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Major upgrade plan for Fitzgerald Stadium set to be announced

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The Kerry GAA County board is set to reveal a major re-development plan for Fitzgerald Stadium in the coming weeks.

A joint effort between the county board, the Fitzgerald Stadium sub-committee and other key stakeholders in the county will be announced next month the Killarney Advertiser understands.

Last year the Kerry GAA chairman Patrick O’Sullivan revealed that the refurbishment of the stadium could cost as much as €72.5 million.

In November last year he briefed a government delegation that included Leo Varadkar and other ministers before the cabinet re-shuffle that occurred around Christmas time.

“All these meetings have been positive towards the planned project,” said O’Sullivan at the time.

Speaking the Kerry County Board’s annual general meeting in Tralee late last year Mr O’Sullivan said: “Fitzgerald Stadium is regarded as home for the Kerry senior football team when championship begins.

“However, right now the stadium needs a major refit upgrading it to a multi-event centre to cater for the needs of the people of Kerry into the future.

“It needs to be modern and comfortable for our spectators not only to enjoy big GAA games but also to attract some of the finest Irish and international entertainment acts to this county.”

Der Brosnan, chairman of the Fitzgerald Stadium Committee, told the same meeting.

“When we spoke with the International Rugby Board, they said the location of Fitzgerald Stadium was a template for international stadiums due to its location. The most important thing is that the stadium is within walking distance from the town.”

Now it seems this dream is set to take its next step towards reality. A major fundraising drive will be announced in a few weeks along with potential drawings of the planned re-development.

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Fassbender ready for second Le Mans appearance

Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The iconic endurance race is celebrating its […]

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Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The iconic endurance race is celebrating its 100th edition next weekend.

The Fossa star has already arrived in the famous French twon where he is involved in a week-long series of engagements including drivers’ parades, autograph sessions and more serious appointments like car safety checks, practice and qualifying.

Like last year, when he finished 16th in the LMGTE Am class, Fassbender has been entered in to the event by the German Proton Competition team with Estonian Martin Rump and the Austrian Richard Lietz.

Fassbender dreams of following the trajectory of fellow Hollywood actors Patrick Dempsey who was second in LMGTE Am class in 2016 and Paul Newman who finished second overall in 1979.

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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 […]

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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.

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