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Much missed Weeshie Fogarty remembered on his home patch
FAMILY AND FRIENDS:Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney unveils a plaque in honour of former Radio Kerry and GAA pundit Weeshie Fogarty who died in 2018 at Dalton's Avenue in Killarney on Thursday. Also in photo are Joan Fogarty and her family Denise Carol-Ann Kieran Glen Spellman and grandkids Lucy and Eva Angela McAllen Killarney Town Council Patrick O'Sullivan Chairman Kerry County Board Fiona Stack Radio Kerry and Liam Maguire Legion GAA. Photo: Don MacMonagle
UNVEILING:Pictured at the unveiling of the Dalton's Avenue Roundabout dedicated to Weeshie Fogarty in Killarney on Thursday were Joan Fogarty and her family Denise Carol-Ann Kieran Glen Spellman and grandkids Lucy and Eva.Photo: Don MacMonagle
FAMILY AND FRIENDS:Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney unveils a plaque in honour of former Radio Kerry and GAA pundit Weeshie Fogarty who died in 2018 at Dalton's Avenue in Killarney on Thursday. Also in photo are Joan Fogarty and her family Denise Carol-Ann Kieran Glen Spellman and grandkids Lucy and Eva Angela McAllen Killarney Town Council Patrick O'Sullivan Chairman Kerry County Board Fiona Stack Radio Kerry and Liam Maguire Legion GAA. Photo: Don MacMonagle
UNVEILING:Pictured at the unveiling of the Dalton's Avenue Roundabout dedicated to Weeshie Fogarty in Killarney on Thursday were Joan Fogarty and her family Denise Carol-Ann Kieran Glen Spellman and grandkids Lucy and Eva.Photo: Don MacMonagle
By Michelle Crean and Sean Moriarty
One of Killarney's most dedicated football men was honoured on Thursday - when a roundabout was named in his memory.
Killarney Municipal District dedicated the roundabout at the junction of Dalton’s Avenue and Marian Terrace, to the late broadcaster and sportsman, Weeshie Fogarty.
The proud Legion, basketball champion and Radio Kerry commentator was one of the town’s best loved sons.
Thursday’s event was attended by his wife Joan, daughters Denise, Carolann, son Kieran, grandchildren Eva and Lucy, son-in-law Glen and the extended Fogarty and Slattery families.
Local politicians and Legion club members were also present.
“Weeshie, as we know, made his mark in journalism and broadcasting, particularly on Radio Kerry, where his unique style and turn of phrase won audiences far beyond the Kingdom and gave him a truly international reach,” Mayor Marie Moloney told the assembled group.
“Weeshie’s voice was instantly recognisable. He had a special and unique way of talking about football and in talking about anything for that matter. And behind all of that was a tremendous passion – a passion for sport, a passion for Kerry and a passion for Killarney.
He also enjoyed much success at club and intercounty level on the playing field with his beloved Legion club and in his many years as a referee.
“It is hugely appropriate that this roundabout is within a short distance of his beloved Fitzgerald Stadium, which in many ways was his second home. I can remember hearing a broadcast in which Weeshie, speaking from the commentary box, described the vista of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, St Mary’s Cathedral and St Finan’s Hospital, where, of course, he worked for many years. The piece proved Weeshie’s deep love for Killarney and its people. This was complemented by the award-winning Terrace Talk programme which had an enormous listenership.”
Killarney Legion GAA Club said that they are "delighted and proud" that the Killarney Municipal District saw fit to dedicate the roundabout to the man who "is a legend".
"Weeshie gave a lifetime of service to the club, from the day he joined on February 3 1955, as a player, trainer, coach and officer," PRO Enda Walshe said.
"Serving in all the main officer roles, he was a key driving force behind the publication in 1979 of a 'Legion of Memories', an award-winning book tracking the first 50 years of the history of Killarney Legion."
