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Irene bids farewell after 38 years service

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FAREWELL: After 38 years service Irene O'Keeffe retired from Coolick National School. 

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By Michelle Crean

Emotions were high in one Kilcummin school this week as children and staff said farewell to their school principal after 38 years dedicated service.

Irene O'Keeffe, who has taught in Coolick National School for 38 years - 23 of those as principal - has even deeper connections to the parish educational facility as she herself attended as a child, and even watched her children blossom there over the years.

On Thursday, staff, pupils, members of the Board of Management and the Parents Association, gathered outside for a special ceremony, where they made presentations as a thank you.

"Irene is a past pupil of the school where many generations of her own family have attended, including her own children, John, Daniel and Anne," Deputy Principal Tara O'Donoghue told the Killarney Advertiser.

"Irene’s pride in the school was nurtured at a very young age and she has passed this sense of pride onto both staff and pupils over the years. Irene made everyone welcome in Coolick school. She embraced the staff as if they were members of her own family and she loved the children as her own. She believes that “you give children roots so they can grow wings” and she modelled Coolick school accordingly. She lived out the saying “Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí”."

The belief that the school is an extension of the home is core to Irene's philosophy and she embodied this in all her daily interactions. She had an excellent rapport with parents over the years.

During her time in Coolick Irene saw many changes in education and she did her very best to embrace every new change and implement it for the benefit of the children.

During her principalship a large extension was built onto the school, and with huge parental involvement an Astro pitch was added in 2014 along with an Aistear playground which promotes learning through play.

Irene added that she had the great privilege of working and living in the community she grew up in.

"I have been blessed with great co-workers whom I refer to as my school family and also with a strong school community. There is an underswell of good will and volunteering of time here that goes unseen. Using a modern analogy in this unprecedented time, I have worked in the idyllic “pod” within the parish "bubble” all of my teaching life. I have been so lucky to see our school and its community become one and the same. The privilege of being the custodian of this lovely school since 1999 has been my reward."

Irene is now looking forward to spending quality time with her family; travelling with her husband Dinny post-COVID, and having time to indulge in her hobbies which includes hillwalking and gardening.

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Ballymac Vintage Club raises over €7k for local charities

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Ballymac Vintage Club raises over €7k for local charities


The Ballymac Vintage Club raised over €7,000 for two worthy causes following the 16th running of its annual Classic Car and Honda 50 Run over the bank holiday weekend.


Despite a wet start to Sunday morning, more than 100 registered vehicles turned out at Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant. Entrants brought a diverse selection of classic cars, vans, and campers, including several vehicles making their first appearance at a Kerry vintage event.
The day began with a Cars and Coffee gathering, allowing participants and spectators to catch up, inspect the vehicles, and enjoy light refreshments.
Proceeds from the event and Saturday’s street collection in Castleisland will support two local causes: St John of God Oileán Beo Castleisland, which provides services for adults with intellectual disabilities, and the Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, which supports sick and infirm pilgrims alongside volunteers and medical staff.
A range of spot prizes were awarded throughout the morning, with organisers extending sincere thanks to local donors and main sponsors BG Motors Killarney, Brownes Agri Steel Castleisland, and Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant.
The run departed Ballymacelligott shortly after 11am, travelling back roads through Castleisland before making a short stop in Brosna. Drivers then completed the final leg to Knocknagoshel, where refreshments were served by the Knocknagoshel Meals on Wheels team.

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Dromhall team takes top spot at Crokes Golf Classic

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The annual Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Classic proved to be another major success last weekend, drawing 64 teams to Killarney’s Mahony’s Point course over two days of competition.


The Dromhall Hotel team of John Brosnan, Mike Dwyer, Shane Kelly, and Ger O’Meara took first place. Second place went to the O’Carroll Engineering team of Anthony O’Mahony, John O’Driscoll, Derek McAllister, and Michael O’Sullivan.
Third place went to the Quills team (Vincent Casey, Colm O’Brien, Evy O’Brien, and Donie Buckley), while Diarmuid O’Carroll Electrical (Mark O’Carroll, Brian McCarthy, Ben Kelliher, and Luke O’Shea) finished fourth.
Rounding out the top positions were Fexco in fifth (Andrew McCarthy, Ivo O’Sullivan, Ross Brosnan, and Niall O’Shea), Money Maximising Advisors in sixth (John Lenihan, Michael Lenihan, Des McCarthy, and Peter Bellew), and The Gleneagle Hotel in seventh (Patrick O’Donoghue, Mike McAuliffe, Margaret Gill, and T Buckley).
Raffle prize winners on the night were David Cotter (1st), Eugene Browne (2nd), Donal Brosnan (3rd), and Colm Murphy (4th).
The prize presentation took place at Charlie Foley’s Bar on Friday night, with sponsor Colm Foley handing over the honours. Dr Crokes expressed thanks to all who entered teams, sponsored tee boxes, and donated prizes, as well as Colin Finlay and the team at Killarney Golf Club for the superb condition of the course.

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