News
Kerry to get over €4m to welcome internationally displaced people

County Kerry is set to get the second largest portion of funding under a new scheme aimed at welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.
Announced this week by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups are set to benefit from the funding.
A total of €50 million has been allocated under the Community Recognition Fund with every local authority in the country set to receive funds from the scheme.
The money will be divided based on the number of new arrivals located in each local authority area with Kerry County Council to get €4,403,073 under the scheme - the highest figure allocated to any individual county council.
The second highest local authority on the funding list is Donegal County Council which is set to get €3,114,395.
“The people of Kerry have opened their hearts and homes to those forced to flee the war in Ukraine," TD Norma Foley said.
"This funding initiative is designed to specifically support those communities who have welcomed and are hosting families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries.
“This funding stream is specifically designed to recognise the vital role our communities are playing in response to this illegal and unjust war, and will support, enhance and improve facilities that are open to the wider community."
When the allocations earmarked for all four Dublin councils (Dublin City Council - €2,392,127; Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - €707,864, South Dublin County Council - €2,754,305m and Fingal County Council - €1,813,912) are added together, it totals €7,668,208.
Refugee influx paused
Meanwhile the Government has paused new arrivals of people seeking International Protection (IP) into Ireland due a severe shortage of accommodation.
Latest figures by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth say that more than 1,500 people have arrived in Ireland in the first two weeks of the year.
To date, Ireland has accommodated more than 74,000 people who have fled here, between International Protection (IP) applicants and those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The Government was providing temporary accommodation at a Transit Hub at Citywest, Dublin.
“Due to the nationwide shortage of available accommodation for IP applicants, particularly single males, the Transit Hub has been providing emergency shelter while applicants wait to be assigned to accommodation. It is no longer possible to provide emergency shelter to IP adults as the Transit Hub has now reached capacity,” a department statement said.
This decision will not affect those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
News
Killarney twinned with Italian town
By Sean Moriarty It has taken 10 years but the Italian town of Casperia is now an official twin town with Killarney. The idea to twin the picturesque town near […]

By Sean Moriarty
It has taken 10 years but the Italian town of Casperia is now an official twin town with Killarney.
The idea to twin the picturesque town near Rome was first mooted by the old Killarney Town Council.
However, when town councils were discontinued in 2014 the task was handed over to Killarney Town Twining Association and was supported by the elected Killarney Municipal District members of Kerry County Council.
A delegation from the association and the council visited Casperia in 2019 to sign the Italian side of the twining agreement.
The pandemic further delayed the process but on Thursday last Killarney Mayor Niall Kelleher and Casperia Mayor Marco Cusso met to formally sign the charter in Killarney.
“This was honouring a commitment made by the former town council to establish a twinning under European guidelines back in 2014,” said association chairman Sean Counihan.
“Unfortunately the town councils were abolished and Killarney Town Twinning Association pursued the matter.
“We are delighted that the municipal authority saw fit to move the beautiful town of Casperia near Rome from association status to full twinning with Killarney.
“We deeply appreciate the members’ positivity in honouring the former Town Council’s decision.”
The signing between the two mayors took place over the St Patrick’s Festival weekend when Killarney Town Twining Association also welcomed groups from other towns like Pleindfeld in Germany and Concord, North Carolina, USA.
News
Music and fun at Fossa Rambling House
By Sean Moriarty The Fossa Two Mile branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann held its first Rambling House night of music and dance on Saturday night. Their return to the stage […]

By Sean Moriarty
The Fossa Two Mile branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann held its first Rambling House night of music and dance on Saturday night.
Their return to the stage was timed to coincide with the St Patrick’s weekend celebration and also marked the first big event at the Castlerosse Park Resort since it re-opened on Thursday night following its winter break.
As well as a feat of Irish music, dance and poetry, Fossa-based Ukrainians gave performances in their native language too.
“What a great night we had at our CCÉ Rambling House last Saturday night,” Chairman Tim Kissane said.
“There are so many people to thank that we apologise in advance if we miss anybody out. Firstly, to the management and staff Castlerosse Park Resort for hosting our event and the wonderful service they provided.
“To our very talented stalwart musicians Mike Jack, Noreen and Maura who entertained us all so well from start to finish.
“To all our guest performers, from The Racing Pigeons to the Biddy Group and all the singers, musicians and storytellers in between go raibh mile maith agaibh. Special mention to our Ukrainian singers who performed two songs in their native language for us on the night. Thank you to all our members and supporters and to Fear an Tí, Mick Myers agus Bean an Tí, Theresa Kissane who kept the night flowing. Our fireplace display was kindly lent to us by the Beaufort Pioneers and adorned with ‘things of old’ from Brendan O’Sullivan.”
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