paid to long-term social welfare recipients such as pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and lone parents. This year, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys announced changes to the criteria, meaning more people will benefit.

For example, the qualifying period for people in receipt of an eligible Jobseeker’s payment was reduced to 12 months from 15 months.

In addition, long-term recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) are receiving this year’s Christmas Bonus.

And time spent on the PUP by those who have since moved to a Jobseeker’s payment will count towards reaching the 12-month requirement.

As we enter the Christmas period, Deputy Griffin has urged people in receipt of the Christmas Bonus to spend it in their local communities.

“We all know that the Christmas period can be a very expensive time of year for families,' Deputy Griffin said.

“I therefore really welcome the fact that we are once again in a position to provide a 100% Christmas Bonus this year. For me, it’s really important, where possible, that people spend their Christmas Bonus locally. We all know the difficult year that businesses in Kerry have endured due to COVID-19. By making a special effort to shop locally this year, we will support local retailers and local jobs.”

The bonus will be paid into people’s bank accounts or their post offices this month, depending on the type of payment they receive.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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