News
Elaine’s communion locks get the chop
GOT THE CHOP: Eight-year-old Elaine McCarthy from Gneeveguilla cut 14 inches off her hair as her communion is not going ahead next month.
By Michelle Crean
With home haircuts all the rage at the moment one girl from Gneeveguilla opted for a short bob – but with a twist!
Eight-year-old Elaine McCarthy, who was a bit disappointed that her Holy Communion was postponed this year, decided that since she wouldn’t need curls for her big day next month that instead she’d chop the lot for charity.
Elaine asked her mom Julia to cut it short and now that it’s done they plan to send the hair to the Rapunzel Foundation in Wexford where they make wigs for sick kids.
In all, 14 inches came off and Elaine is loving her new look, Julia explained to the Killarney Advertiser.
“She was to make her communion on May 9,” Julia said.
“However, it’s not going ahead now due to COVID-19. She wanted to cut her hair last year but as her communion was coming up she wanted to have it long with curls on the day. Now that it’s not happening she asked last week if she could cut it. We put it in a ponytail and chopped it and straightened it after.”
Now, going for walks nearby their home, neighbours have been admiring it from afar.
“Elaine loves her new hairstyle. She can hardly tie it up but loves flicking it. She’s delighted with it and doesn’t know herself.”
News
Fassbender ready for second Le Mans appearance
Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The iconic endurance race is celebrating its […]

Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The iconic endurance race is celebrating its 100th edition next weekend.
The Fossa star has already arrived in the famous French twon where he is involved in a week-long series of engagements including drivers’ parades, autograph sessions and more serious appointments like car safety checks, practice and qualifying.
Like last year, when he finished 16th in the LMGTE Am class, Fassbender has been entered in to the event by the German Proton Competition team with Estonian Martin Rump and the Austrian Richard Lietz.
Fassbender dreams of following the trajectory of fellow Hollywood actors Patrick Dempsey who was second in LMGTE Am class in 2016 and Paul Newman who finished second overall in 1979.
News
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 […]

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.