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Killarney welcomes US basketball legend

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9 years ago

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James Weldon and Sylvia Hatchell.
James Weldon and Sylvia Hatchell.

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WELL-KNOWN Killarney basketball coach James Weldon met up with Sylvia Hatchell, one of legends of USA ladies basketball, during her visit to Killarney this week.

Sylvia Hatchell is the head coach of the women's basketball team at University of North Carolina. Hatchell and her squad were in Ireland this week and played two matches against Ireland in Dublin and Cork.

Coach Hatchell, an American Basketball Hall of Fame recipient, has been named national coach of the year three times in the USA and coached the United States women's basketball team to a gold medal win in the 1988 Olympics.

James Weldon is an FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate (FECC)-approved basketball coach and one of only 300 coaches in the world who have this qualification. He is a former superleague player with St. Pauls Killarney and coached the St Paul’s ladies team through an impressive stint in the top flight before going on to enjoy incredible success with the all-conquering University of Limerick Huskies superleague and national cup winning team.

He coached UL to ten national titles in four seasons and was honoured with the Irish Basketball coach of the year award on three different occasions. His talents have also been recognised with his appointment as head coach to a number of Irish teams.

The North Carolina group enjoyed a three-night stay in The Lake Hotel Killarney and availed of the opportunity to enjoy the local scenery and tourist attractions. Coach Hatchell posted several photos on social media of her stay in Killarney including a boat trip on the lakes and a pony ride in the Gap of Dunloe. She was lavish in her praise of the local scenery and described her stay in Killarney as the trip of a lifetime.
 

 
Above: James Weldon and Sylvia Hatchell.

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Concerns over future of St Mary of the Angels

Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for […]

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9 hours ago

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17 October 2025

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Two Kerry TDs have voiced concerns over the future of St Mary of the Angels and St Francis Special School in Beaufort, highlighting the urgent need for respite services for children and adults with profound disabilities and special needs.

The campus, set on lands generously donated by the Doyle family, offers 30 acres of grounds, existing buildings, and services, making it a valuable asset for the provision of respite care in Kerry. TD Michael Cahill emphasized that the Doyle family’s wishes should be respected, and that the grounds should be made accessible immediately.
“The special needs community in Kerry has a major respite crisis and families don’t have time to wait. Families need help — they are not asking for full-time residential care but respite care, a break, a helping hand,” Deputy Cahill said.
He added that a bespoke approach is needed to meet the individual needs of children attending St Francis Special School. “Many of the children in the county with profound needs need a safe haven where they can roam the grounds freely, and St Mary of the Angels offers this.”
Deputy Cahill has accompanied several Ministers to the Beaufort campus to highlight its value to Disability Health Service providers. A working group has been formed including St John of Gods, the HSE, representatives of residents at St Mary of the Angels, and St Francis Special School, to explore options for maintaining and expanding respite services.
“Parents are worn out and at the end of their tether. This needs to be dealt with expeditiously, in an environment of cooperation between the relevant Government Departments of Health, Disability, and Education. We need to get this across the line urgently and put it permanently in place,” he said.
Deputy Cahill pointed to the current shortfall of respite services in Kerry. “As of now, Cunamh Iveragh respite in Cahersiveen is only open Friday to Sunday, running at half capacity — two adults per night instead of four. The issue is staffing, and the HSE will not release funding to open full-time. The Beaufort campus is available and should be utilised as parents are crying out for overnight respite. Cooperation and compassion could see this done quickly.”
TD Danny Healy Rae echoed these concerns during a Dáil speech this week. “We are still short of respite beds on the southern side of the constituency. Families caring for people with disabilities just want a break, but there is nowhere available locally. Places are being offered only in Tipperary or Meath for those needing new residential care. It makes no sense. St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort has 40 or 50 acres of grounds that could be expanded, with facilities already in place such as swimming pools. It could be developed as a model for the rest of the country.”
Both TDs are urging the Government and the HSE to take immediate action to utilise the Beaufort campus for respite care, in line with the intentions of the Doyle family and the needs of Kerry families.

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Cardiac Response Unit’s ‘Restart a Heart’ training event

Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) is set to run a range of events as part of the global initiative Restart A Heart, which aims to increase awareness and actual rates […]

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13 hours ago

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17 October 2025

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Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) is set to run a range of events as part of the global initiative Restart A Heart, which aims to increase awareness and actual rates of bystander CPR worldwide.

The main event, titled RAH 2025, invites the public to learn life-saving skills and the basic steps in the chain of survival. This will take place on Saturday, October 18, at the Killarney Outlet Centre.
Members of the public are encouraged to join KCRU at the centre between 10:00 am and 5pm.
Key feature of the day will be the CPR Competition, offering “fantastic prizes to be won.”
For further information, visit www.killarneycru.ie/rah25

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