The annual ‘Voices from the Friary’ charity concert will take place this Sunday, 24 May, with all proceedings going to support St Francis Special School in Beaufort.

The event, which starts at 8pm at The Friary, will feature the Kerry Concert Choir performing a varied program of choral music spanning classical and contemporary genres.

The evening will also include special performances by Sharon Lyons and the Kerry Scotia Ensemble.

The ensemble is currently preparing for an upcoming appearance at the Between Worlds Festival in Germany, which is organized by countertenor Nils Wanderer. Attendees at Sunday’s concert will be treated to a preview of the program selected for the German festival.

Alongside the music, a raffle will be held on the night featuring a variety of prizes, including a hamper worth over €100.

Tickets are priced at €20 for adults and €10 for children under 16. They can be purchased in advance via Eventbrite or directly at the door on the night. All profits from ticket sales and raffle proceeds will go directly to enhancing resources for the students at St Francis Special School.

Gaelscoil Faithleann, Killarney’s all-Irish speaking national school, turned fully international last Friday, May 15, as pupils and staff gathered to celebrate the school’s diverse community.

The annual International Day sees flags from all over the world fly proudly at the school. This year’s event acknowledged the cultures of approximately 16 different countries represented within the school’s parent body, including Poland, Lithuania, Ghana, South Africa, and Thailand.

As part of the celebrations, pupils in Third Class (Rang 3) put together a food display featuring traditional dishes from Italy, Mexico, France, and China.

The day also featured live activities for the children. Wilson da Silva provided a demonstration of the Brazilian martial art Capoeira, while a parent of a senior infant student led Zumba dance classes for the younger classes.

Another parent, who previously spent many years in Taiwan, delivered a PowerPoint presentation to the junior classes.

Special guests from KASI (Killarney Immigrant Support Centre) also visited the school. They spoke directly to the students in Fifth and Sixth Class (Rang 5 and Rang 6), sharing first-hand accounts of their personal experiences and what life was like in their home countries before they moved to Ireland.

School Principal, Lisa Ní Iarlaithe, extended her thanks to the parents’ council, Cairde na Scoile, including new chairperson Miriam Lyne and past chairperson Mary Carroll, for their work in organising the event.