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Anna leads Polish Irish Organ Donation Week campaign

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NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: Killarney resident and Polish national Anna Pokojska is one of the faces of a new Polish/Irish campaign for Organ Donation Awareness Week. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

A Killarney resident who has had a new lease of life after getting the gift of a kidney is the face of the first ever Polish campaign for Organ Donation Awareness Week. Anna Pokojska is the only Polish person taking part in the national campaign to reach out to the large Polish community across Ireland.

She had her life transformed in 2017 after undergoing a kidney transplant. And now, as a way of giving something back, she decided to take part in the Polish/Irish campaign which takes place from tomorrow (March 27) to Saturday April 3.

Normally Anna helps the organisation by taking part in the annual street collection. However, as that is not able to go ahead this year the charity is instead opting for a digital campaign to get the message of the gift of life for others through organ donation with a poster campaign with Anna included as one of the faces in the Polish and Irish poster.

"I was diagnosed in 2013 aged 31 and it was a shock at first," Anna told the Killarney Advertiser yesterday (Thursday). "They told me I wouldn't need a transplant for years but I needed it sooner than that. It was progressive and I was on dialysis. I was very lucky that I didn't have to wait too long. I've a new lease of life since."

In 2019 Anna, who is married to Leszek and has a 16-year-old daughter named Daria, attended the World Transplant Games for the first time and competed in the 30-39 years categories in both the 30k Cycling Road Race and the 5k Mini-Marathon.

With such a change in lifestyle since, Anna is now appealing for people to let loved ones know their plans of donation when they pass on.

"It's really important to talk with loved ones about it. I was very lucky to get the gift of life and the chance to be more active for myself and for my family as I wasn't able to do many things. It's a good thing to have a donor card to help other people."

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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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