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Local pharmacy steps 163 years back in time

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By Michelle Crean

One local business has stepped 163 years back in time this week – by digging out some very old antiques to put on public display.
Sewell’s Pharmacy on High St, Ireland’s oldest family run pharmaceutical business, has added a very unique look to their windows with the addition of some of the original equipment used over the last five generations.
Included is a prescription book from 1932, a Materia Medica book from 1935, the Sale of Poisons and the Practice of Pharmacy Acts book from 1938 and the British Pharmacopoeia from 1953. There’s also many older instruments including glass bottles and equipment which date further back. And it’s creating a very interesting talking point in the town.
However, the items can’t stay too long as they are so old that they could get damaged by the light over time.
The business was originally opened in New St in 1856, then moved to the corner of number 1 High St in 1885. Later, in 1968, it was extended into number 2 with the purchase of the premises next door, Ian Trant who now runs the pharmacy told the Killarney Advertiser.
“My great-great-grandfather John Sewell opened the business in 1856, then his son John took over, followed by his son Jack, then Jack’s son John, who died in a car crash in 1962. Then my mother Mary Sewell took over. She married my father John Trant, who was an engineer with Kerry County Council, based in Killarney.”
Ian, who is a trained pharmacist is married to pharmacist Sylvia Kelleher who also works in the shop.
In 1987, Ian returned home to Killarney from Dublin, where he had been living for some time and took over the running of the pharmacy.
“My grandfather Jack was also married to a pharmacist, Evelyn Hoy, whose 1922 certificate is in the window,” Ian explained.
All the old antiques are stored upstairs above the pharmacy, he added, and some are with Paul Curtis in Muckross House.
“Maybe in time I’ll donate them to the national museum or whoever is interested in them.”

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HeartBeat to host Advanced Healthcare Directive information night

Anne O’Shea Clarke, Regional Manager of SAGE Advocacy Mid & South West Regions, will provide a comprehensive explanation of the process involved in properly creating an Advanced Healthcare Directive (AHD) […]

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Anne O’Shea Clarke, Regional Manager of SAGE Advocacy Mid & South West Regions, will provide a comprehensive explanation of the process involved in properly creating an Advanced Healthcare Directive (AHD) on Tuesday, April 29, starting at 8pm in the Parish Centre, Park Road.

An ADH is a document which sets out your instructions in relation to healthcare treatments in the future, when you no longer have the capacity to decide. AHDs are not solely relevant to older individuals. Young adults can also significantly benefit from putting these directives in place for themselves or when assisting loved ones. Attendees will gain valuable ‘Knowledge is Power; regarding legal and personal matters
The meeting will specifically look at two key application forms: the standard AHD Form and the Think Ahead / my form.
Prior to the main meeting, a Blood Pressure. and Pulse Clinic will be available from 7:15pm until 8:00pm sharp. Following O’Shea Clarke’s presentation, there will be a Question & Answer session, followed by tea and coffee.
SAGE Advocacy, the national service for older people, works to ensure access to information, support, and independent advocacy, while also providing safeguarding services across various settings, including homes, day centres, hospitals, and nursing homes.
They also support vulnerable adults and healthcare patients in situations where other services may not be available.
For further information, email anne.osheaclarke@sageadvocacy.ie or visit www.sageadvocacy.ie.

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Singer-songwriter Lillie Foley releases second single

Local singer-songwriter Lillie Foley, from Whitebridge Manor, has released her second single of 2025, titled ‘That’s Life’, on all major streaming platforms. ‘That’s Life’ is described as a powerful blend […]

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Local singer-songwriter Lillie Foley, from Whitebridge Manor, has released her second single of 2025, titled ‘That’s Life’, on all major streaming platforms.

‘That’s Life’ is described as a powerful blend of pop and soul music, drawing on Foley’s own life experiences. The track marks a further step in the promising career of the emerging local artist.
Recorded at the renowned Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin, ‘That’s Life’ showcases Foley’s emotive lyrics, soulful vocals, and a sound that is both modern and deeply personal. Collaborating with music producer and audio engineer Hermann Ogulla, Foley has crafted a song that blends her Irish background with contemporary musical styles, aiming to resonate with listeners in Ireland,and beyond.
Foley said: “This is a song about resilience and accepting that bad things happen in life and we just have to get on with it and move on as best we can.”
‘That’s Life’ is the second of several songs Foley has planned for release in 2025.

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