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Patrick says farewell after 35 years’ dedicated service

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By Michelle Crean

For 35 years he has been filling plates with fine food in the International Hotel - but last week Patrick O'Sullivan hung up his ‘chef whites’ for a while.

One of 10 children in his family growing up Patrick, like many of his contemporaries, headed for the bright lights of London after school but soon realised that he couldn’t be away from his beloved Killarney, and his more beloved family and returned on the Slattery’s bus in the late 1980s.

Landing at the steps of the Friary, Patrick popped in to see his brother Stephen who was cheffing in the Brewery Grill at the International. A good man to turn his hand to anything, Patrick was recruited by then Head Chef Cyril Boggins, soon qualified as a chef and the rest, as they say, is history!

It was a real family affair at the hotel because Patrick has been such an integral member of the family at the International over the years, always having a laugh with his colleagues.

"Patrick has never said a cross word that anyone can remember, which is some feat given the heat that is sometimes felt in the kitchen!" Tracy Coyne said.

A home away from home for Patrick, the family feeling in the International didn’t stop there – Pat’s mom Nora worked in the kitchen at the International in the 1990s, his afore-mentioned brother Stephen was a chef here, his brothers William and Larry worked as porter and barman respectively, while his sister Breda, and her daughter Orla both did their time in Hannigan’s Restaurant in the 2000s!

"The number of O’Sullivan family birthdays, christenings, anniversaries and other special occasions that have been held at the International are too numerous to count so we are fairly sure that we haven’t seen the last of Patrick and wish him well on his career break, from all the team and the Coyne family at the International Hotel, a huge thank you to Patrick for many years of great breakfasts always served with good humour and a good word."

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Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

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Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.

Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.

The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.

Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.

Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.

She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.

“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”

In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.

In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.

last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.

During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.

This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.

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Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

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Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.

Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.

This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.

Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.

“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.

“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”

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