News
Christy Dignam leaves this Crazy World

There was an air of sadness around killarney on Tuesday evening when the sad but inevitable news that Aslan lead singer Christy Dignam had passed away after a battle with cancer.

RIP Christy Dignam Aslan much loved in Killarney. Pictured here performing an impromptu gig on Plunkett St during is visit in August 2018 catching up with his friend Liam O’Connor. Picture Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan

Christy Dignam Aslan pictured singing his massive hit “Crazy World” on visiting Killarney and catching up with his friend Liam O’Connor August 2018 on Plunkett Street. Picture Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan
Words: Eamonn Fitzgerald Photos: Marie Carroll-O'Sullivan.
The Dubliner had a massive affinity with Killarney, Aslan’s countless sell out gigs were a testament to his popularity in this part of the world.
Who can forget his impromptu gig on Plunkett St when he and local accordion legend Liam O’Connor entertained locals and tourist alike during the summer of 2018.
Earlier the same year O’Connor invited Dignam to be guest of honour at his annual St Brendan’s College concert in the school's chapel.
Fittingly, there is a strong Killarney connection to another local secondary school.
Killarney Advertiser sports journalist and now retired Community College principal Eamonn Fitzgerald was one of Christy’s teachers during his stint as a teacher in Dublin in the late 1960s.
Here Eamonn recalls his early days with the prodigious musician.
FINGLAS 1967
I was very fortunate that my first appointment as a teacher in 1967 was in St Fergal’s boy’s national school, Finglas one of the most socially deprived areas in Dublin making the news for all the wrong reasons.
Sure, there were some hard chaws, gougers, gurriers and the no one wants me brigade, but there were also raw uncut diamonds which sparkled when hope beckoned.
Christy Dignam was one of those young boys a mere 10-year-old. I had the good fortune to teach him in fourth class in 1967 and in fifth class for the Confo(Confirmation).
Those two years started a lifelong friendship.
He was quiet, gentle and mysterious, no good at soccer, or the GAAH (GAA). “I’ll leave that to you’se Kerrymen”, but he was respectful, sharp, bright and appreciative of ‘mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí’ .
He was full of humanity and always stood by Finglas. What a wonderful voice enhanced by his Belcanto training. He could reach those highest notes going through the scale. Pop, rock, or John McCormack classics were in his repertoire.
Over the years he recounted so many vignettes of delightful days in national school. He loved stories as a key to learning and communicating.
’You must know your audience and interpret the real meaning behind ‘How can I protect you in this Crazy World? Isn’t that what teaching is all about, as well,” he said.
The same goes for the impromptu free performance of that hit and ‘The Green Fields of France’ on Plunkett Street along with his great friend Liam O’Connor on accordion. That was at 2.00 am. Some great singing some years ago.
FUN
He loved school because it was fun. “I never went on the bounce or did a runner, from your classes.” he said so often, but secondary school was a disaster for him.
“Bleeding Latin and Greek for Finglas, Bejaysus.”
He confided in later life on the abuse by a neighbour, “When I was just a chissler,six years of age. I was tempted by the sweets. Bleeding, brutal bastard.”
He said that set him on the heroin downfall and, cocaine was widespread in America when he was on tour. He recalled being kicked out of Aslan, should have been thrown out by his wife Kathryn as well, but she stuck by him especially during his long illnesses.
“I can’t say I am a Holy Joe, but I know what spirituality is and it stood by me when I went as a hermit to the great Budda in Thailand.”
“Youse know that Jesus fell three times; I fell nine times, fought and fought amyloidosis. That’s what I was singing in ‘The man who stayed alive’.... dada dum .. asking myself can I once again cheat death."
“I am alive when I’m singing,”
No self-pity, but hanging on to see his daughter Keira - an outstanding singer in her own right and just some more time with his grandchildren.
“I love the buzz of entertainment live action interpreting every song and wooing the audiences.
“Youse gave me my first prize ever for spelling the word ‘embalm’ correctly. My prize was a long white pencil and written on it was ‘a present from New York’. Yourself and Mr Gleeson (Mick) were in America with the Kerry team. The buzz and chant of my classmates, 42 or was it 43 in that prefab?”
“ Ger up owre dat Christy…Digo,digo,digo. That was magic, that was buzz. Me ma was so proud of me that she invited all the auld wanes in for a gander at the prize. She would not allow me to pare it but displayed it on the mantlepiece. Ma and Da were chuffed. “
“Youse also showed us the trick of how to spell ‘separate’ correctly. Unless there is a rat in the middle it is wrong. Sep… a rat…e. Remember the day we were so good for the cigire that you gave us ecker [homework] off for the weekend. Small things matter.”
Thanks for all the memories, Christy, the chats, teas, craic, frank discussions, decency, honesty and appreciation.
You told me how and why you wrote your songs ‘This is’ and ‘Crazy World’. When you arrived at the Gates on Tuesday afternoon, you already had the lyrics and the melody for ‘Hello Christy you’ve arrived, at long last."
Comhbhrón o chroí, to Kathryn, Kiera, and grandchildren Cian, Ava, Jake and indeed Joe Jewell, lead guitarist with Aslan and a classmate of Christy in St Fergal’s , Finglas.
News
One of Killarney’s great motorsport legends passes awayBy Cormac Casey
Dermot O’Sullivan, of Ardshanavooly, Killarney, sadly passed away this week. This popular Killarney businessman started in motorsport in 1968 participating in tarmac and forestry rallying and later in hot rod […]

