News
Online concert to be live streamed from St Mary’s Cathedral
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By Michelle Crean
A special COVID compliant concert will be live streamed online from St Mary's Cathedral next week. In a bid to lift people's spirits, a group of musicians and singers will come together - at a social distance and in compliance with COVID regulations - for ‘A night of songs and music to lift the spirit’.
It'll take place online only, live-streamed from Facebook on the 'Lillie & Jean Foley Music' page on Wednesday, February 24 at 8pm, and also live-streamed from the website for the Killarney Cathedral, www.killarneyparish.com. Singers Lillie and Jean Foley, pianist Noel O’Sullivan, and violinist Olwyn Trant will be featured. Words of welcome, comfort and reflection will be provided by Father Niall Howard.
Lillie and Jean are sisters that love music and sing
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Olwyn Trant[/caption]
all genres from classical to musical theatre, R&B, Pop, Jazz and everything in between and are members of Killarney Musical Society. They have made a few TV performances down through the years including ‘BEO show’ for RTE 1, 'Realta agus Gaolta' and 'Junior Eurovision Live' on TG4. Both are Cantors with the choir in the Church of the Resurrection and are delighted to be joining Noel, a teacher in St Oliver's NS and plays the piano in local hotels and restaurants, and violist Olwyn, a local teacher in Holy Cross Mercy School. Olwyn has been a performer with the Killarney Musical Society and she also worked with Noel during the Teen Spirit shows a number of years ago.
Noel accompanied Lillie and Jean for the Dr Croke’s Mass which was live streamed from the St Mary’s Cathedral earlier this month.
Out of that event there was some enquires whether a concert could be put on to showcase the talent of the Foleys, as well as provide people with a much-needed lift during this challenging lockdown.
"We are delighted to bring some entertainment to people even if it is only virtually, and hopefully lift people's spirits," Lillie told the Killarney Advertiser. "I hope everyone will tune in, join us online and even sing along from the comfort of their own homes."
Jean added that "it will be an enjoyable evening, we hope to bring some happiness to people".
Fr. Niall has been very helpful in making this unique event happen, they added.
There is a unique connection between all the performers in this concert. Noel O’Sullivan’s father, also Noel O’Sullivan, Olwyn Trant’s grandfather, Jim Trant, and Lillie and Jean Foley’s grandfather Bryan O’Connor would have all worked together teaching in St Brendan’s College.
Call for action to protect Killarney lakes water quality
Kerry TD Michael Cahill has called for urgent steps to protect water quality in Lough Leane and Muckross Lake following recent algae blooms.
The Fianna Fáil deputy raised the issue through a Parliamentary Question after Kerry County Council erected warning signage around affected areas.
In a Ministerial response, it was confirmed that the EPA maintains an open compliance investigation into the Killarney Wastewater Treatment Plant, which remains on the agency’s Priority Areas List. While Uisce Éireann has begun strategic assessments for a major upgrade, construction work is not projected to finish until after 2030.
Deputy Cahill expressed concern over the timeframe, stating that interim improvements must be implemented while long-term works are progressed. He stressed that delays risk harming the local environment, biodiversity, and tourism economy.
The response also confirmed that Lough Leane and Muckross Lake are included in the Ross Bay Priority Area for Action under the Water Action Plan 2024. Deputy Cahill urged continued collaboration between Kerry County Council, the EPA, Uisce Éireann, agricultural bodies, and local communities to safeguard the lakes.
Ukrainian exhibition brings ‘Towel of Unity’ to Killarney
The Ukrainian community in Kerry presented the international outdoor exhibition “The Towel of Unity – The Towel of Victory” at St Mary’s Church on Saturday.
Organised by Future of Ukrainian Nation (FOUN Kerry), led by Chairperson Natalia Eismont and coordinator Iryna Samborska, the cultural initiative celebrated Ukrainian heritage while fostering solidarity between Ireland and Ukraine.
At the centre of the display was a 166-metre embroidered towel, known traditionally as a rushnyk. Created by Ukrainian communities across dozens of countries, each section represents global resilience and connection. The project was originally founded by Andrii Yatsenko in Estonia, with his wife Svitlana joining individual pieces from around the world into one continuous artwork.
A key moment of the Killarney event saw the official addition of the embroidered piece crafted by the Ukrainian community in Ireland to the master banner.
The outdoor exhibition offered local residents and visitors a chance to learn about traditional Ukrainian customs and the symbolic meaning behind the rushnyk, which represents protection, heritage, and unity. FOUN Kerry expressed gratitude to local authorities, clergy, and the Kerry community for their ongoing support and warm welcome.
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