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Rena receives Pope’s medal for wonderful festive work

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By Michelle Crean

For 50 years Killarney woman Rena Kennelly has been creating the life-size Christmas Crib in St Mary's Cathedral for all to enjoy - and she's now been rewarded for her efforts.

FAMILY: Rena Kennelly pictured with her family and friends who helped her with her Christmas creation over the years. Front row: Ben Clifford Shirley Clifford Kate Kennelly O'Driscoll Roan Clifford Justine O'Driscoll. Second row: Jacquie O'Sullivan Sr Rose O'Donoghue Jason Clifford Paula Kennelly Ailbhe O'Driscoll Catherine O'Driscoll. Third row: Enda O'Meara Tadghie Fleming Margaret Moriarty John Joe Clifford Mark Kennelly Fr Kieran O'Brien (ADM) Noreen Coffey and Dan O'Driscoll. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

POPE'S MEDAL: Receiving the Benemerenti Medal from Fr Kieran O'Brien ADM of St Mary's Cathedral Killarney was Rena Kennelly at a special Mass on Monday night. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Rena received the highly coveted Benemerenti Medal -  the highest honour given by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church - at a special Mass on Monday night.

It was given to her by Fr Kieran O'Brien, ADM of St Mary's Cathedral, sanctioned by Pope Francis and the Vatican in recognition for her years of service to the Cathedral.

The annual crib is visited by parishes and visitors from all over the country every Christmas season.

On the night Rena was joined by her family and friends who helped her with her creation over the years,
They included her two great-grandchildren, Roan and Ben Clifford, Shirley Clifford, Kate Kennelly O'Driscoll, Justine O'Driscoll, Jacquie O'Sullivan, Sr Rose O'Donoghue, Jason Clifford, Paula Kennelly, Ailbhne O'Driscoll, Catherine O'Driscoll, Enda O'Meara, Tadghie Fleming, Margaret Moriarty, John Joe Clifford, Mark Kennelly, Noreen Coffey and Dan O'Driscoll.

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10-minute plays will linger in the memory

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The West End House School of Arts is delighted to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day Festival with a special evening of entertaining readings on Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm.

It promises to be a vibrant showcase of five original 10-minute plays written by emerging local playwrights, each of whom has recently completed a playwriting course with Fiona Doyle (pictured).


Diverse in style and subject matter, these beautifully crafted pieces promise an evening of laughter, tears, and powerful storytelling and each reading will be performed by West End House actors from Kerry.


Together, they highlight the remarkable talent of these up-and-coming writers and actors, who are the future of theatre in our community.

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Get your scrap together

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Following the success of the first ever Killarney Lions Club scrap metal collection in 2025, the Club will again run the event this year in partnership with KWD Recycling on March 28, at Killarney Racecourse.

Similar to 2025, money raised through recycling the metal will go towards improving facilities for families attending the children’s cancer unit in Cork University Hospital, as part of an overall fundraising drive being coordinated by Lions Clubs all over Munster.

The Club is asking people to bring non-ferrous scrap metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, zinc and stainless steel (no white goods such as fridges/cookers washing machines). Volunteers will be on hand from 9am until 4pm to take donations of scrap and work with KWD Recycling to remove it for processing.

“Although Lions Clubs in Munster have already raised some funds for CUH, more is still needed, so we’re delighted that KWD Recycling is working with us again to support this very worthwhile cause”, said Jason Higgins, President of Killarney Lions Club. “We’re asking anyone who has scrap metal at home, at work or on the farm now or in the next few weeks to please bring it to the Racecourse on the day because everything we collect will make a difference.”

Tadhg Healy, Sales Manager at KWD Recycling added that “We will recycle any high quality scrap metal that we collect – it can be quite valuable and of course it’s better for the environment if it’s recycled instead of being dumped. On top of that, the main thing with this collection is to help families of children with cancer, so hopefully we’ll get a good response from everyone and raise as much money as possible through this event”.

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