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Fires now under control – but crews on standby for next 24 hours

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By Michelle Crean
The fires which tore through Killarney National Park this weekend are finally under control with the worst of the danger over following further extensive work this morning (Monday) by fire crews and the Air Corps.
However, the next 24 hours will be critical with helicopter crews and the fire service on standby in case any fires re-ignite.
Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Malcolm Noonan, and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien are due to visit Killarney today to assess the severity of the damage - and plan to meet with NPWS and Fire Service staff who have worked through the weekend to try to bring the fire under control.
Up to one third of the Park - approx. 2,000 hectares - has been scorched with flora and fauna wiped out and last night's fires came as close as 10 metres to a church and school in the Black Valley area.
Most of the fires are now under control including near Tomies Wood as fire crews from five different districts concentrated on the area which also saw properties under threat. Fires also became a real threat for The Oak Woods but fire fighters managed to avert danger.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated but it's believed to have begun on the Kenmare Road area at approximately 11pm on Friday night - escalated by the strong winds.
Firefighters and the emergency services as well as volunteers have gone to heroic efforts over the past few days in a bid to bring the blaze under control.
According to former Park Ranger Peter O'Toole, "it's the worst fire in the National Park in living memory".
"Without a doubt it's the worst fire in the Park in living memory," he told the Killarney Advertiser, comparing it to the 1984 fire which destroyed a large part of the Park.
"It's devastating," he said, speaking about the impact the fire has had on the ecology. "Some will never survive again I imagine. There's a lot of work to be done."
Cllr Donal Grady said the true scale of what has happened is hard for people to comprehend.
"It's heartbreaking to see the birds, all the flora and fauna, the eggs devastated. Their habitats are absolutely ruined and people really don't understand how bad it is."
There's also huge concern about carbon from the fires entering lakes in the coming days and weeks which will have another significant impact on the local environment.
People are being asked to continue to stay away from the Tomies Woods and the Muckross areas in particular.
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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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