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Madeleine plans 150ft plunge for Down Syndrome Ireland

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TAKING THE PLUNGE: Madeleine Doyle from Beaufort is planning to abseil 150 feet from the roof of Croke Park for Down Syndrome Ireland. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

Abseiling 150ft down from the roof of Croke Park will be an exciting adventure for one local woman who plans to raise funds for a charity close to her heart.

Madeleine Doyle from Beaufort, who is now living in Ballycasheen, is planning to take part in 'Abseil Croke Park 4 DSI' challenge on Saturday, October 24.

And the funds raised will go to the Ability Programme which will help to secure meaningful employment for young adults in Ireland with Down Syndrome.

"I have a younger brother with Down Syndrome - James who is aged 22," Madeleine explained to the Killarney Advertiser.

"The Ability programme is aimed to help James and others like him to find work in an area that is of interest to them, to help them grow professionally and gain confidence."

James, who loves music and sport, is currently working in Deenagh Lodge in Killarney and attends a 'Skills 4 Life' programme through St God of Gods in the IT Tralee.

And Madeleine says that she feels the the abseil was meant to be as it is falling on the day of her birthday.
"I took that as a sign to take the plunge - literally! I now have something to do on my birthday, I'm so excited, I can't wait."

Madeleine set up a Facebook donation page: Madeleine’s Abseil Croke Park for DSI and also an iDonate page with the same name where people can contribute if they wish. Her original target was €250 and to date almost €2,400 has been raised.

"Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far. I genuinely wouldn't have expected to get remotely close to it. People are wonderful especially in these uncertain times."

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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