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Powerful photo display at St Mary’s brings Ukraine conflict home

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A unique photo exhibition has been installed on the railings outside St Mary’s Church of Ireland in Killarney town centre, offering a stark reminder of the human cost of the war in Ukraine. 

Organised by the local branch of the ‘Future of Ukrainian Nation’, the display serves as a bridge between the local community and the families who have fled to Kerry.

The display features portraits of several Ukrainian and Irish soldiers who have died or remain missing in action, as well as members of the media killed on the front line. 

Most poignantly, it captures the homes and memories of refugees now living in Killarney, showing the physical destruction of the lives they left behind.

Iryna Synelnykova, a teacher and activist with the "Future of Ukrainian Nation," shared the story of her family’s summer house. The home was located on Potemkin Island in the Kherson region, along the Dnipro River. Iryna recalls countless happy moments shared there, but tragedy struck on July 6, 2023. Following the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, the island and the house were submerged. As the water receded, Russian artillery inflicted further destruction. The area is now mined and occupied by military personnel, leaving the family with no way to return.

Another selection of photos captures the destroyed apartment building of Maryna Ivashenko in Mariupol, which was levelled by Russian attacks. 

The exhibition also featured the family home of another  resident in Mariupol.

 In that instance, 17 shells struck the house, with one hitting the kitchen while the family was hiding in the basement. Though they miraculously survived and escaped to Killarney, they have no home to return to.

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Céilí Mór will send ‘em home sweatin’

It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this […]

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It will be a case of all around the house but mind the dresser at a traditional Céilí Mór which will be one of the real entertainment highlights of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Killarney.

It will take place on the eve of the big feast day in the Killarney Great Southern and there will be a wonderful party atmosphere guaranteed on the night.
Providing the tunes will be the very highly regarded Uí Bhriaín Céilí Band and they promise to send everybody home sweating after what will be a memorable night for locals and visitors.
The March 16 céilí will commence at 9.00pm and continue right through until midnight and the admission for a wonderful night of pure Irish trad is just €10.00.
Bookings can be made on the festival website or patrons can pay at the door on the night.

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St Brendan’s student Aodhagan O’Sullivan crowned CPR champion

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Aodhagan O’Sullivan, a student at St Brendan’s College, Killarney, has been named the 2026 School CPR Challenge Champion.

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday, 26 February, during a large-scale event at the Gleneagle Hotel, where approximately 300 students from post-primary schools across the county gathered to compete for the title of “who can compress the best.”


Now in its fourth year, the event is organised by the Killarney Cardiac Response Unit (KCRU) Community First Responders.

The KCRU is a volunteer-led group that provides vital emergency response services to Killarney, Beaufort, Killorglin, Firies, Rathmore, and Kenmare.

The challenge focused on “Quality CPR” (QCPR), combining a high-stakes competition with practical life-saving training and the chance for students to engage directly with local emergency and community services.


The competition utilised advanced QCPR technology to measure the depth and rate of compressions, ensuring that students aren’t just learning the motions, but are performing life-saving techniques to a clinical standard.

Beyond the competitive element, the day served as an educational hub, highlighting the “chain of survival” and the importance of immediate bystander intervention in the event of a cardiac arrest.


The 2026 challenge was made possible through the support of the Vodafone Foundation, The Gleneagle Hotel, and First Aid Systems Ltd, alongside a variety of local sponsors. Organisers praised the enthusiasm of the 300 participants, noting that such events are essential for building a “heart-safe” community and equipping the next generation with the skills to save a life.

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