News
Ava’s big-hearted gesture to benefit sick children
By Michelle Crean
It took a long time to grow but only minutes for Ava O’Sullivan's hair to be cut - but the lasting impact will be felt by sick children for a long time to come.
DONE: Ava O’Sullivan pictured after 14 inches was cut off her hair.
DONE: Ava O’Sullivan pictured after 14 inches was cut off her hair.
Hairdresser Mary O’Sullivan took the scissors to 11-year-old Ava's hair which she has now donated to much loved Irish charity LauraLynn Ireland's Children's Hospice.
Ava, a big-hearted pupil in Firies NS, had 14 inches cut off of her long, flowing locks and she couldn’t be happier with her new hairstyle.
Her ‘Locks of Love’ donation will go towards raising funds for children with life-limiting conditions in LauraLynn, while also creating a wig for a child in need through The Rapunzel Foundation.
Ava set up an iDonate page for her fundraiser, with all contributions going directly to LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. To date she has raised nearly €1,700.
"It was just something we talked about last year; she’d lovely thick hair and I explained that the hair goes to help them make wigs for children," Ava’s mum, Olivia O’Sullivan, said.
"She looked up about what LauraLynn does for sick children and the services they provide and couldn’t be happier to help them out."
Ava is a busy beaver who loves Irish dancing with the Chamber's School of Irish Dance, soccer with MEK’s, taking part in the Siamsa Training Academy in Tralee and also taking part in the Killarney Musical Society variety show next week.
People can still donate by using the link www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/OliviaOsullivan524.
Spa GAA has finalised a deal with Cork-based renewable firm ePower to install two electric vehicle (EV) charging points at its club grounds in Killarney.
The move makes the club one of the very first GAA organisations in County Kerry to provide dedicated, on-site charging infrastructure for drivers.
The dual-socket units will be situated directly within the club’s main car park, offering charging accessibility to members, visiting supporters, and patrons.
The new ePower facilities are designed to support local EV drivers and visitors traveling to the club’s various sporting events throughout the season.
Ukrainian Olympian joins parkrun for annual Chestnut Run
It is not every day an Olympian joins the Killarney parkrun, but participants had exactly that experience last Saturday, when two-time Ukrainian Olympic skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych joined the event at Killarney House and Gardens.
Heraskevych completed the 5km route alongside members of both the local and Ukrainian communities as part of the annual Ukrainian Chestnut Run. The charity tradition originated in Kyiv 33 years ago and has been organised locally by the Killarney Ukrainian community for the past four years.
The athlete previously captured global attention at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina with his “Helmet of Memory” tribute to fallen athletes.
His appearance in Killarney was part of a week-long tour of athletic and educational centres across south-west Ireland. He spent Friday night in Tralee ahead of the Saturday morning run. During his stay in the region, Heraskevych visited the MTU Tralee campus to meet with students, researchers, and local representatives to discuss sports diplomacy, sustainability, and inclusive sports.
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