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Local gardai are ready to help the community

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6 years ago

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ON STANDBY: Killarney Gardai are ready to help the community during the current health crisis.

By Sean Moriarty

Killarney Gardai have adjusted shift patterns and are taking other measures in an effort to confront the COVID-19 crisis.

Superintendent Flor Murphy this week said he and his colleagues have a range of measures in place and have a continuity plan set up should a member of the Force become infected by the virus.

Garda efforts will be ramped up over the coming days as other services like the HSE come under increased strain.
Local gardai are also on hand to help the elderly and more vulnerable in society.

“Our role is to reassure the community,” Supt. Murphy told the Killarney Advertiser. “Our priority is public safety.”

The role of gardai in the community could change in the coming weeks. On Tuesday night Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned that older and ill members of our community may to have to "cocooned" for months after the initial threats have passed. If this is the case, the gardai will have to assist in delivering much-needed supplies to cut-off households.

“We will optimise our resources, our priority will be to support other agencies should the need arise,” he added.

The Superintendent warned that opportunistic criminals would not be allowed to create civil unrest in the county and that even if resources are deployed elsewhere they will still be able to deal with day-to-day issues.

There are concerns in bigger centres of population that a long-term shut down could lead to looting and other criminal acts.

“I can’t see it being an issue in Killarney,” he added. “The people of the town are respectful and law-abiding. Public safety is our priority and we don’t expect any mass disorder and looting.”

He encouraged people to get out and use the National Park – while observing correct social distancing measures.

“We are very lucky here, we have the parks and the mountains on our doorsteps and other towns don’t have that. It is a sad time for everyone but we must pull through this,” he added.

Killarney Garda Station can be contacted on 064 6631222 and the Garda Confidential Line is 1800-666-111.

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Sinn Féin to host public meeting on cost of living at Killarney Heights Hotel

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm. […]

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1 day ago

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25 May 2026

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Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm.

The Donegal TD will be joined by Kerry TD Pa Daly to discuss the economic pressures facing local households and the policy changes needed to provide financial relief. The main focus of the evening will center on the barriers preventing local people from buying their own homes, alongside broader costs of living challenges.
Speaking exclusively to the Killarney Advertiser ahead of his visit, Deputy Doherty said workers and families across Kerry are being squeezed from every direction by rising weekly shops, high energy bills, increasing insurance premiums, and substantial housing costs.
“Young people are losing hope that they will ever own a home in the county where they were raised,” Deputy Doherty said. “And while all of this is happening, the government is sitting on billions in budget surpluses while telling struggling families to wait. It is simply not good enough.”
The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson highlighted specific regional factors making the crisis acute in County Kerry, particularly regarding home heating costs.
“Almost 59% of homes in Kerry rely on home heating oil, which is nearly double the state average of 34%,” he said. “That means families across the county are far more exposed to soaring fuel costs than households in many other parts of the state. Yet the government withdrew supports that were helping households keep the lights on and heat their homes.”
Deputy Doherty noted that the housing situation in Kerry has moved beyond a social issue and is now impacting the local economy and communities. He pointed to figures showing average rents in the county have reached €1,493 per month, with exceptionally low market availability.
“At the time of writing, there were only 27 properties available online to rent across the entire county. Only 19 were below €2,000 a month and just five were available for less than €1,500. A county the size of Kerry, and only five rental properties affordable to someone on an ordinary income,” he said.
He also raised concerns for first-time buyers, noting that average house prices in Kerry have climbed to €296,000, representing an increase of €33,500 in a single year.
During the meeting, the Sinn Féin representatives will outline their party’s alternative proposals. These include a state-led program of affordable home building, a ban on excessive rent increases, enhanced protections for renters, and immediate energy credits and tax relief for workers.
“The resources exist to do this,” Deputy Doherty added. “The government’s own figures show billions in surplus funds available to the state. The issue is not a lack of money. The issue is political choice.”
The meeting is open to all members of the public, and a discussion session will follow the main presentations.

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National Park hosts weekend Bioblitz for National Biodiversity Week

Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment. Today, Friday, […]

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25 May 2026

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Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment.

Today, Friday, May 22, marks the UN International Day for Biological Diversity, and a series of free events will run across the park until the national celebration concludes this Sunday, May 24.
The highlight of the weekend is the Killarney National Park Bioblitz. This event brings families, nature lovers, and community volunteers together to find, identify, and record as many different plant and animal species as possible across the park’s diverse habitats over the next three days.
Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, encouraged locals and visitors alike to utiliSe the final days of the festival to experience the area’s unique wildlife, referencing Killarney’s native habitats as key areas the state is working to protect.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), noted that the week is designed to remind people that native plants, woodlands, and rivers are vital systems that make life possible. OrganiSers are encouraging anyone in the locality to head out to Killarney National Park before Sunday evening to participate in the species count and support local conservation efforts.

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