News
Nathan’s Walk launch set for Tuesday evening
By Sean Moriarty
Details of this year’s Darkness into Light – Nathan’s Walk will be unveiled at a special launch event at Reidy’s Bar on Tuesday night.
Marie O'Carroll set up the Killarney walk in 2011 following the loss of her 14-year-old son Nathan. It was the second such event – which raises awareness on suicide and mental health.
The idea behind 'Nathan’s Walk, Darkness into Light - Pieta House' is to help spread awareness to help prevent suicide and self-harm. It's also a chance to raise vital funds for the service provided free by Pieta House.
The inaugural event took place in Dublin’s Phoenix Park the year before and it has now grown to become and international event.
This year’s event will start at 4.25am on May 7 from Ross Castle and Marie is encouraging early registration as she is expecting a large turn-out. The walk did not take place in 2020 and last year’s walk was a scaled back version due to the pandemic.
Souvenir t-shirts from the annual event have become sought after collectors’ items.
“We will open registration at the launch,” Marie told the Killarney Advertiser. “T-shirts are in limited supply this year so we are encouraging early registration. We don’t want big crowds at the sign-on desk on Saturday morning either.”
Additional early registration dates have been organised for the Racecourse on May 5 between 5pm and 8pm and May 6 between 5pm and 8pm.
London Darkness into Light
London's Darkness into Light is also making a return next month with two events to raise funds for the Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP), a mental health charity serving the Irish community in the UK.
Both events have an Aghadoe native at the helm.
Liam Kearney is the chairman of the London organising committee and he is running one walk at the London Irish Rugby Club’s training ground in Hazelwood.
Tara Cronin who, during her term as secretary of the Kerry Association London, was one of the founders of the London walk back in 2014.
She is now the fundraising and events manager with ICAP and she will take charge of the Cricklewood walk.
“We are delighted that the walks are back after two years when we could not gather together to walk from the Darkness into the Light," Liam said. "This year we welcome you to join us at either of the two walks, Hazelwood or Cricklewood, at 4.15am. We will gather to remember all those that we have lost to suicide and hope that each of us by walking, running, hiking, swimming can be the power to be a light against the dark.”
Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday
Following several false starts and long delays, the phased transfer of patients and residents to the new state-of-the-art Killarney Community Nursing Unit on Lewis Road is set to begin on Monday, August 10.
A major stumbling block regarding staff transfers and safe staffing levels was resolved following negotiations under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
With an agreement reached between the HSE and representative unions, including the INMO, SIPTU, and Fórsa, at long last, staff and residents are prepared to move into the new facility.
Welcoming the breakthrough, Councillor Marie Moloney expressed cautious optimism:
“It’s good news that an agreement has been reached with the staff and that transfer of residents and patients can finally take place to the Community Nursing Unit. So many families have been waiting for so long to see their loved ones transfer to this beautiful new facility. Let’s hope there will be no further delays.”
HSE National Director and Integrated Health Area Manager for Kerry, Julie O’Neill, confirmed that the agreement enables the facility to open safely on a phased basis:
“I welcome the agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, enabling us to proceed with the opening of our new Community Nursing Unit in Killarney. I would like to thank everyone involved in reaching this agreement and acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties.”
Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Michael Cahill TD, also welcomed the news:
“This is very welcome news for older people and their families across Kerry. The new Killarney Community Nursing Unit has been eagerly awaited and I am delighted that agreement has now been reached to allow its phased opening from August 10. I know the delays have been a source of frustration for many families but today’s announcement provides certainty that residents will soon begin moving into this modern, purpose-built facility.”
Deputy Cahill acknowledged the efforts of all parties involved in negotiations, noting:
“I want to thank the HSE, the Workplace Relations Commission and the representative unions, the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement. Ensuring safe staffing is essential, and I am pleased that a solution has now been found.”
He added:
“As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I will continue to work to ensure Kerry receives the healthcare investment and staffing it deserves. The opening of this new unit is a major step forward for residential care in our county, and I look forward to seeing residents welcomed through its doors from August 10.”
Call for plaque at historical burial site
Local history enthusiast Anthony Kerrigan has formally written to Kerry County Council proposing the installation of a commemorative plaque or historical marker at the unmarked Moyeightragh Burial Ground in Killarney, and is calling on Killarney Advertiser readers to back the initiative.
The ancient site is said to be in the vicinity of of Lewis Road and Fitzgerald stadium
The sacred site, registered under Monument Record KE066-068002, sits in the vicinity of Lewis Road and the Fitzgerald Stadium footprint. In his letter to council officials, Kerrigan explained how the landmark faded from view over generations.
“Historical mapping shows that this ancient burial ground was progressively built over and divided following the construction of Lewis Road in the 1850s and subsequent urban developments,” Kerrigan wrote. “While the site is completely invisible on the surface today, it remains a designated archaeological monument where subsurface human remains are protected in situ.”
Kerrigan highlighted that recent discoveries underscore the risk of the location being forgotten entirely, noting how the displacement of significant artefact, such as the 18th-century Margaret Shea grave ledger uncovered nearby during Park Road archaeological testing in 201, illustrates how vulnerable the memory of the site is to the passage of time.
Advocating for a permanent marker near the site, Kerrigan explained the cultural importance of recognising those buried there.
“As a matter of community respect, civic pride, and historical preservation, I believe a modest, non-invasive plaque or information board should be placed nearby,” he stated. He noted that such a marker would serve to honour past generations of Killarney citizens, educate visitors about the town’s shifting landscape, and prevent the total erasure of the designated heritage asset from local consciousness.
Kerrigan pointed out that the proposal aligns directly with the core objectives of the Department’s Community Monuments Fund regarding the enhancement and public accessibility of archaeological monuments. He expressed a desire to coordinate with the Council’s Heritage Office, the Burial Grounds Section, and local history groups like the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society to ensure appropriate text and placement.
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