Connect with us

News

Killarney residents enjoy COVID Care Concerts

Published

on

B

By Michelle Crean

After their heartwarming visits in August, Covid Care Concerts returned to residential care homes in Kerry last week, bringing music and memories to some of those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding from Creative Ireland Kerry brought the concerts to residential care home settings including Heather Lee Nursing Home and Killarney Nursing Home.

The performers and musicians – Gavan Ring, Kenneth Rice, Lisa Dowdall and Paula Hughes – encourage residents to unlock memories around well-loved songs through writing down or recording a little oral history that they associate with the piece.

“We all have deep emotional connections to music,” Gavan Ring said. “And allowing these emotions to be expressed has a great therapeutic effect.”

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival partnered with the renowned classical music ensemble Mobile Music Machine to deliver these one-hour concert recitals at an appropriate social distance in the grounds of care homes. Residents and staff gather in outdoor areas or listen to the performance through open windows and doors. The musicians visited 10 residential care home and hospital settings over five days.

Other nursing homes which experienced the concerts included Kenmare Nursing Home and St Joseph’s Care Home in Kenmare; Oaklands Nursing Home, Aras Mhuire Care Home, Listowel Community Hospital in Listowel; Ocean View Nursing Home, Aperee Living, and Our Lady of Fatima Nursing Home in Tralee.

Advertisement

News

Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

Published

on

By

Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

Continue Reading

News

How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

Published

on

By

Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport