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Mountjoy Prison Governor gives mental health talk

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All paths led to the Killarney Plaza Hotel on Thursday night last (November 3) as a large crowd gathered to receive the wisdom and insight of Mr. John Lonergan.

John served in the Irish Prison Service for over 42 years.

He was Governor of Mountjoy Prison for over twenty-two years and Governor of the top security prison at Portlaoise for almost four years.

He retired in June 2010, and later that year, his autobiography “The Governor” was published. He is today a much sought after mental health speaker.

“It was a challenge to get John for the event, such is the demand for his talks but it was clear on the night that John has an insight into the Irish mentality and psyche that everyone in the room could relate to” stated Derek O Leary, Manager of Ballyspillane Community and Family Resource Centre who hosted the event.
“He was so engaging and insightful and delivered his address with the wit and humour of a capable stand-up comedian and had the whole room in great humour on the night”

The crowd of over 150 people enjoyed John’s talk for over an hour but they also experienced ‘Chocolate Mindfulness’ first hand, which saw each individual benefit from a bar of chocolate to challenge their mind on the night.

“’Chocolate Mindfulness’ is chocolate meditation that uses a piece of chocolate to engage all your senses and not only do you get to enjoy chocolate, but the chocolate also acts as a focal point to keep your mind in the moment,” Deirdre Nagle, Social Prescriber at Ballyspillane Community and Family Resource Centre explained.

The night culminated in each person attending leaving their finger print on a beautiful tree depicted on a canvas thus ensuring all were represented from the night.

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Soroptimists to host annual Pancake and Coffee Morning

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Killarney Soroptimist Club has announced the return of its annual Pancake and Coffee Morning, which will take place on Shrove Tuesday, February 17.

The event will be held at the Killarney Avenue Hotel starting from 10.30am.

Attendees can look forward to a morning of music and entertainment featuring Tim Gleeson and friends.

Along with pancakes and coffee, the event will feature various raffles and a door prize on the day.

This year’s door prize is a two-night bed and breakfast stay at the Hayfield Manor Hotel.

The event is a significant fundraiser for the club, with all proceeds being donated to Rockmount Care Centre in Kilgarvan and St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort.

Tickets for the morning are priced at €20 and are available for purchase from, Soroptimist Members, the chosen beneficiary charities or Sheila Casey at 086 814 9677.

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Julie Deady wins first Camera Club competition of year

The first competition of the new year proved a strong start for Killarney Camera Club, with January’s theme of “Sunset” attracting a wide range of high-quality entries. Top honours went […]

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The first competition of the new year proved a strong start for Killarney Camera Club, with January’s theme of “Sunset” attracting a wide range of high-quality entries.

Top honours went to Julie Deady, a former Photographer of the Year winner with the club, for her image titled Church of St Primoz and Felicijan. The photograph was taken in Slovenia and captured a striking sunset, with deep reds and strong orange tones stretching across the sky. The setting sun silhouetted a bank of clouds, while warm evening light spilled across the surrounding landscape.
The nearby church, trees and open fields were softly lit, adding depth and balance to the scene. The image impressed judge John Hootan, a distinguished photographer, who praised its exposure, composition and timing. He awarded the photograph full marks, describing it as a benchmark for the competitions ahead.
Members said the standard of entries made the judging particularly competitive and set a positive tone for the year. With such a strong opening round, anticipation is already building for the next monthly themes as members continue to develop their skills and creativity.
The club thanked all members who took part, noting that the growing level of participation and friendly rivalry continues to raise standards across the competitions.

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