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Changing of the guard at Killarney Rotary

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APPLAUSE rang out in Gaby’s Restaurant on High Street on Wednesday for outgoing Killarney Rotary Club president Angela O’Connor who completed a highly successful year at the helm of the club. Rotarians welcomed Angela's successor, Eduard Schmidt-Zorner as he accepted the chain of office.

The year’s calendar of events includes the hugely popular Evening of Wine & Art, the Rotary Youth Leadership programme, the annual Afternoon Tea at The Malton fundraiser and the Young Musician of the Year competition and concert.

Originally from Dortmund in Germany and based in Milltown for the past 25 years, Eduard describes himself as “an adopted Kerry man”. “My main objective for the club this year is to have fun and to seek out opportunities for service - to increase recognition of our club both in the Rotary community, national and international and in our community at large, to identify new charities, to keep close contact with responsible people in Killarney, with the cultural scene and to visit our neighbouring clubs,” said the new president.

Eduard, who is an artist and writer, joined Killarney Rotary after retiring from Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd, Killarney. “My way into Rotary would not have materialised without the support and advice from Killarney Rotarian Barry Murphy. Years before I joined Rotary we were in contact and when he asked me one day whether I was interested to join the Killarney club. I was still working and had no free time to attend the lunch meetings but when I retired I took up his offer and I am very grateful to Barry because it opened a new aspect of life for me and I found an outstanding group of nice, inspiring, dedicated and committed women and men and I enjoyed every meeting and event and I look very much forward to the time ahead.”

Eduard added: “When I look back into the history of our club, I am the first president of foreign origin, though I am an Irish citizen now and proud of it, and I am the oldest to go into the chair,” he said.

“We are part of this community and we are respected and we are proud to help so many organisations in our area and all this combined with high level events which thousands of people in our community are marking in their diaries every year.”
 


 
Above: Eduard Schmidt-Zorner accepts the chain of office from outgoing president Angela O'Connor.

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Rugby Club launch new home jersey at Scotts Hotel

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Rugby Club launch new home jersey at Scotts Hotel


Killarney RFC officially unveiled their new home jersey for the upcoming 2026/2027 season during a launch event held at Scotts Hotel.


Club captain Matt McAuliffe presented the new shirt at the town centre venue, marking the official launch of the kit as the squad prepares for the new campaign ahead.
The club expressed its sincere gratitude to Scotts Hotel for their ongoing partnership and support. Killarney RFC members noted how proud they are to carry the name of a valued local sponsor on their jerseys throughout the season.

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Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday

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Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday



Following several false starts and long delays, the phased transfer of patients and residents to the new state-of-the-art Killarney Community Nursing Unit on Lewis Road is set to begin on Monday, August 10.



A major stumbling block regarding staff transfers and safe staffing levels was resolved following negotiations under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

With an agreement reached between the HSE and representative unions, including the INMO, SIPTU, and Fórsa, at long last, staff and residents are prepared to move into the new facility.

Welcoming the breakthrough, Councillor Marie Moloney expressed cautious optimism:

“It’s good news that an agreement has been reached with the staff and that transfer of residents and patients can finally take place to the Community Nursing Unit. So many families have been waiting for so long to see their loved ones transfer to this beautiful new facility. Let’s hope there will be no further delays.”

HSE National Director and Integrated Health Area Manager for Kerry, Julie O’Neill, confirmed that the agreement enables the facility to open safely on a phased basis:

“I welcome the agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, enabling us to proceed with the opening of our new Community Nursing Unit in Killarney. I would like to thank everyone involved in reaching this agreement and acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties.”

Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Michael Cahill TD, also welcomed the news:

“This is very welcome news for older people and their families across Kerry. The new Killarney Community Nursing Unit has been eagerly awaited and I am delighted that agreement has now been reached to allow its phased opening from August 10. I know the delays have been a source of frustration for many families but today’s announcement provides certainty that residents will soon begin moving into this modern, purpose-built facility.”

Deputy Cahill acknowledged the efforts of all parties involved in negotiations, noting:

“I want to thank the HSE, the Workplace Relations Commission and the representative unions, the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement. Ensuring safe staffing is essential, and I am pleased that a solution has now been found.”

He added:

“As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I will continue to work to ensure Kerry receives the healthcare investment and staffing it deserves. The opening of this new unit is a major step forward for residential care in our county, and I look forward to seeing residents welcomed through its doors from August 10.”

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