News
Rathmore mourns passing of David Saunders

By Sean Moriarty
The death of Rathmore man David Saunders on Monday was felt across the locality and further afield.
His life story is one of bravery and adversity, one he faced with dignity and courage.
After surviving cancer twice in childhood, he sadly succumbed to his third bout earlier this week.
David lost a leg to the disease in childhood but he never allowed it get him down.
David (40), was born in Bealnadeega, an idyllic location between Rathmore and Barraduff. He attended Meentogues National School and later Pobal Scoil Sliabh Luachra in Rathmore.
“The school community is deeply saddened by the passing of past pupil David Saunders who was the special guest and inspirational speaker at our School Awards in 2016,” school principal Denis Kerins said.
Despite his disability, David climbed The Paps, cycled the byroads and upon leaving school he qualified as a teacher.
He also became a prolific member of the Irish Amputee Football Team.
In November 2014 he was a key member of the Irish team that participated in the Amputee Soccer World Cup in Mexico.
“Everyone in Amputee Football will be devastated to hear the sad news that one of our warriors has sadly passed away. David Saunders was a truly inspirational player, and a gentleman to anyone who was graced to meet him,” said an Irish Amputee Football Association statement.
David also played for Cork City FC.
He was married to Anne-Marie who is from Castleisland and they have two children, Jack (4) and Aoibhín (2).
A proud Kerry man, he set up home in Carrigaline in Cork where he was a much loved teacher in Douglas Rochestown Educate Together National School. He lived cancer free for 26 years and in that time became a motivational speaker.
However, the illness returned and a GoFundMe page raised €171,752 to support him and his family. “This time around my prognosis is a lot bleaker," he said less than a month ago.
David passed away peacefully in the presence of his loving family. He is survived by his wife Anne-Marie and children, parents John and Anne, his three siblings Emer, Michelle and Sinead, and extended family and friends.
Requiem Mass will take place on Friday at St Joseph’s Church Rathmore followed by private cremation afterwards.
News
Fassbender ready for second Le Mans appearance
Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The iconic endurance race is celebrating its […]

Local Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender is in the final preparation stages for his second appearance at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The iconic endurance race is celebrating its 100th edition next weekend.
The Fossa star has already arrived in the famous French twon where he is involved in a week-long series of engagements including drivers’ parades, autograph sessions and more serious appointments like car safety checks, practice and qualifying.
Like last year, when he finished 16th in the LMGTE Am class, Fassbender has been entered in to the event by the German Proton Competition team with Estonian Martin Rump and the Austrian Richard Lietz.
Fassbender dreams of following the trajectory of fellow Hollywood actors Patrick Dempsey who was second in LMGTE Am class in 2016 and Paul Newman who finished second overall in 1979.
News
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 […]

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.