Locals are being urged to show their support for a vital cause as the countdown begins for the Firies charity raffle.

Organised by motorcycle enthusiast Sean Collins, the fundraiser is a final push to collect much-needed funds for the Dunmanway Cancer Day Care Unit at Cork University Hospital.

The top prize is a high-quality electric bike, which was made possible through the generous support of O’Sullivan’s Cycles and KC Print Ltd.

Sean is no stranger to fundraising for cancer services, having successfully raised €2,400 for the same unit via a motorcycle run last year.

He has now turned his focus to this raffle to ensure the facility at CUH continues to receive the help it needs to care for patients.

The draw is set to take place on Sunday, June 7, at Henderson’s Bar in Firies.

For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be broadcast live on the Henderson’s Bar Facebook page.

Tickets are still available for €10 in various shops throughout Killarney and the surrounding areas. For any last-minute ticket enquiries, Sean Collins can be reached directly at 087 4436650.

Tralee native and Killarney resident Richard Gordon has released a new memoir audiobook detailing his personal journey through profound loss and the subsequent search for a new beginning.

The audiobook explores a five-year period during which Richard lost his father, older brother, and mother.

The narrative begins during his teenage years while sitting his Leaving Cert at Brookfield College and follows the impact of these bereavements on his life as a young man.

Richard describes the story as an attempt to outrun the past through his work as a chef and years of backpacking across the globe.

His travels took him from Sarajevo and Laos to London and Australia, but the weight of his grief remained a constant companion.

A turning point arrived at the age of 27 while living in London, eventually leading to a solo cycling journey across Europe and a return to Ireland to rebuild his life.

Rather than a standard reading, the audiobook is narrated by Richard in a spoken, immersive style intended to mirror the experience of a one-man show or a traditional seanachaí.

“I wanted the story to be experienced like a play in your ears,” Richard said. “It is a true story about losing your family, losing yourself, and rebuilding a life from the ashes.”

The audiobook is now available to listeners via his Substack at richardgordonwrites.substack.com.