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Almost 5,000 take part in the 10th annual County Clean Up

Thousands of volunteers collected hundreds of bags of litter across the county on Saturday during the tenth annual County Clean Up.

Bridie Doherty joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day at Looscaunagh Lough. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Denis Tangney whose daughter Orla Tangney and husband Noel O'Reilly (KWD Recycling) with Natalie Bahric with her daughter Yeseniya Bahric and Sofia Volovyk who fled their homes in war torn Ukraine two weeks ago joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

FATHER AND SON: Father and son Seamus and Seamus Jnr O'Donoghue Flesk Killarney joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day organised by Kerry County Council and facilitated by KWD Recycling. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

HARD AT IT: Terence Mulcahy (left) and Derry O'Mahony joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

HELPING TOGETHER: Host family Orla Tangney (left) and husband Noel O'Reilly (KWD Recycling) with Natalie Bahric with her daughter Yeseniya Bahric and Sofia Volovyk who fled their homes in war torn Ukraine two weeks ago joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Also Included are staff members and family at KWD Tadgh Healy Denis Tangney Anna Murphy Luke Kate Jack Murphy Denis Lyne and Sean Murphy Director KWD. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Husband and wife team Carol Dempsey and Sean Buckley joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Bridie Doherty joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day at Looscaunagh Lough. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Denis Tangney whose daughter Orla Tangney and husband Noel O'Reilly (KWD Recycling) with Natalie Bahric with her daughter Yeseniya Bahric and Sofia Volovyk who fled their homes in war torn Ukraine two weeks ago joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

FATHER AND SON: Father and son Seamus and Seamus Jnr O'Donoghue Flesk Killarney joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day organised by Kerry County Council and facilitated by KWD Recycling. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

HARD AT IT: Terence Mulcahy (left) and Derry O'Mahony joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

HELPING TOGETHER: Host family Orla Tangney (left) and husband Noel O'Reilly (KWD Recycling) with Natalie Bahric with her daughter Yeseniya Bahric and Sofia Volovyk who fled their homes in war torn Ukraine two weeks ago joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Also Included are staff members and family at KWD Tadgh Healy Denis Tangney Anna Murphy Luke Kate Jack Murphy Denis Lyne and Sean Murphy Director KWD. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Husband and wife team Carol Dempsey and Sean Buckley joined in the KWD Annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
For the first time in three years, the County Clean Up was able to take place at full capacity and almost 5,000 volunteers registered with KWD Recycling to participate. KWD has begun the collection of all of the litter which has been collected by community groups and individuals all over Kerry.
The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Jimmy Moloney thanked all those who participated.
"It was so uplifting to see so many people in their high-vis vests and equipped with bags and litters pickers in towns and rural areas in every part of the county. The weather held up nicely and ensured that volunteers could play their part. I want to say a very sincere thank you to each and every one of them for their assistance and particularly Tidy Towns committees and community groups who coordinated the effort in their areas," said Cllr Moloney.
Noel O’Reilly of KWD Recycling echoed the appreciation for all of the volunteers.
"The County Clean Up is now a well-established community event and gives an annual focus to the environment and waste in Kerry. We would ask everyone to bear with us while we gather up all of the bags of litter for disposal. Well done to everyone who took part."
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Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
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Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”