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New buses driving community living for St Mary of the Angels residents

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Shopping, movies, gym sessions and overnight stays - new buses are allowing residents of St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort access the local community more regularly.

From horse riding and hairdressing appointments, to library visits and sports, more transport means more regular activities beyond their home. Skills teaching plays a big role in each of the community outings. The importance of road safety, the use of traffic lights, how to choose from a menu, or pay for an item in a shop - these are all independent skills people can practise and achieve in the community.

St Mary of the Angels was initially funded for one wheelchair accessible bus but it soon became apparent that with more transport, more residents could access activities outside of the campus. There are now three buses, which allows the Social and Recreational Service team to carry out leisure sampling activities for each of the residents.

DAY TRIPS

The additional transport affords the freedom to go on faraway day trips without clock-watching to get the bus back. The team have also been able to facilitate and commit to weekly community activities such as gym sessions, swimming at the community pool, beautician appointments, personal shopping, meals out and many more. Each outing is tailored to the wants and goals of the person.

The extra transport also supports the residents to go further afield for overnight trips. One resident, Tomas, went to Cork City for the night, visited Fota Wildlife Park, did some shopping and took in a movie and dinner. The pure joy that this trip alone brought to Tomas was easy to see. Previously, with only one bus, the other people that live with Tomas would have been house-bound for two days to allow this trip to happen.

Another resident, Reece, is supported by the Social and Recreational Service to attend the gym in Killarney each week for his personal training session with coaches, Connor and Stephen. Not only have these gym sessions contributed to his health, Reece has built a great rapport with his coaches and the other staff. He is known by name by the regulars that train at the same time as him.

These are just two examples of the many experiences that each individual now has, made possible by the new buses and the Social and Recreational Service. Goals for 2023 include numerous overnights for many residents, as well as community art classes and day trips!

HSE Cork Kerry Disability Services welcomed the allocation of once off national funding that allowed for these new buses.

"This funding has allowed us to update aged vehicles across a number of agencies in Cork and Kerry. St John of God Services received funding to purchase two extra vehicles for their day and residential services and what a difference it has made," Majella Daly, Head of Disability Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, said.

"You can see how much it has enhanced the lives of the residents. It gives them so much freedom and independence, as well as opening up a whole world of activities that adds meaning to their day. They get to meet new people, plan days out and integrate more into their local community. It's fantastic to see how the new buses have helped to change and improve lives."

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Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000

The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects. President Ciara Irwin Foley […]

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The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total of €25,000 for local community projects.

President Ciara Irwin Foley expressed the club’s delight with the amount raised, thanking club members and everyone who contributed to this impressive sum. She highlighted that this popular annual event directly supports vital local initiatives such as schools, clubs, and charities in the Killarney area.

Ms. Irwin Foley extended particular thanks to the event’s long-standing key sponsors: Daly’s SuperValu, Killarney Brewing & Distilling Co, and Killarney Credit Union, acknowledging their crucial and consistent support over the years. The team at The Great Southern Killarney was also thanked for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Appreciation was also given to the businesses that sponsored door prizes and competitions, including The Rose Hotel, M.D. O’Shea’s, CRL, and The Lake Hotel, as well as to Mike Neeson for providing entertainment.

The Wine & Art Night provides a valuable platform for local artists and craftspeople, with up to fifty showcasing their work. Some artists have been involved since the event’s inception, making it a wonderful networking opportunity. There is always significant interest from artists to participate in this worthwhile cause, with a percentage of their sales donated on the night. Many also generously donate their artwork for the auction, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the beneficiary fund.

The beneficiaries themselves play an active role by selling tickets for the event in advance, using this as a key fundraising method for their own projects. The schools, clubs, organisations, and charities involved put in tremendous effort, and it is always inspiring to hear how the funds raised have positively impacted them. For example, the Hospice sells their Christmas cards at the event, and the Irish Pilgrimage Trust sells raffle tickets to help bring local people to Lourdes at Easter.

Organising the Wine & Art Night is a significant undertaking for the Killarney Rotary Club, with extensive preparations happening well in advance. Many individuals contribute their time and effort, with numerous volunteers ensuring everything runs smoothly on the night. It is this collective effort that makes the event such a success.

The €25,000 raised this year has been distributed to the following deserving beneficiaries: Faha N.S., Fossa N.S., Gaelscoil Faithleann, Knockanes N.S., Loreto N.S., Loughquittane N.S., St. Brendan’s (Sem), Hospice, Irish Pilgrimage Trust, Kerry Stars Club, Killarney Athletic, and Killarney Valley AC.
The Killarney Rotary Club is already looking forward to hosting their next Wine & Art Night at the end of November.

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Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers

Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee. Over 30 companies […]

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Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May 20, at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

Over 30 companies from the county will be there, offering hundreds of job openings across different sectors.
The free event is organised by NEWKD Local Development Company, in partnership with The Rose Hotel and Tralee Chamber Alliance. Anyone interested can attend by registering on the day.
People looking for work can explore opportunities in areas like office administration, IT, accounting, finance, hospitality, manufacturing, food production, and retail.
The event aims to link job seekers and employers with useful information and support related to employment.
Alongside employer stands, there will be a careers clinic offering help with CV writing, interview skills, and information on training and career development.
There will also be workshops for both employees and employers about employing people who are not Irish citizens.
Robert Carey, NEWKD SICAP Programme Manager, said that bringing together many employers, services, and speakers will give job seekers a great chance to talk directly to potential employers, join workshops on career progression, and learn about employment schemes like Tús, CE, and WPEP. He added that employers will get to meet job seekers face-to-face and get information on employing people from abroad, which is important for business growth.
Efforts are being made to help Ukrainian refugees and those seeking international protection attend the fair, with information provided beforehand and interpreters available on the day. NEWKD, as part of the Kerry Community Response Forum, highlights that employment is key for refugees integrating into the community.
During the event, employers can learn about the specifics of employing migrants, get answers to common questions, and raise any concerns. A workshop for employers will be led by Frank O`Boyle from the Irish Refugee Council.
In addition to the job fair, there will be information sessions for all visitors on topics such as CV preparation (led by Sean Connell, HR at NEWKD), interview skills (presented by Lydia Oboryna from the Open Door Initiative), employment law for migrants, accessing the labour market for those with temporary protection, and entrepreneurship workshops on starting a business and finding funding.
The Newkd Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 is supported by the Rose Hotel and the Tralee Chamber Alliance, with funding from the SICAP programme, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC).

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