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“Our daughters deserve better”

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MORE ACTION: Hazel Norris, Chairperson of the Parents' Council at St Brigid's Secondary School is calling for more action to improve the school's facilities. Photo: Grigoriy Geniyevskiy

 

Parents call for action at St Brigid’s Secondary School

 

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By Sean Moriarty

 

Parents at one Killarney school outraged at outdated prefabs and insufficient and overcrowded classrooms – including the collapse of roofs on two older prefabs last September - are demanding immediate action from the new Government.

The Parent's Council of St Brigid’s Secondary School say due to consistent rising numbers of students year on year – from 413 students in 2013 to 634 for the current academic year – want a promise that new facilities will be built.

In November 2015 the Minister for Education and Skills announced the list of Major School Building Projects. St Brigid’s was listed under the 2019-2021 phase - but so far no action has been taken.

They say some of the classrooms are not fit for purpose. There are also a number of concerns including the lack of outdoor sports facilities at the school, the reduction of the number of permanent classrooms due to size and a 2017 Department of Education and Skills directive to combine four classrooms into a new science lab and art room.

The classrooms were replaced by 12 new prefabs but the land on which they are situated is rented off the Presentation Sisters.

“We have been allocated two new prefabs but it is not good enough,” Hazel Norris, Chairperson of the Parents’ Council told the Killarney Advertiser this week. “The Presentation Sisters have been outstanding in their support, they have offered land to build a new school. We will be calling on all newly elected members to meet us on this matter. We are waiting far too long and our daughters deserve better.”

 

 

 

 

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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