News
Pieta House benefits from beauty workshops

DONATION: Annette O'Brien presented €5,424 to Con O'Connor, Funding & Advocacy Coordinator South West, Pieta House.
By Michelle Crean
A local make-up artist has been "blown away" by the incredible support for her most recent fundraiser.
Annette O’Brien hosted an online beauty workshop to raise funds for Pieta House.
She has since presented a total of €5,424 raised over two years, to Con O'Connor, Funding & Advocacy Coordinator South West, Pieta House.
Last year during lockdown she set up an online make-up tutorial class for Pieta House raising a total of €2,400.
This year she wanted to raise money again and did so by joining forces with two fellow Cork ladies, a hair expert, Audrey Cashman from Upstyle Junkie and Skin Expert Sherna Malone, and they raised €3,024.
"We filmed hair, make-up and skincare tutorials and made them available to anyone who donated €15 to Pieta House," Annette told the Killarney Advertiser.
"All proceeds from ticket sales went to the charity. The tutorials went live on May 8 which coincided with the Darkness Into Light walk. I also did the walk that morning."
She explained that she feels Pieta House is an amazing charity, especially during this pandemic.
"The support they offer for anyone who needs it is life-changing. I have close friends who have lost loved ones and I see the amount of work Pieta House does for families after someone passes away through suicide. When it affects some of your friends, it's nice then to give something back to charity even if it's through your work. I am blown away by the donations and support. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and hope you enjoyed the beauty tutorials. A very special thank you to both Audrey and Sherna who gave their free time to do this also."
News
Killarney and District Motor Club members honoured by Motorsport Ireland
By Cormac Casey Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday. The highlight of the event is the […]

By Cormac Casey
Several members of Killarney and District Motor Club were honoured at the Motorsport Ireland awards lunch in Dublin on Wednesday.
The highlight of the event is the announcement of the sport’s top awards.
Kilkenny’s Jack Brennan (19) was named Young Rally Driver of the Year, while Wexford native Jack Byrne was named Young Racing Driver of the Year and the International Driver of the Year award went to recently crowned FIA Junior World Rally Champion, William Creighton.
Muckross-based co-driver Noel O’Sullivan was presented with his Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winning trophy.
This year saw the introduction of the Motorsport Ireland President’s Awards which celebrate the achievements of clubs and organisations.
Killarney and District Motor Club won in the innovation category for their work with their KDMC 2 initiative thanks to the efforts of the club’s vice chairman Mike O’Shea.
Rally Rescue teams were also recognised and the club’s Mike Cleary picked up an award for his role he played in what was a difficult year for rescue crew operators.
Tom O’Riordan, who looks after ambulance procurement on the club’s events, was presented with an FIA Volunteer Pin by Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper.
Killarney Advertiser Journalist Sean Moriarty was presented with an award for best use of of PR and media in 2023.
News
Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest ‘thank you’ event at Brehon
Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar […]

Participation in the 2023 Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest has grown by more than 100% since 2020 with 98% of those who gave feedback saying they would attend similar events again in 2024.
Feedback from more than 100 people who attended this year’s Fest events from 7th to 14th October was positive with 91% stating they were satisfied.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest is held annually over the course of a week to highlight World Mental Health Day on October 10.
It aims to raise awareness of the available supports and services in Kerry as well as empower people to engage with the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ through offering a dynamic and interactive programme of events.
99% percent of respondents, most of whom identified as female, said they would recommend the Fest to friends next year. Some key notes for improvement included a request for more events with wider variety throughout the county.
The Chair of the Interagency Steering Group, John Drummey from Kerry Mental Health Association, said: “We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to event organisers, community groups, businesses, funders and partners that facilitated the Fest’s dynamic and interactive programme of events in 2023. We are encouraged to see such growth in numbers attending the Fest events with a 50% increase from 2022. We are already making plans for the Fest from 5 to 12t October 2024 and we are looking forward to building on this year’s successes. That said, there is always room for improvement and we would welcome suggestions for new events and activities.”
Many of the event organisers attended a ‘thank-you’ event at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney, courtesy of the Kerry Volunteer Centre to coincide with the annual International Volunteer Day, December 5.
The Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest was organised by an interagency steering group made up of local agencies that support wellbeing in our community.
The organising committee is a collaboration between Connecting for Life Kerry, Healthy Kerry, Kerry County Council, Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership, the HSE, NEWKD, SKDP, Kerry Mental Health Association, Jigsaw Kerry, Munster Technological University/Kerry, KDYS, Kerry Volunteer Centre and Family Resource Centres throughout the county.