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Mammoth multiple climbs in memory of Tom Griffin

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MEMORIAL CLIMB: Laura Griffin, her boyfriend Luke Stuart-Mills, and Denise Buckley, pictured with family and friends, climbed five mountains in five days in memory of Tom Griffin.

By Michelle Crean

It's the challenge of a lifetime - climbing almost 12,000 feet up five mountains in five days for charity - and it's all in memory of local man Tom Griffin who died at the young age of just 52 years.

Tom's daughter Laura Griffin, her boyfriend Luke Stuart-Mills, and aunt Denise Buckley decided to take on the mammoth challenge 'Following Tom': Memorial Charity Fundraiser as a tribute to him as he was an avid outdoors-man, who loved to walk, hike, swim, and generally adventure in his time off. Sadly Tom died after having a haemorrhage while kite-surfing on his holidays in Portugal in June last year.

On Monday Laura and crew began their first climb up Mangerton Mountain, one of her dad's favourite mountains, followed by Torc on Tuesday. On Wednesday they planned to climb Tomies, but due to difficulties accessing it, they instead climbed just over the equivalent height on Purple Mountain. Yesterday (Thursday) they set up once again and completed Strickeen, and will today (Friday) finish off the whole adventure by completing a climb up Carrauntoohil.

"It's been absolutely fantastic and we've been blessed with the weather," Laura told the Killarney Advertiser yesterday.

"We're trying to commemorate and honour dad's life and picked the mountains he enjoyed doing. Dad was 6ft 2" and had a long stride we had to chase him up the mountain which is why it's called 'Following Tom'. It's one of those things, it's sad but through the sadness we wanted a way to honour him and remember the good times."

Tom was well known in Killarney but relocated to Kildare as he was working as a Senior Manager at Intel.

His wife Michelle is also from Killarney.

Laura has so far raised over €12,000 through a GoFundMe page for Killarney Water Rescue, Kerry Mountain Rescue Team and the Kenya Education Project.

However, she added that there is a glitch which says the funding is at over €15k due to an error when someone donated and the page hasn't yet been updated.

She added a huge thanks to everyone who has donated so far.
"There has been amazing support by everyone, the response has been lovely."

To donate, go to GoFundMe: 'Following Tom': Memorial Charity Fundraiser

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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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