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Something for all musical tastes from the Gleneagle Concert Band

The Gleneagle Concert Band’s annual concert in aid of local causes is set to take place on Sunday, May 14 at 8pm.
The town band will be joined in The Gleneagle Hotel by guest artists from St Brendan's College Killarney.
All proceeds from this concert will be allocated to Comfort for Chemo Kerry, St Mary’s Church of Ireland Killarney Window Restoration Fund, St Brendan's College Killarney and the Gleneagle Concert Band Music Education Programme instrument loan scheme.
Expect something for all musical tastes including military marches, classical music, jazz numbers, film music, choral music and vocal hits.
“We are really pleased to collaborate with local charities and we hope the public will come out in great numbers to support this worthwhile fundraising venture," Band Music Development officer Vincent Condon said.
"Comfort for Chemo Kerry’s mission is to fundraise €5 million to build and equip a state-of-the-art, purpose-built chemotherapy unit for the people of Kerry who need chemotherapy and oncological treatments. The facility will ensure the best care available is delivered in an environment that is welcoming, reassuring, comfortable and dignified. The band and choir are musically in excellent form and I extend an open invitation to music enthusiasts to come and join us for what will be an evening of great entertainment."
Band Manager Ciaran Lynch added that “These are very exciting times for the band which would not be possible without the encouragement and support we receive from the political, business sector and general public in Killarney".
"This concert will be a highlight and a celebration of the voluntary work, community service and musical excellence that exists here in Killarney. We are delighted to have St Mary's Church of Ireland Killarney as a charity partner as many of the beautiful stained windows in the church are sagging and in danger of collapsing. These windows are very old and have significant historic importance for Killarney. A funding appeal has been launched by the church to raise €50,000 to replace the protective glazing with stronger laminate glass to include ventilation, and to restore the warped stained glass panels.”
The Gleneagle Concert Band has represented Killarney and Kerry with distinction both at home and abroad. Over the past four decades, the Gleneagle Concert Band has represented Killarney on musical tours to Germany, Holland, Sweden, Austria, Monaco, Portugal and Paris. Any person interested in joining the Gleneagle Concert Band (including past members and adults) or enrolling in music lessons at the Gleneagle School of Music should contact the band at 087 2229513.
Tickets for the annual concert are €14 per adult and €10 per child/OAP and are available from the INEC Box Office, band members, St Mary’s Church of Ireland Killarney, St Brendan's College Killarney and Comfort for Chemo Kerry. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door on the night of the concert.
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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.