News
After an amazing battle little Lily is cancer free

By Michelle Crean
A little girl who has battled a rare form of cancer after being diagnosed last summer was eletated to finally ring the bell this week after being given the all clear.
Seven-year-old Lily (Lil) Sebestova was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on her hand - a Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma - just days after her birthday in July.
After enduring months of treatments including many gruelling rounds of intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy,Lily and her family - who have been through an emotional and mentally draining journey - were overwhelmed and relieved on Saturday when she finally reached her goal of beating the disease.
Killarney locals were amongst those who gave generously to a GoFundMe set up by Killarney man, Jason Clifford, the Manager at the Dunloe Hotel, where Lily's mom Lorraine has worked for the past 15 years.
In total €26,140 was raised - over double of the €10,000 target - and the support has been incredible according to Lily's parents Lorraine and Dodi Sebest who live in Tralee.
"She rang the bell on Saturday morning," Lorraine told the Killarney Advertiser.
"She's after beating cancer. We were told that there are no signs of cancer."
While it is wonderful news, according to Lorraine, she added that the family are happy but traumatised as they try to get back to normal after such a traumatic year.
"I had been praying so hard for maintenance chemo and when they told us I was bawling crying and hugging Lily. She will have a diagnostic scan on March 31 to confirm and she still has a year of maintenance chemo, but that heavy burden of fear is gone."
The family, she added, has been genetically tested as it's such a rare cancer but Lily will have to watched for life.
She added that there had been a possibility that Lily's hand would have to be amputated if the treatment didn't work.
However, after hearing the good news, last week Lily started piano lessons for the very first time.
"She went back to school and her health and her weight is up. She held her own, she's a fighter. She started piano lessons. Not only did they save her life they saved her hand."
Lorraine is thankful to everyone who so generously supported them to get to this point but most especially her colleagues and is hoping to return to the Dunloe Hotel later this year.
"They have been fantastic to me. The hotel is reopening in April. I love my job in the Dunloe and the staff are brilliant. I miss it and hope to be back later in the year."
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.
-
Sport7 days ago
Kerry’s old dogs ready for Tyrone challenge in All-Ireland final
-
News6 days ago
Over 80 women car enthusiasts attend classic car show
-
Sport7 days ago
Almost impossible to look beyond East Kerry but Dingle are best placed to challenge
-
News6 days ago
Musical society ready to hit the high notes