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Event to recognise volunteers’ dedication throughout pandemic

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A special event to thank volunteers for their dedication and work throughout the pandemic will be held virtually this Thursday.

Taking place at 7pm, Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen, will host the event for the Community Response Forum who provided non-emergency supports, and advice and guidance to communities around the county.

The online event, which will be available on the Kerry County Council homepage, www.kerrycoco.ie, Council Facebook page and Kerry County Council YouTube Channel, aims to recognise the efforts of everybody involved in the Community Forum since it began in March 2020.

The Kerry Community Response Forum is a multi-agency group of statutory and voluntary organisations which has been coordinating the community response to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. It includes representatives of Kerry County Council, the HSE, An Garda Síochána, local development companies, Kerry Volunteer Centre, Kerry GAA, Local Link Kerry, Kerry Public Participation Network, Kerry Age Friendly Network, Citizens Information, St Vincent de Paul, Alone, Irish Red Cross, Kerry Civil Defence and other local voluntary groups.

“The Kerry Community Response Forum was one of the first to be established in the country, in recognition of the need to support vulnerable individuals and households in the county,” Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen said.

“It provided a single point of contact for vulnerable people and those in need of assistance, and through the Community Response Forum, they were put in touch with local community groups and organisations to help them out.

“We are now seeing restrictions ease and society reopen, and hopefully matters will continue to improve over the coming months. This is why we feel it is the right time to recognise the huge level of effort by the organisers, the groups and those staffing the phones.”

The virtual appreciation night will outline the work of the various groups, with the Municipal District Cathaoirligh and other guests highlighting what went on behind the scenes to ensure that every call was answered and that nobody was left behind.

“The work that our voluntary and community groups do around the county is amazing, and the Forum was a way to ensure that there was a formal structure behind it,” Director of Community Development with Kerry County Council, Michael Scannell, explained. “This ensured the governance and support for all groups was in place.

“For years we have been highlighting the work of the various groups around the county and when the pandemic came, it was clear that they would continue doing the positive work within their communities. Our role was to provide support and back-up and now we want to thank them for their efforts."

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All eyes down as St Oliver’s hosts bumper bingo fundraiser

It will be All Eyes Down as the saying goes on October 23 as St Oliver’s Primary School hosts a bumper Bingo Fundraiser night. The event, which is being held […]

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It will be All Eyes Down as the saying goes on October 23 as St Oliver’s Primary School hosts a bumper Bingo Fundraiser night.

The event, which is being held to raise additional funds for the school’s Special Classes, will take place in the Killarney Racecourse in the Celtic Steps venue.

According to Colm Ó Súilleabháin, Principal of St Oliver’s, the idea for the fundraiser was the brainchild of Denise Hendey, a parent of one of the children in the Special Classes who approached the school wanting to assist with raising much-needed funds for the classes. “She has been utterly amazing with the amount of work and organisation she has put into this event, sourcing an incredible number of fantastic prizes for the raffle and spot prizes for the bingo winners” he said.
Continuing he said “We are so appreciative of the incredible support we have received from all the businesses who have sponsored some amazing prizes and made very generous donations in support of the event.”

St. Oliver’s has eight separate Special Classes, home to 62 children. All monies raised on the night will go towards purchasing additional resources for the classes.

The event will commence at 7pm with doors opening at 6pm. So be sure to come along to what is promised to be a fun-filled night with numerous opportunities to win some amazing prizes and hopefully if there is a ‘knock on the door’ or a ‘bang on the drum’ it will be on your bingo card!

Bingo books (€10) and raffle tickets (€5) are available to buy from the school office and will be available on the night. All welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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Milltown plan to preserve history in community project 

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The Milltown History and Heritage Society has announced plans for an oral history archive for the community.

It is hoped that the collection and preservation of stories and folklore will be a valuable resource for future generations.

Oral history expert and historian Dr Tomás Mac Conmara will speak in Milltown in support of the launch.

Dr Mac Conmara, who is an award-winning oral historian, lecturer and author, will speak at the Muintir na Tíre Hall in Milltown at 8pm on Friday, October 24 and will introduce the fundamentals for the collection of oral history.

The presentation is free of charge and is supported by funding from the Creative Communities Grant Scheme 2025.

Attendees will be introduced to the practical skills required in interviewing, recording and documenting local heritage.

Stewart Stephans of the Milltown History and Heritage Society said they are excited to have Tomás to set them on the right path towards the development of the archive.

He said: “The collection and retention of oral history needs to be approached properly, drawing on the right advice and maintaining high standards, so we are pleased to be getting the input of such a renowned expert.” The event is open to anyone who would like to attend.

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