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New York-based Rathmore woman celebrates 95th birthday

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By Sean Moriarty

 

A New York-based Rathmore woman who recently celebrated her 95th birthday can boast American President Joe Biden as one of her many famous acquaintances. Nora Murphy, was born Nora Esther Ryan on March 27, 1926, in a barn in Goulane near Rathmore.

She left Ireland in 1949, aged 23, and took up residence and employment with her uncle Danny who ran a bar in The Bronx.

She lived for a few months with him and he secured a job for her at a Blue Cross Blue Shield (similar to the VHI in Ireland) office in Manhattan.

Shortly after she met Danny Murphy, a NYPD police officer with Cork connections, and they had three children, Peggy, Paddy and Patricia.

Her niece Debbie McGoldrick is the senior editor of the New York based ‘The Irish Voice’ which was founded by her husband Niall O'Dowd in 1987.

Niall's father Donal was from Dingle but Debbie’s roots are in Rathmore through Nora and her late mother Peg.

They still have cousins and friends there, including Donal and Margaret O'Keeffe and Paddy Crowley who lives next door to the old home place.

“Nora is everybody's favourite. We all adore her and are so grateful that at 95 years of age she still has the same spirit and love of life that she's always had,” Debbie told the Killarney Advertiser. “She is forever ready for an adventure, particularly if it relates to Ireland. She cannot wait to get back to Kerry and play games of 31 with the O'Keeffes and Paddy and all of her many friends in nearby Knocknagree.”

In 2013, Nora met Biden at the annual Hall of Fame celebration hosted by the ‘Irish America’ magazine – a sister title to ‘The Irish Echo’.

He was the main honouree, serving as vice president at the time, and was only too happy to meet with guests after his speech.

Some years later family members, including one of her granddaughters was invited to a Christmas party hosted by Biden. She showed the old photograph to Biden who asked why she was not at the party and insisted on getting Nora on the phone.

“Nora has never forgotten where she came from. As soon as we can travel back "home" as she says, we will be there,” added Debbie.

She also met actor James Gandolfini, best known as Tony Soprano from ‘The Sopranos’.

“We met him at a party several years ago. He heard Nora's Irish accent and was charmed. He was an absolute gentleman".

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Chamber’s emphasis on cyber security

  Businesses in Killarney have been fully briefed on what measures they need to taketo ensure greater cyber security to protect their companies. Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce hosted […]

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Businesses in Killarney have been fully briefed on what measures they need to take
to ensure greater cyber security to protect their companies.

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce hosted a very informative breakfast
briefing in the International Hotel at which they keynote speakers were cyber security
experts Mike Dennehy and Ger McAuliffe from progressive local company Tricel.
The opening question at the event was how will a business operate tomorrow if it
loses access to its data today?
Mike and Ger recommended that all employers to include IT training as part of the
induction programme for new entrants, organise monthly awareness training for all
employees and to conduct monthly spot-checks to ensure everything is going
according to plan.
It was essential, they pointed out not to give the same level of access to all
employees to reduce risk and to devise a disaster recovery plan in case it is needed.
Companies have also been advised not to allow the public to use their private wi-fi
network and, instead, to set up a public or guest network.
Chamber thanked the experts from Tricel for their engaging talk which certainly put
the spotlight very firmly on the need to enhance cyber security measures.

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Win tickets for Killarney for Palestine sold-out INEC show

Killarney for Palestine has announced a fundraising competition that will give Killarney Advertiser readers a chance to win two tickets to the sold-out Night for Palestine concert in the INEC […]

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Killarney for Palestine has announced a fundraising competition that will give Killarney Advertiser readers a chance to win two tickets to the sold-out Night for Palestine concert in the INEC on December 19.

The event, which features Amble, Beoga and Clare Sands, has already reached full capacity, but the group is offering two tickets along with a €250 Gleneagle Hotel Group voucher, which can also be used at the Brehon.
To enter, supporters are asked to make a minimum €5 donation to the group’s Chuffed campaign, which is raising funds for urgent medical support for a displaced family in Gaza.

The link to the campaign is:

http://chuffed.org/project/154575-urgent-medical-relief-for-mohammad-basyouni-his-kids

After donating, entrants must email proof of donation to:
killarneyforpalestine@yahoo.com
The competition runs on the group’s Instagram page @killarneyforpalestine, where full instructions are listed. A winner will be chosen at random and announced on November 29.
Killarney for Palestine says all proceeds from the INEC event will support Aclaí Palestine, a community gym based in Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem.

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