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It was Strictly for the funds…..and fun!

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7 years ago

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STRICTLY FANTASTIC: The Killarney/South Kerry branch of The Irish Cancer Society raised €58,401 for The Irish Cancer Society following the recent Strictly Come Dancing event. Seated from left are: Eleanor O'Doherty, Emmet Flanagan and Ciara O'Donoghue, (overall winners), Eugene O'Sullivan, Kathleen O'Shea, Kathleen Cronin, Kathrina Breen and Tim Moriarty. Standing from left are: Ava and Chloe O'Doherty, Shane Hannon, Eimear O'Mahony, Jason Culloty, Aine Carolan, Daire Sheehy, Edwina Duggan, Pat Looney, Patricia Quigley, Mike O'Sullivan, Aoife O'Reilly and Stephen O'Donoghue. Picture: Eamonn Keogh 

 

By Michelle Crean

An entertaining night of dancing – watched by over 1500 people – raised a whopping €58,401, thanks to the generous support of locals.

12 couples, trained by Tralee choreographer Cassie Leen, took to the INEC floor in March for the Killarney and South Kerry branch of the Irish Cancer Society – which was won by Emmet Flanagan and Ciara O'Donoghue. And, not only did the dancers spend weeks perfecting their dance moves – but also asked everyone and anyone they could to support the good cause.

The result was the massive cheque handed over to the Irish Cancer Society charity on Friday night in the East Avenue Hotel.

“We’d like to thank the people of Killarney for their generosity,” Kathrina Breen told the Killarney Advertiser.

“This was our fifth year and the biggest Strictly Come Dancing to date.”

Funding will now go to Home Care Night Nursing, the freephone advice line, cancer beds in hospitals and Travel to Care grants.

“We’ve had 364 nights for 66 patients in Kerry this year. We also do the volunteer driving scheme and have had 336 drives for 41 patients this year, the Daffodil Centres provide face to face advice and we do Breast Check and Bowel Screening as well as advocacy work in relation to parking for cancer patients and have this year provided 500 hours counselling to those wrongly diagnosed by Cervical Check. A big part of the fundraising money will go to cancer research which is ongoing.”

She added that their next fundraising event takes place on October 11, and they are looking for volunteers if anyone has a spare hour to give.

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Sinn Féin to host public meeting on cost of living at Killarney Heights Hotel

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm. […]

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15 hours ago

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25 May 2026

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Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm.

The Donegal TD will be joined by Kerry TD Pa Daly to discuss the economic pressures facing local households and the policy changes needed to provide financial relief. The main focus of the evening will center on the barriers preventing local people from buying their own homes, alongside broader costs of living challenges.
Speaking exclusively to the Killarney Advertiser ahead of his visit, Deputy Doherty said workers and families across Kerry are being squeezed from every direction by rising weekly shops, high energy bills, increasing insurance premiums, and substantial housing costs.
“Young people are losing hope that they will ever own a home in the county where they were raised,” Deputy Doherty said. “And while all of this is happening, the government is sitting on billions in budget surpluses while telling struggling families to wait. It is simply not good enough.”
The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson highlighted specific regional factors making the crisis acute in County Kerry, particularly regarding home heating costs.
“Almost 59% of homes in Kerry rely on home heating oil, which is nearly double the state average of 34%,” he said. “That means families across the county are far more exposed to soaring fuel costs than households in many other parts of the state. Yet the government withdrew supports that were helping households keep the lights on and heat their homes.”
Deputy Doherty noted that the housing situation in Kerry has moved beyond a social issue and is now impacting the local economy and communities. He pointed to figures showing average rents in the county have reached €1,493 per month, with exceptionally low market availability.
“At the time of writing, there were only 27 properties available online to rent across the entire county. Only 19 were below €2,000 a month and just five were available for less than €1,500. A county the size of Kerry, and only five rental properties affordable to someone on an ordinary income,” he said.
He also raised concerns for first-time buyers, noting that average house prices in Kerry have climbed to €296,000, representing an increase of €33,500 in a single year.
During the meeting, the Sinn Féin representatives will outline their party’s alternative proposals. These include a state-led program of affordable home building, a ban on excessive rent increases, enhanced protections for renters, and immediate energy credits and tax relief for workers.
“The resources exist to do this,” Deputy Doherty added. “The government’s own figures show billions in surplus funds available to the state. The issue is not a lack of money. The issue is political choice.”
The meeting is open to all members of the public, and a discussion session will follow the main presentations.

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National Park hosts weekend Bioblitz for National Biodiversity Week

Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment. Today, Friday, […]

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16 hours ago

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25 May 2026

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Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment.

Today, Friday, May 22, marks the UN International Day for Biological Diversity, and a series of free events will run across the park until the national celebration concludes this Sunday, May 24.
The highlight of the weekend is the Killarney National Park Bioblitz. This event brings families, nature lovers, and community volunteers together to find, identify, and record as many different plant and animal species as possible across the park’s diverse habitats over the next three days.
Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, encouraged locals and visitors alike to utiliSe the final days of the festival to experience the area’s unique wildlife, referencing Killarney’s native habitats as key areas the state is working to protect.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), noted that the week is designed to remind people that native plants, woodlands, and rivers are vital systems that make life possible. OrganiSers are encouraging anyone in the locality to head out to Killarney National Park before Sunday evening to participate in the species count and support local conservation efforts.

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