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Fire and safety tips at Christmas

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By John Healy of Healy Insurances

Christmas is a busy time of the year and it can be easy to become complacent when it comes to fire and home safety. Fire and safety hazards can be minimised by taking some basic precautions.

Only buy festive lighting marked with a CE mark.
Switch off all festive lights when unattended.
Use only one extension cord – do not double up on extension cords.
Do not use outdoor lights indoors.
Ensure your real Christmas tree is a safe distance from any open flames and be wary of candles.
Review leads and plugs for fraying and replace if needed.
Check smoke detectors are in working order. A fire blanket is a good investment for any home.
If you are away from your home over Christmas consider a timer switch for lights and do not advertise that your home is vacant on social media. Thefts occur at Christmas time too unfortunately.

If your home is to be unoccupied for a longer period, inform your insurers, drain the water system so that freezing of pipes cannot occur and ask a friend or relation to check your home daily.

Please check on the well-being of any neighbours who are alone over the Christmas period. Stay safe and have a peaceful, relaxing and happy Christmas.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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