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Second lockdown ahead if house parties continue – says Cllr

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By Michelle Crean

A Killarney councillor has this week lashed out saying that the amount of private house parties in town is a major cause for concern - as COVID cases locally have begun to spike.

Cllr Donal Grady says he fears a second lockdown as he has witnessed parties in a number of housing estates and says people are getting complacent everywhere especially in shops and when it comes to washing their hands.

He says that he’s hugely worried that a second wave is just weeks away - especially if the parties continue due to the Government's decision to delay Phase 4 - resulting in pubs and nightclubs now not reopening until August 10. He is again calling for the Government to halt travel for people coming to Kerry from other counties.

"We should isolate Dublin from the rest of the country for a while. They'd do it if it were the other way around. They have over 12,500 cases compared to Kerry with over 300 - how can you compare the two figures?"

The seasoned councillor made his views known after it became public earlier this week that young holidaymakers who travelled to the town for a break had the highly infectious disease.

“We must cop on. Complacency has set in in a big way,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “If we don’t get our act together we’re heading for a second lockdown. The washing of the hands has been forgotten about. We’re falling behind.”

As of yesterday evening (Thursday) there was one death reported nationally and 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 bringing a total of 25,698 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

In Kerry there were no extra reported cases yesterday, following two confirmed cases on Wednesday and three on Tuesday by the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, this week confirmed the “large” cluster in Kerry but he said many of those involved are located elsewhere in the country.

“People in Kerry do not need to worry unduly, certainly based on the numbers, but I know that a cluster has been well publicised in that setting,” he said. “We’ve had clusters in many counties around the country and our public health teams are on top of those and they are identifying the cases. I’m not saying that people in Killarney, which has been mentioned in the media, do not need to be vigilant – they do. People everywhere need to be vigilant as, again, we are talking about a disease that can spread when people are well.”

In response to the outbreak of the Killarney cases over the past week the HSE said that they cannot comment on any individual case.

However, it said that the Department can confirm there have been a small number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region in recent weeks.
“In all cases, anyone deemed to be a close contact has been identified and contacted quickly. Although we cannot comment on any individual case, we are confident that correct procedures have been followed in the management of all cases notified to the Department to date.

Close contacts are offered two tests for COVID-19. They are tested again seven days after their initial test.”

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HeartBeat to host Advanced Healthcare Directive information night

Anne O’Shea Clarke, Regional Manager of SAGE Advocacy Mid & South West Regions, will provide a comprehensive explanation of the process involved in properly creating an Advanced Healthcare Directive (AHD) […]

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Anne O’Shea Clarke, Regional Manager of SAGE Advocacy Mid & South West Regions, will provide a comprehensive explanation of the process involved in properly creating an Advanced Healthcare Directive (AHD) on Tuesday, April 29, starting at 8pm in the Parish Centre, Park Road.

An ADH is a document which sets out your instructions in relation to healthcare treatments in the future, when you no longer have the capacity to decide. AHDs are not solely relevant to older individuals. Young adults can also significantly benefit from putting these directives in place for themselves or when assisting loved ones. Attendees will gain valuable ‘Knowledge is Power; regarding legal and personal matters
The meeting will specifically look at two key application forms: the standard AHD Form and the Think Ahead / my form.
Prior to the main meeting, a Blood Pressure. and Pulse Clinic will be available from 7:15pm until 8:00pm sharp. Following O’Shea Clarke’s presentation, there will be a Question & Answer session, followed by tea and coffee.
SAGE Advocacy, the national service for older people, works to ensure access to information, support, and independent advocacy, while also providing safeguarding services across various settings, including homes, day centres, hospitals, and nursing homes.
They also support vulnerable adults and healthcare patients in situations where other services may not be available.
For further information, email anne.osheaclarke@sageadvocacy.ie or visit www.sageadvocacy.ie.

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Singer-songwriter Lillie Foley releases second single

Local singer-songwriter Lillie Foley, from Whitebridge Manor, has released her second single of 2025, titled ‘That’s Life’, on all major streaming platforms. ‘That’s Life’ is described as a powerful blend […]

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Local singer-songwriter Lillie Foley, from Whitebridge Manor, has released her second single of 2025, titled ‘That’s Life’, on all major streaming platforms.

‘That’s Life’ is described as a powerful blend of pop and soul music, drawing on Foley’s own life experiences. The track marks a further step in the promising career of the emerging local artist.
Recorded at the renowned Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin, ‘That’s Life’ showcases Foley’s emotive lyrics, soulful vocals, and a sound that is both modern and deeply personal. Collaborating with music producer and audio engineer Hermann Ogulla, Foley has crafted a song that blends her Irish background with contemporary musical styles, aiming to resonate with listeners in Ireland,and beyond.
Foley said: “This is a song about resilience and accepting that bad things happen in life and we just have to get on with it and move on as best we can.”
‘That’s Life’ is the second of several songs Foley has planned for release in 2025.

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