Dermot O’Sullivan, of Ardshanavooly, Killarney, sadly passed away this week.
This popular Killarney businessman started in motorsport in 1968 participating in tarmac and forestry rallying and later in hot rod racing.
A high point in his motorsport career was competing on the 1982 Circuit of Ireland in his Datsun Sunny, at a time when competitors had no pacenotes, relying on sheer wit and skill.
In 2005, after a 23-year gap, he returned to rallying in a Talbot Sunbeam competing in the Killarney Historic Rally with his son Paul in the navigator’s seat, and competed in various events till 2009.
Whenever the glory of days of Kerry rallying are discussed in local pubs during the wee hours, it was certain that Dermot’s name would be mentioned. He had a sideways style of driving that kept every spectator entertained.
As much a flamboyant competitor behind the wheel of his Datsun, his ability to tell a good story was equally entertaining.
As a young motorsport enthusiast, I waited with anticipation each week as Dermot called to the ‘Advertiser’ office in Woodlawn to placing his weekly advert, to hear his animated description of his exploits on the rallying stages. As time went on, the stories never faded, and I always enjoyed our encounters.
Dermot establishing a successful chainsaw and lawnmower business in the 1970’s, down Pawn Office Lane, off High Street, Killarney. In true entrepreneurial spirit he saw a gap in the market, soon after establishing O’Sullivan’s Cycles as one of the first to introduce bike rental to Killarney, a business venture that is still successful today under the guidance of the current O’Sullivan generations.
A true character and an absolute gentleman. May he rest in peace.
Our sincere condolences to wife, Mary, sons Paul, Derry and David, daughters-in-law Barbara, Denise and Fiona, grandchildren Megan, Luke, Kate and Ciara and his great granddaughter Ava, his sisters Breda and Maureen and brother John, brother-in-law Bill, sister-in-law Ann, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, and many great friends.
News
Kerry’s youth celebrated at the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards
This year’s overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement is Ryan Griffin from Waterville who was nominated by Mairead O’Sullivan from Killorglin Family Resource Centre. Ryan Griffin […]

This year’s overall winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement is Ryan Griffin from Waterville who was nominated by Mairead O’Sullivan from Killorglin Family Resource Centre.
Ryan Griffin is a member of the Skellig Stars and was chosen to represent Kerry at the Special Olympics.
Ryan’s biggest hurdle is communication and he had to overcome this during his trip to Berlin for the big event.
Ryan has overcome his disabilities by focusing on all the great abilities he has. Ryan attends mainstream school in Coláiste na Sceilge where he is a very respected member of the School Community. He is a member of Kerry Stars and also Downs Syndrome Kerry.
Ryan has always had a keen interest in sport and even played with the local team in Waterville, but now Ryan thinks it’s too fast for him so he prefers to cheer them on from the side-lines.
Ryan has always been involved with the Community and they have never left him out. Ryan started out his athletics career with Skellig Stars and without them he would have gone to the Special Olympics and he has never forgotten when he came from.
Ryan and his family are very grateful to the local community in Waterville and the surrounding area for all the support they have given them over the years and especially now with the Special Olympics coming closer.
The whole community from Waterville to Mid-Kerry got behind Ryan, raising funds to help his family go to Berlin for 2 weeks. Ryan is now an inspiration to others to overcome difficulties and “go for gold”.
Ryan was the only representative from Kerry on this years Irish Special Olympics Team and in fact one of the Youngest Athletes on Team Ireland at only 16yrs of age, which was a great honour for him.
This in itself is a great achievement but it also shows his friends at Skellig Stars, Downs Syndrome Kerry and in the wider community that dreams do come true.
It took a lot of hard work and determination on Ryan’s behalf to make these dreams come true, not least the long journey he had to make from South Kerry to Dublin once a month since last January to train for the Special Olympics. He also trained weekly with the Skellig Stars.
At the 2023 Special Olympics in Berlin Ryan took part in the 100m run and the relay but his biggest achievement was winning the Silver Medal in the mini javelin. This showed others that overcoming difficulties can be possible and you can achieve your goals with hard work and determination, which Ryan has in abundance.
Local Merit Awards
Aliza Gul, Killarney
Joey McCarthy, Killarney
John O’Connor, Killarney
Nattagun Ryan, Killarney
Samuel Behal, Killarney
St Brendan’s Choir, Killarney