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Damien plans mammoth cycle for men’s health charity

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By Michelle Crean

Over the coming days Killarney native Damien O’Sullivan and his friends are preparing to cycle the entire length of the country - completing a whopping total distance of 642.81km and a total elevation gain of 4,707m!

From this Thursday (March 24) to Sunday (March 27) Damien from Knockmanagh will team up with ex Connacht player Jack Dinneen, ex Irish 7’s player and Love Island winner Greg O’Shea, and Eduardo Moffitt, and cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head.

They'll cycle from north to south from Malin Head to Bundoran on day one, Bundoran to Oranmore on day two, Oranmore to Killarney on day three, and finally finish Killarney to Mizen Head on Sunday leaving from the Dromhall Hotel that morning at 9am.

This cycling challenge is one of a number of fundraising activities that the group have arranged over the last few months including twice completing 'The Four Peaks Challenge’ where one summits the highest peak in each province in as quick a time as possible, and a 480km cycle across the month of November, in addition to taking part in the ‘Grow a Mo’ Movember campaign. All these efforts, and with more to come, are culminating in the ultimate challenge of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in June of this year.

The group are taking on these challenges to help raise funds and awareness for the Movember charity, the world’s leading men’s health organisation and support causes covering testicular cancer, prostate cancer and men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

With a fundraising target of €30,000, the team would appreciate any support that can be provided via GoFundMe 'Kilimanjaro '22'.

Damien went to primary school in Tiernaboul followed by The Sem and played football for Killarney Legion as an adult and soccer with Killarney Athletic.

“As is the case for most people, we have been affected by mental health and suicide, in addition to a growing number of men living through testicular cancer, and prostate cancer in our families and friend’s groups,” Damien told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Far too often men don’t know what to do or fail to act in each of these areas. Over the past few years I have taken part in Movember to help raise awareness for all aspects of men’s health and help fund the brilliant work the Movember charity do. Last July both Jack Dinneen and I were approached by Movember to ask if we would be interested in stepping up our efforts to support the charity, which we jumped at.

"We will be undertaking the cycle from Malin to Mizen Head to again raise awareness and support for the Movember charity. To say we are excited would be an understatement as is it a bucket list event for us all.

"We have been and continue to work hard at this, so if you would like to keep up to date with our journey, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook: Kilimanjaro_22.”

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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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