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Residents have grave concerns over placement of Asylum seekers

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Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae has asked that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman meet residents of the Muckross Road area to hear their concerns on the placement of 70 male International Protection Seekers in a hotel in the area.

Danny Healy Rae

Earlier this month it was announced that 70 male International Protection Seekers were to be moved into the Harmony Hotel.

The announcement sparked anger in the local area.

An open public meeting took place in the Killarney Avenue Hotel on Sunday night to address these concerns. Over 300 people attended.
Healy Rae was one of many local public representatives to attend the meeting.

“Many people vented their anger and concern about this hurried introduction of these people into their community, concerns were especially raised about the intimidating effect that this would have on all local people and especially young boys and girls and older senior people and also the damage the loss of another guest house to the hospitality sector and the Killarney Tourism product,” he said.

“Other issues raised was about the cramming of over 70 people into 22 bedrooms. at the end of the meeting it was unanimously requested that the minister meets with a deputation of local residents in Killarney at the earliest opportunity and certainly before any further asylum seekers are placed in Killarney.”

Meanwhile, local councillor, Martin Grady has also been briefed by local residents who have raised concerns on the matter.

“They have grave concerns, that fact that its looking likely 70 unvetted men will be residing in their neighbourhood . While not painting all with the same brush, I totally understand the residents’ concerns and fears in light of what happened in Park Road on News Years Day this year as I experienced the anti-social behaviour it brought to the neighbourhood,” he said.

“No one should be in such fear in their homes or neighbourhood. Shame on the selfish landlords that have no consideration for the people of Killarney.”

Healy-Rae brought the issue up in the Dail this week.

“They want this decision reversed because there is a lack of surety of safety and services in the town of Killarney now with the amount of Asylum seekers and refugees that are being placed there, we seem to be taking way more than our share in Killarney,” he said.

“The Matter of vetting is very important to these people, where are these people coming from? The residents want to know who is coming in beside them, where are they from, how many different countries are they coming from because we had trouble earlier in the year in another side of town and the people of Killarney are concerned, old and young and women are fearing for their safety with this amount of people being placed beside them in the town of Killarney.”

Minister Simon Harris gave him no hearing whatsoever/! 
He said:
“I am going to have to bite my lip, I think that is a dog whistle in many ways, those comments there, I would love to know what you think people are fearing in terms of their safety and what peoples nationalities have to do with their safety , but I think you and I have a very different outlook on this and I think the majority of the people in Kerry do too.”

 

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School Dayz St Brendan’s students donate to Kerry Hospice

Students from St Brendan’s College have given €600 to Kerry Hospice. The money was raised from their book, ‘Futures from the Past’ which was published in April 2024. Teacher Mary […]

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Students from St Brendan’s College have given €600 to Kerry Hospice.

The money was raised from their book, ‘Futures from the Past’ which was published in April 2024.
Teacher Mary Denise Lyons and students Divo Lucic Kovacevii, Michéal McElligott, and Jaroslav Stetsenko handed over the funds to Cathal Walshe of Kerry Hospice.
‘Futures from the Past’ is a book written by current and retired writers, as well as students from St Brendan’s College.
This donation is the second from the book, with €800 donated last year and €600 this year.
The book was created to allow students to use their imaginations to explore the past and think about the future. It involved students from Poetry Ireland’s Writers-In-Schools Programme and adult learners from Kerry Education & Training Board’s Community Education Creative Writing group.
The book was launched at St Brendan’s College in April last year and was made possible with support from Poetry Ireland and the Arts Office of Kerry County Council.
‘Futures from the Past’ is available for sale at St Brendan’s College for €9.

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Community College TY students become qualified baristas

School Dayz Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas. They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make […]

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School Dayz

Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas.

They completed a full-day training course and are now qualified to make coffee, which could make them very employable in local cafes and restaurants this summer.
Their teachers, who are described as the school’s “resident coffee experts,” were impressed with the students’ hard work and enjoyed the lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos the students made throughout the day.
In addition to their barista training, the TY students also took a trip to Mallow. There, they learned about the rules of the road, practiced the driver theory test, and many got behind the wheel of a car for the first time. They also learned about the dangers of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

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