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Students should prepare early for Third Level Costs – Killarney Credit Union

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With the latest round of CAO offers out this month, Killarney Credit Union is advising parents and students to call in now to discuss their college finance options.

With the average cost of living for a student in Ireland studying away from home for three years amounting to over €33,000, and those living at home amounting to €20,502*.  The Credit Union is recommending that parents call in and speak to a dedicated student loans officer to discuss their needs.

Speaking about third level costs, Helen Courtney Power, Business Development Officer with Killarney Credit Union, stated: “With the first round of CAO offers out on August 20, there is pressure on parents and students to quickly organise accommodation, pay student contribution charges and meet the array of costs associated attending college.

“We are recommending that parents and students come in early, discuss potential college finance needs and provide the necessary loan documentation. The member can then obtain pre-approval for the student loan, and they need not draw it down until its required. The amount required may also be adjusted later to suit the students course duration or college attended.

“Both parents and students can find meeting the costs of third level stressful and daunting and recent research have shown that approximately six-out-of-10 parents get into debt to cover college costs*,” Helen added.

Killarney Credit Union have put in place dedicated student loans officers for the month of August who can meet parents and students by appointment in each of their branches. Appointments can be made with Karena in the Beech Road branch, Donagh in the Park Road branch and Eileen in the Kenmare branch on 064 66 31344.

The Credit Union is also offering a third level bursary worth €4,000 for students attending third level for the first time. There are four opportunities to win, with the winners each receiving €1,000 each. It is open to all members of the Credit Union. Closing date is the Friday, September 21. Application forms are available online or in branches.

Further information on the third level costs and budget sheets can be found on www.killarneycu.ie

*Source: Cost of Third Level Survey, ILCU, August 2016

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Parnell commemorated in Beaufort on 125th Anniversary of Land League meeting

A special ceremony was held in Beaufort to mark the 125th anniversary of Charles Stewart Parnell’s historic visit to the village in 1880, when the Irish nationalist leader addressed thousands […]

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A special ceremony was held in Beaufort to mark the 125th anniversary of Charles Stewart Parnell’s historic visit to the village in 1880, when the Irish nationalist leader addressed thousands at a pivotal land reform meeting.

The commemoration, which took place beside the Beaufort Bar, honoured the legacy of the former MP and founder of the Irish National Land League.
The original meeting was held in a field belonging to Patrick O’Sullivan and attracted a crowd of approximately 3,000, defying the orders of local landlord ‘The O’Mahony’ of Dunloe Castle, who had threatened eviction to any tenant who supported the gathering.
Padruig O’Sullivan, proprietor of the Beaufort Bar and a direct descendant of Patrick O’Sullivan, addressed attendees at the unveiling of a new monument to mark the occasion.
The stone was designed by renowned uilleann piper and artist Tomás O’Sullivan, who also composed a special piece of music titled Parnell’s Blackbird to honour the occasion.
The original 1880 meeting was reported in publications such as the ‘Dundalk Democrat’, which gave a vivid account of the powerful speeches delivered that day.

Extract from the Dundalk Democrat – May 1880

The meeting, held on Sunday, May 16, 1880 in Patrick O’Sullivan’s field south of the Beaufort Hotel, was arranged in defiance of local landlord ‘The O’Mahony,’ who warned tenants they would be evicted for taking part. Nevertheless, the turnout was overwhelming.
Parnell arrived by special train and travelled by carriage from Killarney with fellow MP ‘The O’Donoghue’. The two were met by a band and a large welcoming crowd. Police and a Government reporter were present, but the atmosphere remained peaceful and spirited.
Speakers rallied against the unjust land laws of the time. ‘The O’Donoghue’ praised Parnell as the “shining star” of Irish nationalism and stated that “Kerry desired that her meeting should partake of a national character.”
When Parnell spoke, he described it as “the largest land meeting he had attended since County Mayo” and declared the movement to reclaim Irish land as one of the greatest undertakings in Irish history. He condemned the laws that allowed landlords to evict tenants and seize food as rent payment, noting that 600,000 farmers were subject to the whims of just 10,000 landlords.
He called for legislative reform, including the suspension of evictions and Government-backed tenant purchase schemes, warning that if Parliament failed to act, “the people will do for themselves what the Legislature refuses to do for them.”
He concluded by proposing the first resolution.
“That in the opinion of this meeting, the eviction of occupiers of land for non-payment of rent arbitrarily fixed by the landlord is unjust, subversive of the true interests of the country and calls for the emphatic condemnation of all lovers of justice.”

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St Pauls sign American Maisie Burnham

Killarney’s Utility Trust St Pauls women’s basketball team has announced the signing of American player Maisie Burnham for the upcoming 2025/2026 season. The club, who performed strongly in the latter […]

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Killarney’s Utility Trust St Pauls women’s basketball team has announced the signing of American player Maisie Burnham for the upcoming 2025/2026 season.

The club, who performed strongly in the latter part of the recent season and reached the league final, is looking to build on that success.
Maisie Burnham, a 24-year-old, six-foot-tall guard from Spangle City, Washington, comes to Killarney with a strong playing record. During her time at Liberty High School, where she also played volleyball, she was a high-scoring player.
She then went to Eastern Washington University, where in the 2020/2021 season, she led the team in scoring with over 14 points per game, a record for a freshman player at the university.
Burnham later moved to the University of Portland, where her scoring average continued to improve, reaching a peak of 16.3 points per game in the 2024/2025 season.
Utility Trust St Pauls say they are looking forward to welcoming Maisie to Killarney well in advance of the new season.

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