Weeshie played for the club to the highest level, also representing Kerry at all levels culminating in winning an All-Ireland Senior medal in 1969. After his playing career ended he turned his attention to refereeing, taking charge of several County Championship finals.
Outside of the playing arena Weeshie excelled in his role as a broadcaster for over 20 years on Radio Kerry and was known throughout the country as the 'Voice of Kerry Football'. In this role he won numerous accolades including PPI Radio Awards and was inducted into the prestigious McNamee Awards Hall of Fame in 2016 for his lifelong contribution to the GAA.
He dedicated his working life to the care of others in his role as a psychiatric nurse in St Finan'sHospital, which fittingly overlooked his beloved Fitzgerald Stadium.
"It is a fitting tribute to a man who gave his all for his club, town and county. The word legend is often overused but Weeshie Fogarty was a legend,” added the club PRO.
Call for urgent child protection funding at Killarney conference
Frontline child protection and welfare services are facing an unprecedented crisis due to a surge in cases and limited resources, key speakers warned at a national conference in Killarney on Wednesday.
The final event of National End Child Poverty Week took place at the KCYS Youth Centre in Killarney, bringing together child welfare experts, legal professionals, and social workers to examine child protection, welfare, and alternative care.
Addressing delegates ahead of Budget 2027, Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, warned against proposed spending cuts across government departments that deliver core family supports.
“For politicians to speak about their prioritisation of the protection and safety of children in recent weeks, while at the same time committing to levying the Departments that deliver those protection, welfare and family support services is just not right,” Tanya Ward said. “The levies, which are intended to shoulder an ‘overspend’ by the department of education through cuts across other departments, could not come at a worse time. They essentially ask critical services to children to pare back, to do more with less – at a time when these services are completely stretched thin trying to meet the demand for support.”
Figures released at the conference revealed that referrals to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, have doubled over the past decade. The agency received a record 106,444 referrals in 2025. That upward trend has continued into 2026, with 28,800 referrals logged in the first three months of the year—an 11 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
“Tusla and its support services are the last safety net for vulnerable children and families,” Tanya Ward added. “We need to be seeing significant increased investment to ensure we have a child protection system that is fit for purpose and can meet the needs of the children behind these figures who are facing battles such as neglect, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, trauma and deprivation.”
Chaired by Julie Ahern, Director of Legal, Policy and Services at the Children’s Rights Alliance, the conference featured keynote contributions from Kate Duggan, Chief Executive Officer of Tusla, and Dr Aisling Parkes, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and Senior Lecturer in Law at UCC.
Additional speakers included Denise Kirwan, Partner at Comyn Kelleher Tobin Solicitors; social worker Thomas O’Driscoll; Seamus Whitty, CEO of KCYS; and Sinéad Roe, Intensive Family Support Co-ordinator at KCYS.
The Children’s Rights Alliance is calling on the Government to deliver a dedicated “Children’s Budget” for 2027. Key demands include increasing Tusla’s overall funding to expand social work staff across 30 new network areas, funding the rollout of the forthcoming National Policy Framework on Alternative Care, and increasing the proportion of Tusla’s budget directed to early intervention and community family support by three percentage points annually over five years.
News
Killarney Camera Club has published a special commemorative booklet featuring 25 images to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Camera Club marks silver anniversary with publication
Killarney Camera Club has published a special commemorative booklet featuring 25 images to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The publication showcases select photographs representing the work of members throughout the club’s quarter-century history. Members past and present gathered for the official launch at the Anam Arts and Cultural Centre on September 3.
The club holds fortnightly meetings featuring guest speakers, internal presentations, and practical demonstrations. Regular group outings take place across the region, including locations such as Dingle, the Black Valley, and Gougane Barra, alongside open competitions and public exhibitions.
Members also contribute to community initiatives, capturing local events such as the annual Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle.
Copies of the commemorative booklet are available for €15 through the club secretary or at Eason. Further information on membership and upcoming activities is available via killarneycameraclub.ie.
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Killarney Camera Club has published a special commemorative booklet featuring 25 images to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
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