Connect with us

News

Dementia project receives another award

Published

on

AWARD: Ben Cussen, Aoife O'Brien, Darja Puzanova, Julia Olabode and Caoimhe Fleming awarded this week for their 'Be Dementia Aware' Young Social Innovators project. Photo: Michelle Crean

EXCLUSIVE

By Michelle Crean

Socially conscious secondary school students from Killarney have received another award for their dedication to Dementia awareness.

The group 'Be Dementia Aware' from Killarney Community College, who appeared just weeks ago on RTÉ's 'Today Show' with Maura and Dáithí, received the Young Social Innovators (YSI) 'Schools of Excellence Award' on Tuesday.

The award, which they'll physically receive in December due to the current restrictions, recognises the commitment and leadership within schools in supporting student and teacher involvement in social innovation education.

Students Ben Cussen, Aoife O'Brien, Darja Puzanova, Julia Olabode and Caoimhe Fleming, now in Leaving Cert, began their project when in Transition Year and have won many awards including Cork Speakout, a National Young Social Innovators Social Media Award in Croke Park, and earlier this year a Garda Youth Award.

Some school teachers with five-years of participation in YSI received the 'Let Them Shine' award including their hardworking teacher Lorraine Crowley.

"We started our YSi project in Transition Year," student Darja told the Killarney Advertiser. "We researched different topics and spoke about different issues. Some students had relatives and teachers had family members with Dementia and told us some very touching stories. We are thrilled with this award. It helps promote awareness on Dementia."

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Addressing the awards participants and winners, President of Ireland and Young Social Innovators Patron, Michael D. Higgins, wrote:

“I believe passionately that young people can be the powerful catalysts for social change when given the opportunity and support, such as that which we showcase at Young Social Innovators. I want to say how inspired I am by your endeavours. You are the future, but we need you to help shape the future that you will inherit. The future is not something provided to you, but something you create. Young Social Innovators gives you an opportunity to do that.”

Principal Stella Loughnane noted that the school is very lucky to have such a great bunch of conscientious students.

"We count ourselves extremely lucky to have such an exemplary group of students whom are not only role models for their peers but also exemplify everything good about teenagers and what they can achieve. The awareness they have created about such a notable cause is amazing and we are delighted their achievements are now being recognised and celebrated on a national level."

Advertisement

News

Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

Published

on

By

Five local postmen retire with 185 years service

RETIREMENT NIGHT: Pictured at the retirement party held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday, October 3, celebrating a combined 185 years of service with An Post, are Connie Brady, James Foley, Terry Potts, Pat Cronin, and D.J. Cahill.


Five well-known local postmen celebrated their retirement at a special function held at Killarney Racecourse on Saturday night, October 3.


The event brought together current and former An Post colleagues to mark the combined total of 185 years of service delivered across Killarney and surrounding areas.
Delivery Services Manager Terry Potts retired after 43 years with An Post. He began his career in Dublin, where he worked for 10 years, before moving to Killarney in 1993 for a further 33 years.
Pat Cronin completed an impressive 51 years of service between Killarney and Farranfore, spending 44 of those years delivering post on the Farranfore route.
James Foley served 35 years with An Post, delivering on routes across Killorglin throughout his entire career.
D.J. Cahill marked 32 years of service based out of Killarney post office, delivering mail across Killarney town, Killorglin, Kilcummin, and Headford.
Connie Brady retired following 24 years with the postal service, spending 17 years in Killarney town before completing his service in Killorglin.
The celebration offered local postal staff an opportunity to gather and catch up ahead of the busy Christmas rush.

Continue Reading

News

New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

Published

on

By

A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport