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Jamie reaches new heights in less than 24 hours

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By Michelle Crean

Taking on a four day physical challenge is a massive undertaking but one team member went a little further and completed it in under 24 hours.

TEAM EFFORT: Pictured are the team leaving Fossa GAA pitch as they headed off on their 54321 Challenge last Thursday morning.

Jamie O’Shea from Dromid is one of the organisers of the 54321 four-day Challenge where 50 members took part from last Thursday to Sunday.

But Jamie decided to bring the challenge to new heights and test the theory that it can be done in 24 hours.

He had previously completed the challenge over the four days, but knocked it out of the park by completing it in just 22 hours and 15 mins!

Jamie started at 3pm on Saturday with his backup team by cycling the Ring of Kerry, climbing Carrauntoohil in the dark by torchlight, then cycling on to Cahersiveen in the dark and then climbing Cnoc na dTobar to see the sun rise. He then joined the rest of the 54321 Challenge team on the Sunday morning to complete the fourth day to finish in Killorglin. Jamie decided to fundraise specifically for Skellig Stars Athletics Club which is very close to his heart.

The 54321 Challenge started 10 years ago with a team of five people over four days, completing three cycles, and climbing two mountains for one cause – a local charity.

Testament to the popularity of the event is the fact that over 80% of this year’s participants had completed the challenge previously over the first nine years; with some who have not missed a year since its commencement in 2013. But as always the new participants added a new lease of life and added to the 54321 Challenge experience, which is predominately all about people who are doing it, those supporting them and the people involved in the charities we are trying to raise much needed funds to support.

FUNDRAISING

"The aim of the 54321 Challenge this year was to raise €100,000 and to date the fundraising is at approx. €60,000, so please get behind us and give what you can to help us reach our optimistic target," Tony Dunne from the 54321 Challenge said.

"The 10 Kerry charities to benefit are The Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Hospice, Comfort for Chemo Kerry, ADAPT Kerry, Skellig Stars, Cystic Fibrosis Kerry, Sera Husky, HeartBeat Killarney, Alannah and Polly’s Fight for Sight and Scoil Iognaid Ris.

A major contributor to this year’s fundraising efforts were a number of Spinathon Days where this year`s participants, volunteers from all the charities, family and friends took the streets in different locations including Killarney, on spinning bikes. The final one will be in Tralee tomorrow (Saturday).

"Thanks to everyone who made these Spinathons possible, to all the volunteers, and thanks to all the members of the public who gave their support and generous donations, and finally yet importantly thanks to An Garda Síochána and especially James Foley for his help with the organisation of the Spinathons," he said.

On behalf of all the charities and the 54321 Challenge team we would like to say thank you to all those who have sponsored to date and supported us along the way and ask you to give the 54321 Challenge participants and the selected Kerry charities one last and final push to reach our €100,000 goal."

To get a true sense of the magic of the event: Follow us on Facebook at (6) 54321 Challenge | Facebook or visit www.54321challenge.org.

To donate go to GoFundMe: 54321 Challenge - 10 Years On.

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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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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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