News
Kilcummin celebrates golden jubilee of Our Lady of Lourdes Church
The parish of Kilcummin marked a milestone on June 21 when Bishop Ray Browne celebrated a special Golden Jubilee Mass to honour the 50th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Bishop Ray welcomed several concelebrants who have ministered in the parish over the past five decades, including Fr Kieran O'Brien, Fr Joe Begley, Fr Larry Kelly, Fr Tom Looney, Fr Jim Lenihan, and Deacon Thady O'Connor.
During the ceremony, Bishop Ray highlighted the remarkable community spirit alive in Kilcummin.
He noted that over its 50-year history, the church has hosted 1,920 baptisms, 520 weddings, and 850 funerals.
The celebration also welcomed back individuals who shared historical ties to the church's earliest days. In attendance were Marian Keane and Timmy O'Keeffe of Gneeveguilla, who celebrated the very first wedding in the church.
George Lenihan and Eimear Mangan, who recorded the first parish baptism in June 1976, were also present.
Additionally, original 1976 parish building committee members Tom Dalton, Dermot Keane, and Johnny Guerin joined the congregation to mark the occasion.
Following the Mass, the community gathered at the Kilcummin School Gym for refreshments and social interaction.
Local schoolchildren publish parish book
A key highlight of the Golden Jubilee celebrations was the launch of a 19-page colour information booklet acting as a guide to the church, its grounds, the grotto, Mass Rock, and parish cemeteries.
The booklet was entirely researched and written by the sixth-class pupils of the three local parish national schools: Anabla, Coolick, and Kilcummin.
Fr Kieran O'Brien praised the efforts of the mostly 13-year-old students, calling the publication a remarkable and valuable legacy as they finish primary school and prepare for post-primary education this coming September.
The Parish Council extended their gratitude to Éamonn Fitzgerald for overseeing the project and getting it into print, as well as Community Employment workers Helen, Margaret, Iryna, and Maura for printing and compiling the final booklets.
Complimentary copies of the Golden Jubilee booklet are available for parishioners and visitors. You can pick up a copy directly from:
Siobhán McSweeney, Parish Secretary
Kilcummin Rural Development Office
Kilcummin Parish Pastoral Council
The members of the Kilcummin Parish Pastoral Council who helped coordinate the Golden Jubilee celebrations are:
Clare Fleming (Chairperson)
Éamonn Fitzgerald
Fr Kieran O’Brien
Ann Marie Keane
Theresa Kerins
Siobhán McSweeney
Irene O’Keeffe
Gearóid O’Sullivan
250th anniversary of Arthur Young’s Muckross visit
A special commemorative walk will take place on the Muckross Peninsula this Sunday, September 27, to mark the 250th anniversary of English writer and agriculturist Arthur Young’s historic visit to Killarney.
Young stayed with the Herbert family at the Muckross Estate for four nights in September 1776 while researching his book A Tour Of Ireland. During his stay, he explored the native oak woods, the rare Reenadinna Yew Wood, limestone rock formations, and local flora along the peninsula.
His detailed accounts of the landscape led to the formal naming of the “Arthur Young Walk” on September 27, 1776.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Conservation Ranger Shonagh Gray will lead the anniversary walk, guiding participants through the historical route while outlining the ecology and heritage of the peninsula.
The walk begins at 10.30am this Sunday, outside the Garden Restaurant at Muckross House.
Concerns over suicide prevention funding
Killarney councillor Marie Moloney has expressed serious concerns regarding mental health provision and localised suicide prevention services across South Kerry, following figures released at the Regional Health Forum South West this week.
Data provided by HSE Kerry Integrated Care Area Manager Julie O’Neill revealed that while overall mental health funding for Kerry grew from €40 million in 2024 to €52.1 million in 2026, targeted direct funding for suicide prevention dropped from €84,335 in 2024 to €74,558 in 2026.
In response to a motion raised by Cllr Moloney, the HSE confirmed that a countywide Crisis Resolution Team (CRT) is currently being established, with five full-time equivalent Crisis Intervention Nurse posts reconfigured from existing adult community mental health teams.
A Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) commenced duties recently, with a second appointee set to take up position shortly. The HSE confirmed that the Crisis Nurse for South Kerry is already in post, and a Consultant Psychiatrist is expected to be appointed by year-end.
However, Cllr Moloney highlighted regional inequities within the service, pointing out that the base for the new crisis team has been located in Tralee, despite high local demand and recent community concerns over male suicide rates in the Killarney region.
“While the appointment of dedicated crisis nurses is a welcome step, the actual direct funding for suicide prevention in the region shows a clear decline over the three-year period,” Cllr Moloney said.
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