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Game Set and Match for Killarney students

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By Con Dennehy

Pupils attending Kerry Primary Schools are set to be top of the class when it comes to sporting and academic success and it’s all thanks to the development of a magnificent Handball Wall opened at Lissivigeen National School gymnasium this week.

Lissivigeen School in Killarney, offers the best and most modern sporting and academic facilities to enhance the development of students in a fully inclusive and holistic manner.

The Indoor Handball Wall initiative, the first of its kind in a Kerry primary school, has been spearheaded by the school community under the guidance of Tadhg O’Sullivan, a member of the Board of Management at the school and a founder member of Spa Killarney Handball Club.

“It will afford students the opportunity to sample one of Ireland’s oldest sports, handball, and provide a fun element as students are introduced to the sport,” said Tadhg, Kerry Handball Board Schools Liaison Officer.

Handball, thanks to the development of the Handball Wall, will now feature as one of the models in the School Recreational Programme and will also form part of the schools Physical Education Programme.

This week teachers from eleven Kerry Primary Schools attended a special handball introductory training programme at Lissivigeen National School hosted by Wexford native Marguerite Gore, Handball Ireland Regional Development Officer and Elaine Cahill from Kerry Recreational and Sports Partnership.

“Our role was to fund and present each of the participants with an information pack that will enable the teachers to coach the game of handball to the students. The afternoon in Lissivigeen was also a practical session where the teachers received hands on training from Marguerite on the rules and procedures involved in the sport.”

Brid Ryan, a teacher at Lissivigeen National School was one of the course participants and is looking forward to teaching the skills to her pupils.

“Playing handball dramatically improves the fine and gross motor skills of the participants. Concentration levels will soar and this will no doubt become evident in the classroom. There is also the added dimension of social interaction between the students and the added benefits that students will learn the skills and rules of a new sport.”

The Handball Wall developed at Lissivigeen School is expected to be the first of many in Kerry.

“From experience I was in a position to advise on the best materials and the correct construction and positioning of the wall which was skilfully built by Tom Hurley. A lot of work was also essential for correct and durable floor marking materials. However the most important element this week was training the teachers to run handball programmes in the school,” said Tadhg O’Sullivan who is now hoping to develop handball walls in other Kerry schools.

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Book of Condolences for Pope Francis at Cathedral

  A Book of Condolences has been opened at St Mary’s Cathedral for those wishing to pay their respects following the death of Pope Francis. The Pope, who led the […]

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A Book of Condolences has been opened at St Mary’s Cathedral for those wishing to pay their respects following the death of Pope Francis.

The Pope, who led the Catholic Church for twelve years, died on Monday at the age of 88.

He had been suffering from double pneumonia in recent weeks, but his death still came as a shock to many. Just hours before his passing, he had been seen greeting crowds in St Peter’s Square during Easter Sunday celebrations.

Locally, Bishop Ray Browne has led the tributes. He described Pope Francis as “a gentle shepherd” who brought humility and compassion to his role.

“It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis,” Bishop Browne said. “From the moment he chose the name Francis, rooted in humility, he signalled a papacy of building peace, care for the poor, and love for all of God’s creation.”

The bishop also highlighted the Pope’s focus on protecting the planet and caring for the marginalised, calling him “a voice for the voiceless” and “a witness to the Gospel in word and deed.”

A special Mass in memory of Pope Francis was held at St Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday.

The Pope’s funeral Mass will take place on Saturday at 10.00am in St Peter’s Square. It will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and concelebrated by church leaders from around the world.

Due to the Pope’s passing, the special Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was due to take place this Sunday has been cancelled.

Mass will still take place at the usual time of 11.30am. A new date for the celebration will be announced in due course.

Blessed Carlo Acutis was due to be officially declared a saint in Rome on Sunda but that has been postponed.

Carlo Acutis had a deep devotion to St Francis of Assisi, and his final resting place is in Assisi, near the tombs of St Francis and St Clare.

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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