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Kerry’s ageing population requires new thinking about services for older people

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KILLARNEY has the distinction of having the oldest population among large towns in the country and overall Ireland is pushing on in terms of age, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office which show Kerry and Mayo are its oldest local authority areas.

Killarney is Ireland’s oldest large town with an average age of almost 41, while the average age of Dingle’s population is almost five years older than the national average, the CSO figures reveal.

And as the county’s average age now stands at 40.2 compared to national average of 37.4, Kerry Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil has said the Government must start to plan for the provision of health and care services to deal with increasing demand. “This data should act as a wakeup call to the Government, and stimulate a debate on the type of services that having an older population in the county requires,” said Deputy Brassil.

“We are already struggling to provide enough home help hours, respite packages and general care services for older people living in the county. How will the State cope as the population gets older, and lives longer?"

There are now 25,034 people living in Kerry who are over the age of 65, a full 19% increase since 2011. This figure is only expected to rise over the next 10-15 years. “We know that the Fair Deal Scheme is under pressure, and as the population increases, it’s time for us to look at different ways of supporting older people,” said the Kerry TD.

“My party brought forward a bill earlier this year which would have given older people a statutory right to care in their home, and not just a right to care in a nursing home.

“The evidence is clear: older people do better if they can stay in their home, surrounded by their family, friends and community.

“However, a change of this nature requires the Government to plan, secure resources and put in place the supports to deliver such a service.

“The time for planning is now if we are to get ahead of the curve, and ensure that every older people can have a decent quality of life.”

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Winner claims €1m Lotto win after ticket sat in glovebox

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Winner claims €1m Lotto win after ticket sat in glovebox


A Killarney lottery player has officially claimed a life-changing €1,005,000 EuroMillions prize after discovering the winning ticket had been sitting forgotten in a car glovebox for over a week.


The lucky ticket was purchased at John Bowler’s Centra store at The Reeks Gateway on Tralee Road for the special Ireland Only Raffle draw on Friday, August 21.
While the winner’s identity remains anonymous, the individual strongly hinted at being a local resident after admitting to discussing the local mystery win with townspeople while unaware the winning paper was parked in their own driveway.
“I left the ticket in the car glovebox, it must’ve been sitting there for over a week,” the winner revealed. “I had no idea the ticket was even there, and less so it was a ticket worth €1 million.”
“I heard there had been a win in the town, and I had even been chatting to people about the win and what you would do if you ever won a prize like that. Little did I know a €1 million ticket was in my driveway.”
The Killarney player won the top prize in the National Lottery’s special event, which guarantees one player an extra €1,000,000 on top of the standard €5,000 raffle payout.
The newly minted millionaire has already begun planning how to enjoy the windfall, with a Mediterranean cruise sitting high on the priority list.

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Marathon run to honour memory of beloved teacher Sarah


A local man is taking on the Dublin City Marathon to raise funds for cancer research in memory of his sister-in-law, who passed away earlier this year.


David ‘Daithí’ Casey will run the 26.2-mile course in honour of Sarah Egan, a popular local teacher who lost her battle with Ewing Sarcoma in May.
Known affectionately to her family and friends as Suzie, Sarah was a cherished daughter, sister, aunt, godmother, and friend.
Paying tribute to her memory, David remembered Sarah as a exceptionally kind and brave person who faced her illness with immense strength.
“Suzie was a kind, caring, shy, and beautiful person,” David said. “When she got sick, she showed amazing inner strength and was a brave fighter, especially in how she handled her illness in front of her family and her nieces and nephews.”
All funds raised from the run will go directly to Sarcoma Cancer Ireland to support ongoing research and treatment developments for Ewing Sarcoma, as well as providing assistance to affected families.
“Every mile I run is a reminder of why I’m doing this — to make a real difference for those who need it most,” David added. “It’s not just about crossing a finish line; it’s about turning effort into impact.”
The Egan and Casey families extended their sincere thanks to the local community for their support and kindness over the past three months.
Donations can be made online via eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/DC69465374.

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