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Pride and joy at the Kerry College graduation

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Kerry College of Further Education and Training held its graduation in the Brandon Hotel on Thursday last.

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GRADUATION: Students from Kerry College of Further Education and Training graduated in the Brandon Hotel on Thursday last.

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It was the first in-person graduation since Kerry College was established by Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) in 2019, making it Ireland’s first integrated college of Further Education and Training.

Over 500 graduates from Kerry College’s Clash, Denny Street, Killorglin, Listowel and Monavalley campuses along with their families and friends gathered at the Brandon Hotel to celebrate the occasion. They were joined by board members from the KETB, Kerry College Board of Governance as well as other distinguished guests.

At the ceremony certificates were presented to graduates in the areas of Business, Administration and Finance, Computing and Information Technology, Construction and Built Environment, Creative Arts, Education and Childcare, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, Healthcare and Social Sciences, Renewable Technologies, Transmission and Distribution, Retail, Science and Nutrition, Sports, Physical Therapy and Coaching, Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts, and Transport and Logistics.

Special guest speaker was Dr Karen Weekes – Endurance Adventurer, Performance Psychologist and University lecturer who delivered an inspirational speech and left the audience energised.

Chairman of Kerry ETB, Cllr Jim Finucane, wished the graduates well in their future careers and said it was a privilege to facilitate them in their personal journey.

Addressing the graduates, Director of Further Education and Training, Kerry ETB, Mr Owen O’Donnell said that he was delighted to be in attendance to mark this important milestone in the graduate's journey. He congratulated the graduates, acknowledged all their hard work, and wished them well in their life-long learning journey.

Niall Collins, TD Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said “the diversity of Further Education and Training (FET) is one of its key strengths. It reflects the communities across the country; the diverse backgrounds of the learners who engage with it and also address the multiple needs that can help our society. And Kerry College exemplifies this diversity.

“I want to congratulate everyone graduating today. Your presence here today is a testament, first and foremost to your own skills and hard work, and I hope you are able to reflect and be truly proud of yourselves for what you have achieved.

“And of course, today is also a testament to the dedication of the staff here at the campus. Their unwavering commitment and sheer dedication to go out of their way to support their students in education is second to none.”

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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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