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Going Dutch for the Puck Goat

There is no such thing as bad publicity.

It is a phrase often used by press officers and PR specialists.

The people of Killorglin have a lot to thank Joe Duffy for. The veteran RTÉ broadcaster spent most of last week giving out about the welfare of the Puck goat.

They may not have all agreed with the sentiments of the conversations but there is no denying that details of the 400-year-old festival was broadcast into thousands of homes that previously knew little or anything about why a goat is king of a town for three days each August.

And this free publicity surely contributed to the large crowds that attended last week’s festival.

So, if there is no such thing as bad publicity can you imagine the results if there was good publicity surrounding an event or product.

That is why I am taking my hat off to Fáilte Ireland.

Have you seen the huge amount of Dutch registered cars touring county all summer? They are very distinctive as both front and rear registration plates are black writing on an orange background as opposed to the EU norm of black writing on a white plate.

I meet dozens of such cars every day and have met coach loads of Dutch tourists checking into Killarney and Tralee hotels.

It got me thinking. How is this the case?

Last Christmas Fáilte Ireland ran a direct marketing campaign in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Thousands of commuters in both cities saw eye-catching ads for Ireland on trams operating there.

It was all part of Tourism Ireland’s latest promotion in the Netherlands, which highlighted Ireland and, in particular, the ease of access for Dutch holidaymakers to the Wild Atlantic Way.

In addition to the ‘wrapped’ trams, the promotion also included digital billboard ads in metro stations in Amsterdam, which were viewed an estimated two million times between early December and early January.

The colourful ‘Ierland’ trams and billboard ads were seen by many potential Dutch holidaymakers – inspiring them to put the Wild Atlantic Way on their holiday wish-list for this year.

So matter what you do, what club or organisation you represent, tell the world what you are doing. It may not always be plain sailing, as Puck Fair organisers found out last week, but the rewards far out-weigh the negatives.

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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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