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Experience Ukrainian culture at this year’s K-FEST Festival

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By Natalya Krasnenkova

This year a Ukrainian programme will be presented at the Killorglin K-FEST arts and music festival, which will take place from June 3 to 6.

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From food to art, films to music, there'll be a special area known as 'Little Ukraine' where visitors can sample what the country has to offer.

The festival will be the first to show a mural by artist Aches with the image of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, which the organisers brought from Dublin.

Ukrainian hip-hop star and songwriter Alyona Alyona, was booked to play in Killorglin and in the full knowledge that she won't be able to fulfil the gig, the organisers will still forward the fee to her.

Considered the top new rap star of Ukraine, in an article titled ‘15 European pop acts who matter right now’ the New York Times likened Alyona Alyona to gifted American rapper Azealia Banks.

Festival Chairman Tim Clifford said K-FEST would reach out to help Ukrainian artists by booking and paying the star but not expecting her to honour the gig.

"We would encourage other festivals all over Europe who are in the business of booking artists to do likewise and support Ukrainian artists," he said.

K-FEST has also engaged with the Kerry Ukrainian community for this year’s festival. Musicians and artists who were among those to flee to Ireland to avoid conflict are invited to perform and fully participate alongside local visual and performing artists and musicians.

The Ukrainian community living in Killarney is preparing several more activities for the festival.

'Little Ukraine' will begin on Saturday June 4 from 11am to 4pm.

“When Tim Clifford and Dave Ryan offered to take part in K-FEST, we tried to impose on them as many ways as possible to represent our country. Dave and Tim couldn't resist our onslaught, so we invite you to get to know our country through this kind of art,” the Ukrainian curators said.

Amateur concert

You will be able to listen to Ukrainian composers performed by a young flutist, live folk and modern music and singing. And most importantly, guests will see a multimedia presentation about Ukraine. Ukrainians are specially editing the video for the festival. Festival goers can not only have fun, but also learn more about the war and Ukraine. The concert starts on June 4 at 12pm at the 'Little Ukraine' area at the KDYS off Lower Bridge Street.

Cinema

Killorglin will become a town where modern Ukrainian cinema will be shown. It is joining the 'Cinema Aid' -Ukraine World Cinema Marathon, a charity film marathon that is taking place around the world right now. More than 13 film marathons have taken place from Canada and America to Bulgaria and Germany. Its purpose is to show modern Ukrainian cinema around the world, to tell about the war that the Ukrainian people are going through and to gather help for our army and people.

The events of the film marathon have become a powerful international platform for supporting Ukraine for the public and politicians who express sincere words of support.
Ukraine abroad at each event of the film marathon brings the truth about the war and the needs of Ukraine, and famous Ukrainian cinematographers call in video appeals to increase pressure on the aggressor and words of gratitude for the comprehensive support of Ukraine in difficult times.

The film marathon is held with the full support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and funds raised are transferred to help Ukraine.

The Ukrainian movies will come to K-FEST audience on June 4, from 11am to 2pm and from 4pm to 7pm in The Goat, Langford Street Killorglin.

Painting

Modern artist Angela Kushchyk began to paint her emotions in the form of graphic drawings in the Kyiv bomb shelter where she spent two weeks with her son. Painting for her became healing from the horrible events that she faced. Later, Kateryna Onul offered to publish these works. Currently, 18 posters adorn the exterior of the Ukrainian embassies in Warsaw and Hamburg. K-FEST guests will also see these works.
The exhibition will open on June 4 in the 'Little Ukraine' area and will be in a gallery from June 5.

Ukrainian cuisine

There will be plenty of traditional Ukrainian dishes for the Irish audience to try out. Ukrainians promise to add as many potatoes as they can to please Irish guests. The cuisine will open on June 4 at 11am at the 'Little Ukraine' area in Marsh Lane next to the KDYS.

“We invite you to the Ukrainian part of K-FEST and thank you very much to the organisers for such a connection to share with you the most valuable that we have – culture.”

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Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

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The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

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Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

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Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

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