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Kerry charity shortlisted for two national volunteer awards

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A Kerry charity has been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards, which take place in December.

Tralee’s Noreen O’Flaherty, who has been with cancer support charity, Recovery Havensince its inception in 2010, is among the three finalists in the Health and Well-being category, while the charity’s entire volunteer team has also made the top three in the ‘Larger Group’ category.

The esteemed awards shine a light on the remarkable achievements of volunteers around the country by honouring them at a national level.

Noreen was selected for her selfless commitment to the charity for the past 10 years, not only as a key member of the gardening group and valued volunteer listener, but as a trained programme facilitator for the ‘Thrive and Survive’ programme, undertaking training and subsequently delivering 10 six-week programmes to Recovery Haven clients. She also undertook training to deliver the ‘Building Better Caregivers’ programme in 2020, aimed at supporting those caring for a loved one with cancer. All this is done on a voluntary basis, in addition to Noreen’s hands-on work in the charity’s garden and in the house itself.

The second nomination is for the charity’s entire team of volunteers, who are an integral cog in the Recovery Haven Kerry wheel. This includes the charity’s volunteer listeners, therapists, gardeners, fundraisers and board members.

At the height of COVID-19 restrictions, the charity’s volunteer listeners came together to provide a phone support service for clients who could not visit Recovery Haven due to lockdown, making over 2,000 phone calls since March 2020.

Recovery Haven Kerry Manager Siobhan MacSweeney described the volunteers as the lifeblood of the organisation who, she said, keeps Recovery Haven’s heart pumping and full of vitality.

“For the past decade, I have had the pleasure of spending time on a daily basis with members of our volunteering groups. The simple truth is that we would not be able to deliver our services without them. We depend on them, we need them and they give us so much more that we can ever give them. They say volunteers aren’t paid because they are priceless, and we could not afford all that they give. Each volunteer, their skills and time make up a large part of Recovery Haven, so I am delighted with this acknowledgement for all our volunteers.”

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Musical Society announces ‘Sister Act’ as 2027 production

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Killarney Musical Society has announced that its 2027 musical production will be the comedy Sister Act.

The show will run at the Gleneagle Arena from Tuesday, March 2nd to Thursday, March 4th, 2027.

Based on the film, the musical tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub singer placed in protective custody in a convent after witnessing a crime. While there, she helps transform the parish choir.


Society Chairperson Derek O’Leary expressed excitement about the selection. “It is a show that combines humour, heart, spectacular music and an inspiring story, making it a perfect fit for Killarney Musical Society and our audiences,”

O’Leary said. He also confirmed that award-winning director Oliver Hurley and musical director Jimmy Brockie will return for the production.


The society, which draws performers, musicians, and backstage volunteers from across Kerry and neighbouring counties, will release details regarding auditions and production updates in the coming months.

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Killarney retains top ten position in national litter rankings

Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The […]

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Killarney has maintained its position in the top ten of the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey, securing 9th place out of 40 towns and cities surveyed nationwide. The town was officially deemed to be ‘Cleaner than European Norms’.

The accompanying report by An Taisce praised Killarney for delivering a solid performance, noting that there were no heavily littered sites found within the town boundaries.
Several local areas received top marks for maintenance and presentation. Main Street was highlighted as exceptionally well-presented, while Park Road, Muckross Road, and the Knockreer Playground and environs were also singled out for praise. The report noted that the playground area was in very good order across all elements.
However, the inspectors did highlight some areas for improvement. The JYSK site showed slight progress compared to the previous survey but remained classified as moderately littered. The report warned that care must be taken to prevent the location from deteriorating further.
On a national level, IBAL representative Conor Horgan noted that entering the peak tourist season, the country has fewer littered areas than at any time in the past 25 years.
Despite the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the survey highlighted a national rise in specific waste items. Plastic bottles were found in 19% of all surveyed sites across the country, and drinks cans were present in 22%. The prevalence of coffee cups also reached its highest level since 2023, alongside an increase in cigarette butt litter.

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