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“It’s apocalyptic” – Kilcummin man fighting wildfires in Rhodes

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A Kilcummin man is volunteering with locals in an effort to fight the wildfires that have devasted areas of Greece in the last week.

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Following a heatwave that has gripped parts of southern Europe and North Africa, 20,000 people, mostly tourists, were evacuated from houses and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes last weekend as wildfires ravaged mountainous forest areas in the centre and east of the island.

Kilcummin man Cormac Rowe, working as a diving instructor in Rhodes Town in the north of the island, has been helping locals in their attempt to bring the fires under control.

“Life is carrying on as normal in Rhodes town,” said Cormac, “But obviously there aren’t as many tourists around, so we’ve been travelling about an hour inland, to help out where we can.”

As aircraft waterbomb the larger blazes, those on the ground dig trenches to contain the fires, smother flames with soil and douse surrounding vegetation.

“Fires are popping up all the time. It’s pretty energy-sapping, but locals are handing out food and drink to keep us going,” added Cormac.

Firefighting efforts have been hampered by daytime temperatures of over 40 C, and strong winds which are spreading the fire through tinder-dry undergrowth. With a tenth of the island burnt out and acres of forest devastated, Cormac described the situation as ‘like being in a war-zone. It’s apocalyptic.”

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Soroptimists to host annual Pancake and Coffee Morning

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Killarney Soroptimist Club has announced the return of its annual Pancake and Coffee Morning, which will take place on Shrove Tuesday, February 17.

The event will be held at the Killarney Avenue Hotel starting from 10.30am.

Attendees can look forward to a morning of music and entertainment featuring Tim Gleeson and friends.

Along with pancakes and coffee, the event will feature various raffles and a door prize on the day.

This year’s door prize is a two-night bed and breakfast stay at the Hayfield Manor Hotel.

The event is a significant fundraiser for the club, with all proceeds being donated to Rockmount Care Centre in Kilgarvan and St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort.

Tickets for the morning are priced at €20 and are available for purchase from, Soroptimist Members, the chosen beneficiary charities or Sheila Casey at 086 814 9677.

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Julie Deady wins first Camera Club competition of year

The first competition of the new year proved a strong start for Killarney Camera Club, with January’s theme of “Sunset” attracting a wide range of high-quality entries. Top honours went […]

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The first competition of the new year proved a strong start for Killarney Camera Club, with January’s theme of “Sunset” attracting a wide range of high-quality entries.

Top honours went to Julie Deady, a former Photographer of the Year winner with the club, for her image titled Church of St Primoz and Felicijan. The photograph was taken in Slovenia and captured a striking sunset, with deep reds and strong orange tones stretching across the sky. The setting sun silhouetted a bank of clouds, while warm evening light spilled across the surrounding landscape.
The nearby church, trees and open fields were softly lit, adding depth and balance to the scene. The image impressed judge John Hootan, a distinguished photographer, who praised its exposure, composition and timing. He awarded the photograph full marks, describing it as a benchmark for the competitions ahead.
Members said the standard of entries made the judging particularly competitive and set a positive tone for the year. With such a strong opening round, anticipation is already building for the next monthly themes as members continue to develop their skills and creativity.
The club thanked all members who took part, noting that the growing level of participation and friendly rivalry continues to raise standards across the competitions.

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