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Tributes to camogie stalwart Pat Sheehan

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By Sean Moriarty

The sporting and business communities, shocked at the sudden death Pat Sheehan on Monday, have paid tributes this week.

The Headford native and Kilcummin resident was highly popular at his work place in the Gleneagle Hotel and was hugely influential in Camogie circles both locally and across the county.

Pat spent 26 years working for visiting conferences at the Gleneagle and INEC.

The hotel issued a statement on behalf of management and staff.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sheehan family following the passing of our dear friend and colleague Pat Sheehan. Pat began working at The Gleneagle 26 years ago and since then met every day with enthusiasm, dedication and care for everyone around him,” said the tribute.

“A true gentleman - he brightened our days with his humour and smile. Our heartfelt condolences are with his wife Geraldine, his daughter Ilona and all his family.”

Pat played a big part in the development of camogie in Killarney and Kerry.

From 2018 he served as a coach with underage teams with both the Killarney and Sliabh Luachra Clubs and was the manager of the Killarney club's very first minor team who won the County Final earlier this year. His daughter Ilona played on this historic team also.

He was also a coach with the Kerry minor camogie team.

“All the girls remember his big smile,” Killarney camogie PRO, Sarah Dineen, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“They are devastated. There was a great atmosphere within the club and he created that atmosphere.”

He supported his daughter Ilona as she rose to prominence in camogie. She is a member of the Killarney County Minor winning team and the Kerry Minor squad.

Both Killarney Camogie Club and Kerry Camogie formed a guard of honour at his funeral on Wednesday which was held in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Kilcummin.

He was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, Kilcummin afterwards.

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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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