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Rotary Youth Leader heading to Strasbourg

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A Killarney student will represent Ireland at the Rotary Youth Leadership trip to Strasbourg in February.

Having progressed beyond the Killarney stages of the competition, Abbie O'Sullivan, a Fifth Year student at St Brigid’s Presentation attended for interview in Cork on Wednesday, November 23.

Her success at this national stage of the interview process has meant that Abbie will be one of 24 students chosen from schools all around the country to represent Ireland at this prestigious event next year.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Competition is one of the longest running Rotary youth projects. It rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities.

The finals were hosted this year by Bishopstown Rotary Club in The Lee Hotel, Cork. Abbie was interviewed by a panel of three who represented the private sector, the public sector and education. It was a tough interview but Abbie came out smiling and was happy with her performance.

Abbie, daughter of John O’Sullivan and Aisling Crosbie from Faha, hopes to study politics in University.

The exciting six day team building trip in February begins in Belfast where the students have a visit to The Titanic Centre, a tour of Stormont and they will meet with local politicians and business leaders.

They then travel to Dublin where they are invited to an information seminar and lunch hosted by the staff of the European Parliament offices.

This is followed by a tour of Dáil Eireann and further meetings with politicians. Afterwards the group fly to Strasbourg and prepare for the highlight of the trip which is a full day of debating a variety of motions at Euroscola at the European Parliament in Strasbourg along with about five hundred students from all over Europe.

Killarney Rotary Club have been hosting this at club level for many years and are delighted to say they have had many winners in the regional finals over the years who have gone on this trip and say it is an amazing experience and one they will never forget.

President Rayla Tadjimatova said she is thrilled to see this young lady go forward representing both the club and her school in Strasbourg. She congratulated Mr Jer Lyons, Abbie's teacher and thanked him for preparing her. She wishes Abbie well in her future and hopes all her dreams come true.

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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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