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Concerns Killarney will have more derelict buildings

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By Sean Moriarty

There are fears that the construction of the new community hospital on the grounds of St Finan’s will result in more State-owned buildings lying idle.

FUTURE: There are concerns that the existing Killarney Community Hospital will lie idle once construction of the new hospital is complete. Photo: Sean Moriarty

The new 130-bed unit which is expected to be completed by end of 2024 is currently under-construction near the bypass and Lewis Road junction. It will serve as a replacement for the existing St Columbanus Home and Killarney Community Hospital on St Margaret’s Road.

The HSE have yet to announce what will happen to the existing buildings once construction of the new hospital is complete.

There are concerns that they will join a host of other such sites in the town, like the Pretty Polly factory, the Áras Phádraig, and St Finan’s Hospital.

While there are plans in place for the former two buildings, work has yet to start on construction of either and the latter has been idle since 2012 with no sign of a potential investor on the horizon.

Cllr Brendan Cronin raised the issue at Monday’s Kerry County Council meeting.

He is concerned because a Primary Care Unit is part of the plan to re-develop the Áras Phádraig, and that could leave St Columbanus Home and the existing Community Hospital unoccupied.

"Have Kerry County Council got clarification from the HSE regarding what use is intended for the Killarney Community Hospital building and site and the St Columbanus building and site now that the new Community Hospital is under construction,” he asked the meeting.

“I believe it is very important to get this clarification before Kerry County Council signs over lands at Áras Phádraig, Lewis Road to the HSE for a primary care centre."

Last November, Killarney Municipal District approved plans for the redevelopment of Áras Phádraig.

However, some elected councillors had reservations about the inclusion of a HSE Primary Care Unit within the project.

At that time councillors were told that the inclusion of the Primary Care Unit was a redline issue as without it funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund would not be forthcoming for the entire project.

“Maybe now that I have focused attention on these two properties that will soon become vacant, Council management will have to actually contact the HSE seeking clarification regarding future potential. I have also made it clear that this clarification from HSE should be provided before the Council sign over any of the Áras Phádraig site to the HSE,” Cllr Cronin told the Killarney Advertiser.

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Chamber pays tribute to late Dick Henggeler

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee. Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has expressed condolences following the death of Dick Henggeler, the well-known owner of The Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Mr Henggeler passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, USA surrounded by his Aghadoe-born wife Eibhlin (née Moriarty), their son Franz, and other family members.
Dick and Eibhlin purchased The Rose Hotel in 2015 in tribute to their late daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington DC in the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Chamber said Mr Henggeler would be remembered for his warmth, good nature and positive approach, as well as for being a forward-thinking and knowledgeable businessman.
“He knew how to run a good hotel and that was and still is very obvious at The Rose Hotel, which is a great success story,” the Chamber said.
It added that continuity of ownership will remain in place, with Eibhlin, Franz, daughter-in-law Amber, and grandchildren Conrad and Rowan continuing to honour Dick’s legacy and vision for the hotel.
“Dick took enormous personal pride in Tralee and all of Kerry and he was always available to generously support any community initiative or endeavour undertaken in Killarney,” the Chamber said.
“He will be greatly missed by all that knew him but he leaves a wonderful legacy.”

He will repose at O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, on Friday (October 17), from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The funeral will arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral on Saturday morning at 10:00am for Requiem Mass at 10:30am, with burial afterwards in Aghadoe Cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live streamed at https://www.churchservices.tv/killarneycathedral.

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Beaufort Film Night returns with French drama-comedy

Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band. The film tells the story of Thibaut, […]

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Beaufort Film Night will return on Friday (October 17) at Cullina National School, with a screening of the French drama-comedy The Marching Band.

The film tells the story of Thibaut, a successful conductor recently diagnosed with leukaemia. A search for a bone marrow donor reveals that he was adopted and has a brother, Jimmy, a cafeteria worker.
The two meet, discover a shared love of music, and form a strong bond through an unexpected collaboration with Jimmy’s workplace band.
The Marching Band (French title En Fanfare) will screen at 8.30pm. Admission is €7, cash only, and will cover the motion picture licence fee.
The film has a 12A rating and is in French with English subtitles.
Beaufort Film Night is a non-profit community group that screens cultural English and international films that usually do not receive general release in Kerry.
The event is supported by Kerry County Council Arts Office and Access Cinema. Cullina National School is providing the venue.
Further details are available on Beaufort Film Night’s Facebook page @BeaufortFilmNight.

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