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Killarney ice cream maker wins Blás award

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AWARD: John Fleming from Muckross Creamery, pictured with Hugh Gleeson (South Kerry Manager with Bank of Ireland), has received the bronze Blás na hÉireann award. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

His new product is not yet a year old and what a tumultuous year it has been - but that didn't stop local ice cream maker receiving a bronze award this week.

Fifth-generation dairy farmer John Fleming of Muckross Creamery, launched his multi flavoured ice creams in June 2019.

And on Monday morning, John picked up his bronze Blás na hÉireann award in Bank of Ireland on New Street in Killarney. He was one of 11 producers from Kerry who received an award from at Blas na hÉireann 2020.

"It's our first award from Blás na hÉireann and we're delighted to receive it," John, who also completed the SuperValu Food Academy, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We also won an award at the Listowel Food Fair last year."

John diversified his business last year selling ice cream from a cart at the old Leane's on Muckross Road.

"Things had been going well, we had a good reaction and Barry Spellman from Killarney Brewery and Denise O'Sullivan from Dinis Cottages asked us to supply them. It was going nicely and then March came and it was a disaster."

August and September proved busy as lockdown eased and visitors and locals came to Killarney for holidays and day trips.

John is delighted to have his flavoured products in Celtic Whiskey on New Street including 'Whiskey Ice Cream', and also 'Casey's Extra Stout and Chocolate Ice Cream' in Killarney Brewery.

The Blás na hÉireann awards were announced virtually last weekend as the annual pilgrimage to Dingle was stalled due to COVID restrictions.

Now in their 13th year, the Blás na hÉireann awards are the all-island food awards that recognise the very best Irish food and drink products, and the passionate people behind them.

[caption id="attachment_34122" align="alignleft" width="440"] HAPPY: Happy to receive their awards were Ildiko Bajkat from Listowel Wellness Bakery) and Jerry Jennedy from Kennedy's Butchers, Dingle, pictured with Hugh Gleeson (South Kerry Manager with Bank of Ireland). Photo: Michelle Crean[/caption]

The bronze, silver and gold winners from Kerry across a range of different categories also include Kennedy’s Butchers, Kerry Kefir, Knockatee Natural Dairy, Quinlan’s Kerry Fish, Wellness Baking Listowel Ltd., Dingle Distillery, Dingle Goats Cheese, Kerry Cow Farm Ltd. (Kells Bay Cheese), Micilín Muc and O’Sullivan’s Bakery with Kennedy’s Butchers winning best in county.

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Book of Condolences for Pope Francis at Cathedral

  A Book of Condolences has been opened at St Mary’s Cathedral for those wishing to pay their respects following the death of Pope Francis. The Pope, who led the […]

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A Book of Condolences has been opened at St Mary’s Cathedral for those wishing to pay their respects following the death of Pope Francis.

The Pope, who led the Catholic Church for twelve years, died on Monday at the age of 88.

He had been suffering from double pneumonia in recent weeks, but his death still came as a shock to many. Just hours before his passing, he had been seen greeting crowds in St Peter’s Square during Easter Sunday celebrations.

Locally, Bishop Ray Browne has led the tributes. He described Pope Francis as “a gentle shepherd” who brought humility and compassion to his role.

“It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis,” Bishop Browne said. “From the moment he chose the name Francis, rooted in humility, he signalled a papacy of building peace, care for the poor, and love for all of God’s creation.”

The bishop also highlighted the Pope’s focus on protecting the planet and caring for the marginalised, calling him “a voice for the voiceless” and “a witness to the Gospel in word and deed.”

A special Mass in memory of Pope Francis was held at St Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday.

The Pope’s funeral Mass will take place on Saturday at 10.00am in St Peter’s Square. It will be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and concelebrated by church leaders from around the world.

Due to the Pope’s passing, the special Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which was due to take place this Sunday has been cancelled.

Mass will still take place at the usual time of 11.30am. A new date for the celebration will be announced in due course.

Blessed Carlo Acutis was due to be officially declared a saint in Rome on Sunda but that has been postponed.

Carlo Acutis had a deep devotion to St Francis of Assisi, and his final resting place is in Assisi, near the tombs of St Francis and St Clare.

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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