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Christmas Food Appeal moves ‘On-LION’ for the first time

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ON-LION: Killarney Lions Club have teamed up with students and teachers from The Sem, Killarney Community College and St Brigid's to help them with this year's Christmas Food Appeal fundraiser which is moving online. Pictured with the students are: John Fuller (President Killarney Lions Club), Kerri McCarthy (Killarney Community College) and Denis Doolin (Killarney Lions Club). Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

 

For the first time in over 40 years one local group has had to make a major change - by taking their annual food appeal fundraising online.

Killarney Lions Club - who, over the past 40 years have delivered thousands of Christmas hampers to needy Killarney families, are once again looking for public support both online and during their traditional street collection, which they hope can go ahead depending on restrictions in place at the time.

This year the group have teamed up with local Transition Year students and teachers from the three secondary schools, St Brigid's, St Brendan's College, and Killarney Community College to help them get a stronger presence online and for assembling the hampers once food is purchased.

“This year has been tough for many people, so our Christmas Food Appeal is more important than ever," Killarney Lions Club President, John Fuller, said.

"We normally depend on our street collection to raise funds but we know that might be a challenge this year. We approached the Transition Years about setting up online and got a fantastic reaction. They are fully behind the appeal and hopefully that will help to make it a success."

The Killarney Lions Club through its members, assists various groups and individuals in and around the community. Lions do this through voluntary activities, fundraising and by holding various types of events in support of a great many local causes.

Anyone interested in making a donation can go to GoFundMe: On-LION Christmas Food Appeal, where a target of €2,000 has been set.

For further information please contact John Fuller on 087 236 3065 or Denis Doolan on 087 967 0635 or email dindoolan@gmail.com.

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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.”

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