Connect with us

News

Irish Cancer Society urgently needs volunteer drivers in Kerry

Published

on

T

THE Irish Cancer Society is urgently looking for more drivers for its Volunteer Driver Service in Kerry to drive cancer patients to their chemotherapy appointments in University Hospital Kerry, Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital Cork.

The service is free to both the hospital and the patient with volunteers being paid a contribution towards their fuel allowance and road toll costs. The Society recruits and trains volunteers and asks only that volunteers have free weekday availability, can commit to two weekdays a month and have access to a car.

The Volunteer Driver Service is now available from 18 hospitals nationwide with the Society’s drivers bringing 1,040 patients on 10,822 journeys in total last year. In Kerry, 235 journeys were facilitated for patients in 2015 which was a 34% increase on the previous year, and the demand is increasing.

Gail Flinter, Irish Cancer Society said, “The Volunteer Driver Service gives cancer patients access to free transport to and from their chemotherapy treatments, removing the stress and difficulty of travelling at a challenging time. The Irish Cancer Society is looking for drivers in Kerry who would be willing to drive patients to and from their treatments and in doing so, make a direct impact on the lives of those living with cancer.

“There are a number of reasons why a cancer patient may need to use the Volunteer Driver Service: they may have been advised not to drive by their doctor due to the aggressive nature of treatment; the patient may have no family in the immediate vicinity or they may be unable to take time off work to transport them to treatment."

The Volunteer Driver Service was developed in 2008 by the Irish Cancer Society. Now in the ninth year of the national rollout of the service, demand for the service continues to grow.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer or would like further information should contact Gail at the Irish Cancer Society on 01-231 05 66, email transport@irishcancer.ie or see www.cancer.ie

Advertisement

News

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 […]

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

News

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

Published

on

By

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.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport