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€50k fundraiser launched to help non-verbal boy

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By Michelle Crean

The parents of a five-year-old boy are hoping to raise €50,000 to get life-changing treatment to help his development so that they can hear him talk for the very first time.

Dawid Ciemny, son of Slawek Ciemny and Kamila Smietanska, doesn’t speak or communicate with his parents and is sadly still in nappies.

His parents, who live in Courtyard Killarney, were originally given the diagnosis of Autism but say it’s much more complex than that as Dawid doesn't talk or understand them, and they say the disease has taken away his chance for normal development as he suffers from irrational anxieties, sometimes he is too weak to walk and his small body is in constant pain.

In a bid to give him the best start in life they’ve sourced specialist care in Poland but it comes at a cost of €5,000 per treatment every six weeks for the little boy who currently attends the ASD Sunshine Class in Holy Cross Mercy School.

“In the beginning we had a diagnosis of Autism but it is something else,” his father Slawek explained to the Killarney Advertiser.

“We were looking for four years to see what was going on. He goes to a psychologist and speech therapist. He has autoimmune encephalitis and treatment is very expensive. We will need to go to Poland for immunotherapy. The treatment is every six weeks for three days and it costs €5,000 per visit.”

He said that the treatment may or may not work for Dawid but they have to try it to give him the best possible future.

“We have to go to Poland to try. Some kids get better after – but we have no guarantee and he could stay the same like now. He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t understand what we say. He is still in nappies. He is still walking, physically he is OK.”

Dawid will begin treatment in April 2022 if they are able to raise the funding. To help go to GoFundMe: 'The disease has taken control over Dawid !'

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Tadhg Fleming to lead Team Jack and Jill in Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle

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Tadhg Fleming to lead Team Jack and Jill in Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle


Comedian and content creator Tadhg Fleming will lead the charge for Team Jack and Jill this summer, taking on the 170km Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle on Saturday, July 4.


The annual event, which starts and finishes in Killarney, raises vital funds for charities across Ireland. This year, Fleming is urging cyclists of all abilities to join him in raising money to support the 504 Jack and Jill families nationwide, including 14 families currently receiving care in County Kerry.
“It’s a sin this Kerry man hasn’t done the Ring of Kerry yet, but it’s about time I did it,” Fleming said. “I’m absolutely delighted to be taking it on for Jack and Jill, a charity very close to our hearts. Dad Derry has done it a few times and told me it’s a piece of cake, so we’ll soon find out about that.”
The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation provides critical in-home nursing care and respite support for children up to the age of seven who live with severe learning disabilities and complex medical needs.
Among those benefiting from the service is Tralee mother Anna Walsh. Her youngest daughter, Róisín, lives with Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic condition.
“Jack and Jill has made such a difference to our family life,” Walsh said. “The hours of in-home nursing care we receive mean I’m able to work, which is massively important for our family. It gives us breathing space, practical support, and reassurance when things are overwhelming.”
Registration is now open for participants looking to secure a place on the team. Those who sign up to cycle for the charity will receive fundraising support, specialized training plans from Coral Leisure personal trainers, and an official Jack and Jill cycling jersey.
Cyclists can register to join Team Jack and Jill online at https://www.ringofkerrycycle.ie/our-charities/jack-jill-foundation/

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100-year-old fire tender beautifully restored 

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Billy Spring from Milltown with his restored Merryweather Hatfield Trailer Pump Fire Tender which was in service by Killarney Fire Brigade from it’s purchase in 1926 up until the 1960’s,Billy purchased it in 1994,he carried out the restoration on it from 2008 to 2026.This Appliance was particularly suited for duties as the town was composed of a lot of narrow lanes and congested areas where a regular pump couid not gain access.Photo by Michael G Kenny

A piece of Killarney’s municipal history has been painstakingly brought back to life following an extensive restoration project by Milltown resident Billy Spring.

The rare machine served as a frontline tender for the Killarney Fire Brigade for four decades, spanning from the 1920s through to the 1960s. Having survived a century, the machine required a monumental amount of skilled craftsmanship to reverse decades of wear and return it to its former glory.

Now fully restored, this unique piece of local heritage offers a rare glimpse into the early days of emergency services in the region.

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