News
Kind-hearted Killarney woman at centre of Turkish recovery

By Michelle Crean and Sean Moriarty
A kind-hearted Killarney woman - who could be described as a real life angel - is helping devastated people piece their lives back together following earthquakes which claimed the lives of almost 50,000 people.
Turkey and Syria were ripped apart by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6 and by smaller quakes in the aftermath.
As people there began searching for loved ones and piecing what's left of their lives back together, the country was further devastated this week by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in the Hatay area which damaged even more buildings.
Majella Moloney has been working for the Irish Embassy in Turkey for the last seven months. After witnessing the destruction she wanted to make a difference and now she and her colleagues are volunteering as part of the rescue mission to work as coordinators for aid workers and hospital staff.
Although the Marian Terrace woman is based in the capital city of Ankara some 600km from the earthquake’s epicentre, Majella is also working with local hospitals after victims were transferred there.
She is in daily communication with aid workers who are working in the most affected areas of southern Turkey and northern Syria.
While she is very appreciative that Irish people have donated essential goods to the aid mission, Majella said cash is better. A truck load of goods could take a week to get there but money allows the coordinators to buy what is needed when it's needed.
She told the Killarney Advertiser the harrowing story of a young boy who lost an arm and leg in the devastation as well as his father and some of his siblings who were killed. The youngster is all alone as his injured mother is currently in a different hospital many kilometres away.
“The hospital told us they needed a tablet so he could FaceTime his mother and we were able to organise the purchase of that,” she explained.
“We can get what is needed on the ground to the disaster area quicker. I am in touch with rescue workers and they tell me they need coats and tents. I know people driving up there at the weekend so I can go and buy coats and tents and get them to that car.”
Majella has also received cash from friends in Killarney – via a mobile banking App – including funds raised by her sister-in-law Cllr Marie Moloney, her friend Pauline O’Shea from Muckross and the local Soroptimists group.
For anyone who'd like to donate they can do so via a list of approved charities available on www.dochas.ie/turkey-syria-earthquake-response/.
News
MTU hosts Active Ageing Festival at Kerry Sports Academy
Young students got to share their learning skills while an older group showed patience and experience during the ‘Active Ageing Festival’. Held in Munster Technological University last week the event, […]

Young students got to share their learning skills while an older group showed patience and experience during the ‘Active Ageing Festival’.
Held in Munster Technological University last week the event, in conjunction with Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership (KRSP), saw 150 people engaged with a busy schedule of activities, facilitated by the students and staff of the Department of Health and Leisure Studies.
Dr Barry Moynihan, Consultant Geriatrician in University Hospital Kerry opened the event with an informative talk on the importance of movement as we age.
Many community organisations and networks were represented on the day such as HSE, Baile Mhuire, Kerry Library, Kerry Call, SeanChairde, Centre of Smart Ageing, Probus and Age and Opportunity.
Activities such as Pickleball, Bowls, Better Balance Better Bones, Dance and Yoga were also showcased.
Gearoid O’Doherty, coordinator of the KRSP, highlighted the need for more community-based activities for older adults across Kerry and the role of the partnership in supporting this development.
It is hoped that other venues across the county can facilitate a similar event in the future.
MTU lecturer and event coordinator Eimear Foley, spoke of the mutual benefit that this day provided to both participants and students.
“The real-life experience afforded to the students is immense, with involvement in planning, delivering and evaluation of the event to the fore.”
Within their course, the concept of being active across the lifespan is embedded and this opportunity for the students to engage in real life learning is paramount. Older people can generate community-based learning experiences not only for themselves but also for the young. Many of the participants commented on the professionalism, warmth and enthusiasm of the students, whilst the students were delighted with the patience shown to them and ease of conversation with the participants.
News
Killarney to feature on TG4’s Country Music show
By Sean Moriarty A song about Killarney – once made famous by local Country Music hero Dermot Moriarty – will feature on TG4 tomorrow night (Tuesday). The second series of […]

By Sean Moriarty
A song about Killarney – once made famous by local Country Music hero Dermot Moriarty – will feature on TG4 tomorrow night (Tuesday).
The second series of the Irish channel’s County Music show ‘Viva Ceol Tire’, which highlights emerging Country Music talent in Ireland, airs every Tuesday night at 9.30pm.
The next programme will feature Donegal singer David James’ version of ‘Oh Killarney’.
The programme was filmed entirely on location in Killarney including Torc Waterfall, Ladies View Moll’s Gap and Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
“The song was written by Dennis Allen. However, it was a hit for Dermot Moriarty in the 1980s. The first time I heard it I loved it and I was thrilled with the reaction my version has got,” James, who is from the small village of Killean in Donegal, told the Killarney Advertiser.
“It’s pretty rural but I love it. I’ll be in Country Music 10 years this May. My first gig was in the local GAA hall for my aunt’s 50th birthday. I was 14 and I’ve been at it ever since.”
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