The father of a nine-year-old Killarney girl with profound disabilities has spoken out against the "needless turf war" and "parish pump politics" he believes have stalled the development of a primary healthcare centre in the town.

Steve O’Mahony, whose daughter Alexis requires round-the-clock care, issued a stinging open letter following the decision by local councillors to reverse the inclusion of a HSE-run facility at the Áras Phádraig site.
The move followed a period of significant public backlash regarding the use of the town-centre location.
Alexis lives with Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, a rare metabolic condition that causes brain abnormalities, alongside cerebral palsy and epilepsy. For the O’Mahony family, the lack of a centralised hub means navigating cramped, scattered facilities or undertaking difficult journeys to Tralee, Cork, and Dublin for vital appointments.
The "voiceless" dismissed
In an open letter seen by the Killarney Advertiser, Mr O’Mahony questions why no one has properly investigated the function of a primary care centre, which he describes as "a lot more than a physical building."
He argues that the focus on the Áras Phádraig site as being "for the people of Killarney" is a rhetoric that fails to recognise that those with disabilities are also citizens with immediate needs.
"I am a father of a child with complex medical needs who turns 10 years this April," Mr O’Mahony wrote. "I have ten years of experience of navigating the health system both locally and nationally. It is not always a pretty picture especially when it is mixed with politics, most notably parish pump politics. I do know one thing more than anything and that is that those with a disability are the voiceless. As a father it is my civil duty to speak about this and the whole sorry saga which in my humble opinion has been led by fear and mistrust and shown the voiceless being cast aside yet again."
He added that the phrase "the Áras Phádraig is for the people of Killarney" is "an insulting phrase that completely dismisses the immediate needs of the most vulnerable in our society."
A call for urgency
Mr O’Mahony expressed frustration that Killarney is at risk of rejecting €16 million in targeted funding due to the dispute.
He believes the opinions of those who would actually use the services including the elderly, young parents, and people with disabilities were never specifically sought during the public consultation.
"The silence is deafening," he noted, referring to the lack of follow-up since the initial public outcry subsided. "If half the energy devoted to this story was reinvested in the need for such a centre in our town we would all be smiling."
As the wait for a modern facility continues, the O’Mahony family remains focused on the daily realities of Alexis’s care.
Over the years, the community has rallied to support the 'Let's help Alexis' fund, helping to provide a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and essential equipment.
However, Mr O’Mahony says the town now needs a proactive approach from its leaders to provide the long-term health infrastructure that children like Alexis depend on.