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Christmas parades attracted over 25,000 people to town

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By Sean Moriarty

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce Niall Kelleher has praised the efforts of the volunteers behind the Christmas in Killarney Festival who pulled off an exceptional series of events in difficult circumstances.

HAVING FUN: Dale Good and Damien O'Neill enjoying the parade.

FAMILY FUN: Kathleen Ellie Paddy Deirdre and Fionn McCarthy enjoying the fourth Christmas in Killarney Parade on Saturday night

EXCITEMENT: Jackson Lucianna and Marie Dooley at Saturday night's parade.

NIGHT LIFE: Mary O’Donoghue Kate and Evie Caterina McCarthy.

GET TOGETHER: Saoirse Brosnan Gearoid Brosnan Oisin Brosnan Oran Hayes Aoife Hayes Helen Hayes Patrice Hayes Marie Brosnan Nick Hayes and Mike Brosnan attended Saturday's parade.

HOT CHOCOLATE: Kara O’Keefe Ben O’Keefe Una Hayes Hayden O'Keefe and Cathal Hayes enjoy some festive treats on Saturday night.

PRETTY IN PINK: Ella Kelly Callum O'Connor Shauna Kelly Michaela Kelly Mary Ellen Kelly Mia Kelly Paddy and Bobby Murphy.

SANTA CALUSE IS COMING TO TOWN: Alissa Isabel and Sophia O'Leary with Connor Donnchadgh and Eadoinn Herlihy waiting to see Santa parade through town on Saturday night.

DRESSED UP: Silva Maro Divo and Mathew Lucic are dressed to impress at the Christmas in Killarney Parade on Saturday.

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The festival returned this year after the pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020, but the organising committee still had to operate under current and ever-changing public health guidelines.

The first Christmas in Killarney parade took place on Saturday, November 27 and continued every Saturday night until December 19.
It is estimated that in excess of 25,000 people attend the four parades this year.

He explained that the Christmas in Killarney Committee and Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce "pulled out all the stops this year" with a fantastic festival.

“This year – with the magical parades returning – we created an incredible atmosphere for those living and working in Killarney and those coming home or visiting for Christmas," Mr Kellher told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Killarney has always given an example to other towns that if it worth doing, then it is worth doing right. Standing in the town centre during the month of December, you can observe a visual spectacle that many other locations could only dream about. The spectacular weekly street parades with sensational floats, magically illuminated with lighting and sound, are an absolute joy to witness and the street lighting display and giant decorations at key points are just fantastic focal points.”

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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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