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Lyme Disease campaign making progress in Killarney

CAMPAIGN: Mayor Brendan Cronin has been pushing for Lyme Disease awareness signs for years.
By Sean Moriarty
Lyme Disease awareness signs have - after years of campaigning - been placed at key locations across Killarney.
While the erection of signs has been welcomed by elected members of Killarney Municipal District they say more needs to be done to warn locals and visitors about the dangers of potentially contracting the deadly disease. Ticks that carry disease are associated with the wild deer that roam the National Park.
There is an ongoing row between Kerry County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) which own the park, over who is responsible for placing warning signs in the park.
The NPWS refuse to place such signs and in a compromise Kerry County Council agreed to place signs near entrances to the park on property owned by the Council.
In recent weeks these signs have been placed at the Port Road entrance, the Fossa way car park and a children’s playground within the park.
“I am delighted to report that following a long campaign Kerry County Council have started erecting Lyme Disease awareness signs at public entrances to Killarney National Park,” Mayor Brendan Cronin told the Killarney Advertiser.
Mr Cronin has been a long-time campaigner but, while welcoming the first move, asked if more could be done.
Cllr Maura Healy-Rae pointed out the number of yellow COVID-19 warning signs that have appeared in public and private locations in a short period of time as an example of what could be done.
The town’s executive promised to examine further Council-owned infrastructure in an effort to place more warning signs near the entrances to the National Park.
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Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”