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A NEW bus will hit the road to the delight of wheelchair users in the greater Killarney area in the New Year. And it's all thanks to the vision and dedication of a local woman. Agnes Rooney decided to get in gear to take action when she discovered many members of the local community face difficulty in going about their daily lives because of the lack of wheelchair-accessible transport.

Agnes embarked on a mission to raise funds for a bus for the Kerry Parents & Friends Association and last Friday it was a case of celebrations all round at the Kerry Parents & Friends Association, Old Monastery, Port Road, as Agnes and her group of fundraisers unveiled the grand total of €51,830, and secured the purchase of a 171-registered Ford transit. “I have a sister, Mairead, who has intellectual difficulties, and who unfortunately lost most of her mobility a couple of years ago,” said Agnes.

“She now has to have a wheelchair-accessible bus to go to work each day. I realised there was a need for funding when the bus arrived for Mairead one morning and the wheelchair access lift didn’t work. When I enquired about this, I was told that the fleet of 17 buses are deteriorating with no funding for replacement.”

Agnes added: “These buses take Mairead and her friends to work, home, hospital appointments, social training, respite and holidays to name but a few. They travel all over Kerry and truly support them and their families in ways that the greater community may not understand.”

The buses provide a vital service for home support, respite and everyday activities for people with intellectual disabilities all over the county, said Agnes. “We would deeply appreciate your support in helping the most vulnerable in our local community,” she added.

With the help of fellow locals, including former Kerry Parents & Friends CEO Tony Darmody, Conor Hennigan, Denis Casey, Gabhan O’Loughlin and Ger Counihan, Agnes swept into action to organise a series of fundraisers.

The first event, a golf classic, took place in October and a major concert was staged in Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Agnes and her team are not resting on their laurels. They aim to generate cash to set the wheels in motion to purchase a second bus also. “You can support a text campaign, donating €4 by texting ‘bus’ to 50300,” added Agnes. Contact Agnes Rooney on 087-9865258 for further details.
 

 
Pictured above are the celebrations at the Old Monastery on Friday following the securing of the new wheelchair-friendly bus for Kerry Parents & Friends Association.