News
Two Mile School experiences huge growth in five years

By Michelle Crean
A small school which faced certain closure five years ago is now thriving and hoping to add a third teacher this September.
Two Mile Community National School, a State, co-educational, multi-denominational school opened in August 2017 with just nine pupils. Currently there's 40 pupils with plans to increase to 53 this coming September which would see a new teacher added to the staff.
Located on the site of the old Cahooreigh NS, a five minute drive from Killarney on the road between Madam’s Hill and Ballyhar, it is run under the patronage of Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB).
The move to open the school came after the Bishop of Kerry agreed to transfer the patronage of the old Cahooreigh National School to the State-run ETB. It serves the local community as well as the wider Killarney area.
Like all primary schools, Two Mile CNS follows the Primary School Curriculum as laid down by the Department of Education, Principal Catherine Barry explained.
"What distinguishes the school from other primary schools is the ethos or characteristic spirit which is underpinned by the core values of Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect," she told the Killarney Advertiser.
Described as a happy welcoming place, children of all religions attend and learn about diversity from each other under the new model of learning.
In terms of the education provided, the pupils experience all subjects and strands of the curriculum as they would in any other primary school.
However, in place of religious education, the children engage with the 'Goodness Me Goodness You' programme (GMGY); a multi-belief and values curriculum which enables children to encounter identity education, values education, philosophy and multi-denominational religious education. GMGY contributes to the holistic development of the child and as such aims to enable every child to realise their potential as a unique individual.
"We have Catholic children, some with no religion, Muslim, Hindu, and we teach about all religions. The children's experience is brought in to it. We try to find links between them and they learn from each other. We also do philosophy for children and Community National Schools are the only ones doing that. The programme underpins the ethos of the school. It's really interesting. It encourages them to look at things from other peoples' point of view and that has a knock on affect."
Catherine is keen to add that Two Mile CNS is like any other primary school - the only difference is the ethos.
"We'll facilitate any religion. Any group that wants to organise religion classes, we would facilitate that. We aim to provide the highest standards of teaching and learning, where children are guided to become lifelong learners," Catherine said.
"Children experience a very caring, child-centred environment which respects diversity and equality. Society is more diverse now than ever and Two Mile CNS provides a multi-denominational option for parents of children in the Killarney area. It's the way forward."
News
Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney
The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.
Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.
He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.
At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.
“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.
“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”
In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.
“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.
“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”
News
Ballymac charity vintage run on October 1
The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1. The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac. Registration […]

The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1.
The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac.
Registration begins at 9:30am and sets off at 11am.
“There will be two separate routes with one for tractors and the other for cars and motorbikes. Proceeds on the day are in aid of Castleisland Day Care Centre and we’ll have plenty of spot prizes to giveaway too in the morning,” said the club’s PRO Kieran Glover.
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