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Local online group unites communities worldwide

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INSPIRING: Photographer Trevor O’Donoghue from Killarney has set up a Facebook group which is uniting people all over the world.

 

By Michelle Crean

One local photographer, who wants to support and help cheer people up at such an uneasy time - has been overwhelmed that his new community group has reached over one thousand people worldwide.

Trevor O’Donoghue, who has Cystic Fibrosis, has been a photographer for 15 years and is keen to share well-being and mindfulness techniques with others.

Recently he started running some day long Mindography workshops locally, and as peoples’ interest really started to grow, he created a Facebook group called ‘Pictures of Life’, which has really taken off.

Group members are enjoying the daily themes from ‘Sky’, ‘Morning’, ‘Nature’ and ‘No Face Selfie’ amongst others. Trevor explained that it’s not a photography competition, but about being in a community at a time of need.

“It is amazing watching it all unfold,” Trevor told the Killarney Advertiser.
“There are pictures being shared from all over the world and people don’t need a big camera to take a meaningful image. It has been emotional and fun watching peoples’ pictures and interaction. People have really united together to support, encourage and cheer each other up at such an uneasy time.”

He added that both himself and his fiancée Ciara wanted to help others.

“It is now scientifically proven that the health of our mind and body are both linked. With everything going on at the moment, we believe it is just as important for us all to look after our mental well-being as much as our physical bodies. We decided to run a free online Mindography course a few weeks back. It isn’t possible for us to help out in the community because we are in isolation, so after a bit of thinking we also decided to create the Facebook group and challenge for people to introduce them to what we are aiming to do,” he said.

“We are so happy we decided to do it and have well over one thousand people partaking, between the Facebook page and our community and it is growing every day, a big difference from the 40 or 50 we had expected. The creativity we are seeing is inspiring.”

Readers can join in at www.focusonhappiness.ie or their Facebook group: ‘Pictures of Life’.

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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