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Kidney patients face additional stress as a result of restrictions

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SUPPORT: Members of the Irish Kidney Association’s Kerry Branch pictured ahead of their now postponed walk: Noreen Buckley, Stephen Byrne, David Clifford (Kerry GAA star), Theresa Looney (Patient Support Officer Kerry Branch IKA) and Brendan Herbert (Chairman Kerry Branch IKA).

By Sean Moriarty

Vulnerable kidney patients that need to attend urgent dialysis treatment in University Hospital Kerry (UHK) are one of the hardest people in society hit by the new movement and social distancing restrictions.

Dialysis patients attend the Tralee hospital three days a week. Some groups attend the service on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while others attend Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Killarney-based patients would usually share a taxi to get them too and from the hospital but the Irish Kidney Association’s Kerry Branch Patient Support Officer Theresa Looney says this no longer possible.

“Their immune system is very vulnerable, they risk cross-contamination from other patients,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

Patients will now have to rely on family members to ferry them to and from UHK. Cars will have to be disinfected before each leg of the journey adding time and stress to an already difficult situation.

Theresa also warned that vital life-saving transplant operations are likely to be suspended as less and less medical staff and hospital beds become available as the crisis escalates - putting even more lives at risk.

The local branch was forced to cancel its fundraising walk in Killarney National Park tomorrow (Sunday), but the public is encouraged to support the work of the Irish Kidney Association and can Free text KIDNEY to 50300 to donate €4 and the Irish Kidney Association will receive a minimum of €3.60.

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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