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Chair exercise class planned for arthritis sufferers 

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By Michelle Crean

Thousands in Kerry suffer from the debilitating condition arthritis and to help a special exercise class is planned in Killarney.

National Arthritis Week takes place next week with the theme this year 'Let's Get Physical!'

According to statistics one in five Irish people have arthritis, fibromyalgia or another related condition, representing 29,500 people out of a total population of 148,000, with 18 percent under 55 years of age, in the Kerry area.

The Kerry Branch of Arthritis Ireland (KBAI) are now planning to pilot an initial six weeks aerobic, strength and conditioning chair exercise programme for people living with arthritis and other related conditions, Tom Barrett, chairman of KBAI, explained to the Killarney Advertiser.

"It will be delivered by a CORU Registered Chartered Physiotherapist on Thursday evening April 14 from 7pm to 8pm in the St John Paul ll Pastrol Centre, Rock Road, next to the Garda Station."

Inflammatory type arthritis is the most severe form of the disease affecting one percent of the population with in excess of 2,000 new diagnoses every year in Ireland. As a disease, arthritis accounts for one in three GP visits. Furthermore, approximately seven million days are lost each year due to absence and ill health attributable to musculoskeletal diseases, costing the State €300m in illness benefit.

"Arthritis is an invisible condition and patients are not walking around with tell-tale glowing red dots of where their joints or organs are affected by inflammation. They look perfectly healthy and at the same time they are suffering in silence. As there is no known cure, managing it as best one can is currently the only option available to people living with the condition."

The Kerry Branch of Arthritis Ireland provide several specially adapted and supervised exercise programmes including hydrotherapy, aqua aerobics/aqua jogging, seated aerobic strength and conditioning, walking with Nordic and Activator Walking Poles, locally for people living with arthritis and other related conditions.

"We would like to highlight how important exercise is in the management of their condition and also highlight that help is available locally."

For more information check out The Kerry Branch of Arthritis Ireland Facebook Page.

To book one of the limited places available please phone or text 087 6723442.

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Killarney and District Motor Club members honoured by Motorsport Ireland

By Cormac Casey Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday. The highlight of the event is the […]

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By Cormac Casey

Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday.

The highlight of the event is the announcement of the sport’s top awards.

Kilkenny’s Jack Brennan (19) was named Young Rally Driver of the Year, while Wexford native Jack Byrne was named Young Racing Driver of the Year and the International Driver of the Year award went to recently crowned FIA Junior World Rally Champion, William Creighton.

Muckross-based co-driver Noel O’Sullivan was presented with his Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winning trophy.

This year saw the introduction of the Motorsport Ireland President’s Awards which celebrate the achievements of  clubs and organisations.

Killarney and District Motor Club won in the innovation category for their work with their KDMC 2 initiative thanks to the efforts of the club’s vice chairman Mike O’Shea.

Rally Rescue teams were also recognised and the club’s Mike Cleary picked up an award for his role he played in what was a difficult year for rescue crew operators.

Tom O’Riordan, who looks after ambulance procurement on the club’s events, was presented with an FIA Volunteer Pin by Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper.

Killarney Advertiser Journalist Sean Moriarty was presented with an award for best use of of PR and media in 2023.

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Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest ‘thank you’ event at Brehon

Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar […]

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Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar events again in 2024.

Feedback from more than 100 people who attended this year’s Fest events from 7th to 14th October was positive with 91% stating they were satisfied.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest is held annually over the course of a week to highlight World Mental Health Day on October 10.
It aims to raise awareness of the available supports and services in Kerry as well as empower people to engage with the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ through offering a dynamic and interactive programme of events.
99% percent of respondents, most of whom identified as female, said they would recommend the Fest to friends next year. Some key notes for improvement included a request for more events with wider variety throughout the county.
The Chair of the Interagency Steering Group, John Drummey from Kerry Mental Health Association, said: “We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to event organisers, community groups, businesses, funders and partners that facilitated the Fest’s dynamic and interactive programme of events in 2023. We are encouraged to see such growth in numbers attending the Fest events with a 50% increase from 2022. We are already making plans for the Fest from 5 to 12t October 2024 and we are looking forward to building on this year’s successes. That said, there is always room for improvement and we would welcome suggestions for new events and activities.”
Many of the event organisers attended a ‘thank-you’ event at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney, courtesy of the Kerry Volunteer Centre to coincide with the annual International Volunteer Day, December 5.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest was organised by an interagency steering group made up of local agencies that support wellbeing in our community.
The organising committee is a collaboration between Connecting for Life Kerry, Healthy Kerry, Kerry County Council, Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership, the HSE, NEWKD, SKDP, Kerry Mental Health Association, Jigsaw Kerry, Munster Technological University/Kerry, KDYS, Kerry Volunteer Centre and Family Resource Centres throughout the county.

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