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Time to get physical for National Arthritis Week

Next week is National Arthritis Week (NAW) and this year's theme is 'Physical Activity'.
And as part of the week from Monday April 24-28, the Kerry Branch are doing a free taster session - exercise programme, a prelude to NAW this Sunday (April 23) in the Kerry Sports Academy Gym and Hydro Pool.
At 1.30pm there'll be an introduction to walking with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions using Activator and Nordic Walking Poles.
From 2pm to 3pm the focus will be on strength and conditioning using Thera Resistance Bands; balance and mobility, and aerobic dance exercise class. People will have the option of doing this class sitting on a chair. Then at 3.30pm to 4.15pm there'll be hydrotherapy exercise class. This event is tailored for people who are living with any form of arthritis to come and sample our exercise programmes.
The Kerry Branch of Arthritis Ireland (KBAI) message for NAW is 'KNOWLEDGE is everything'.
"The more you know about your condition the better and the quicker you can improve your quality of life," Tom Barrett, Chairman of KBAI, said.
"The Kerry Branch Facebook page and Arthritis Ireland's web page is a good source of relevant, current and up to date information. Arthritis Ireland's 'Living Well With Arthritis’, ‘Breaking The Pain Cycle’ and ‘Behind The Pain’ courses are once again back face to face and now are also online.
''Movement is the best medicine’ - once your medication treatment plan is in place and working, then exercise is the next best thing to help you regain lost strength and function which no doubt your disease has stolen from you.
"‘Little things make a big difference’ - a combination of medication, exercise, diet and knowledge etc all combine and add up to help you back on your feet."
'It's never too late to take back control’.
"The sooner you take action, the sooner you can reap the rewards of a better quality of life. Just remember the only person who can make that decision is you. Trust me, it will be one of the best decisions you will ever make."
For more information on NAW events check out The Kerry Branch of Arthritis Ireland Facebook page.
News
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.