Connect with us

News

Killarney mother plans to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day

Published

on

AWARENESS: Simone and Emilie Leahy pictured launching a coffee morning for World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

Next Thursday World Down Syndrome Day takes place across the globe - and one Killarney woman plans to take part to raise awareness and funds.

Simone Leahy, whose 20 month-old daughter Emilie has Down Syndrome, is planning a coffee morning in the Cahernane House Hotel next Thursday, March 21, from 10am to 12.30pm.

She said both she and her sister-in-law Nicola Browne want to raise awareness of World Down Syndrome Day, and to raise funds towards the Kerry Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland.

“It’s a world celebration of every person with Down Syndrome and their families,” Simone told the Killarney Advertiser this week.

“The date is special as it is the 21stday of the third month - which signifies the three copies of the 21stchromosome which leads to Down Syndrome.”

The events worldwide helpto raise public awareness and create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down Syndrome, Simone, who is married to Noel Leahy, added.

“With Emilie you go into a whole new world but you’re not excluded. It’s only been a short journey, but it’s been a wonderful one. We’ve made new friendships with people.”

Simone said the Kerry services, which are run through a centre in Tralee are amazingly supportive - but they receive no Government funding of any kind.

She’s hoping that the coffee morning will raise funds adding that she has seen Emilie come on so much since using the service.

“There’s 235 members in Kerry. It relies completely on donations. Emilie receives subsidised physio and speech language therapy and is learning to stand up on her own. One of the big rollouts is Lámh, which is modified sign language while speech is delayed and we get training in that. She’ll benefit from the centre for years to come.”

To get World Down Syndrome Day trending on the day make sure to join in the ‘lots of socks’ campaign by taking pictures and videos and posting them on social media using the hashtags #LotsOfSocks, #WorldDownSyndromeDay and #WDSD19.

 

 

 

Advertisement

News

Joey Sheehan wins historic sixth Dr Crokes Captain’s Prize

Published

on

By

Accomplished golfer Joey Sheehan scooped the Dr Crokes GAA Club Golf Society Captain’s Prize for the sixth time following the outing at The Killeen Course at Killarney Golf Club on Friday.

Society Captain Niall Botty O’Callaghan and his mother Eileen O’Callaghan hosted the prizegiving function in The Failte Hotel, where Joey was presented with a painting of the fourth hole at Killeen by local artist and Dr Crokes member Paul Downey.


Joey Sheehan won his first Dr Crokes Captain’s prize back in 1997, which was the start of an historic four-in-a-row.

He collected his fifth Captain’s prize in 2006 before adding his sixth with the 2026 title last Friday.

Over the years, he has also won two Dr Crokes Presidents prizes, numerous other society outings, and the Eddie Barry Memorial Cup three times as player of the year.


The prize giving function in The Failte featured speeches from society officer Brendan Keogh, Captain Niall Botty O’Callaghan, and overall winner Joey Sheehan.

During the speeches, a number of recently deceased local people and others from recent years associated with the Dr Crokes Golf Society were remembered.

Among those fondly remembered were Brian O’Regan, John O’Mahony, Ewan MacIndoe, Gerry Collins, Paudie O’Callaghan, Malachy Walsh, and Seani McCarthy.


The Dr Crokes Captains Prize was once again sponsored by Mike Buckley of Kerry Coaches. Following overall winner Joey Sheehan, the full list of prize winners included John Lynch in second, Finian Moran in third, and Liam Hartnett in fourth. Sean Brosnan took fifth place, followed by Maurice O’Donoghue in sixth, John O’Leary in seventh, Paudie Sheahan in eighth, Colm Galvin in ninth, and Eamonn Fitzgerald in tenth.

Continue Reading

News

Discussion on Irish-American literary voices

Published

on

By

The second series of talks for the new ‘Summer in Killarney’ festival took place at Killarney House in Killarney National Park, focusing on the lives and work of literary figures F. Scott Fitzgerald and Mary Lavin.

The event, titled ‘The Great Irish-American Voices of F. Scott Fitzgerald & Mary Lavin’, featured presentations by authors Gráinne Hurley, writer of Gratefully and Affectionately: Mary Lavin and The New Yorker, and Killarney native Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, author of Gatsby: Death of an Irishman.

Following their presentations, both authors joined Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy for a panel conversation exploring the impact of both writers on American literature.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport