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Fundraising walk to help raise vital funds for Heidi

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WALK FOR HEIDI: Tara Donoghue Laing from Firies, has organised the 'Walk for Heidi' for vital physiotherapy for two-year-old Heidi Patterson. Pictured socially distanced are: Diana Ascenso, Dave, Cailean and Daithi Laing, Tara Donoghue Laing, Romy Birdthistle, Pearl Turner and Siobhan Colborne.

 

By Michelle Crean

Killarney is the planned finish line for a fundraiser which is currently ongoing to help raise funds for a sick little girl.

Photographer Tara Donoghue Laing from Firies, had no option but to cancel a planned March Mother's Day fundraiser for two-year-old Heidi Patterson due to the sudden COVID-19 lockdown.

However, she's since enlisted the help of four others and they're currently walking a total of 1,000km to raise funds to help Heidi, who suffers Cerebral Palsy is partially blind and deaf, get the physiotherapy she needs.

So far, over €2,000 has been raised of the €5,000 goal for the 'Walking 1000km for Heidi' challenge and they're hoping more will be raised.

Those involved include Tara, her husband Dave Laing, Diana Ascenso, Siobhan Colborne and Romy Birdthistle.

"We're walking a combined 1,000kms so it's roughly 200kms each," Tara told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We began on June 1 and we're doing it for 30 days individually. We're going to walk the finish line together in Killarney National Park, somewhere we can meet up and socially distance."

Others, when they heard about the fundraiser, wanted to join, Tara explained, but as there's only five of them she felt with more involved they'd have very little kilometres each to do to get to 1,000.

"They're now doing their own walks and raising funds too. We even have people in Australia, England, Scotland and all over Ireland taking part. We're hoping to raise funds for vital physiotherapy for Heidi. She can't crawl or walk. They're trying to build her muscles up to help her walk eventually. It's heartbreaking, and puts things in perspective. We are walking to raise funds to hopefully help her to walk."

 

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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