Connect with us

News

Dr Valeria is one tough cookie

Published

on

0229431_Valeria_Mashkovska_by_Ira_Melnychuk.JPG

By Natalya Krasnenkova

Valeria Mashkovska applies make-up, manages a short hairstyle and looks like a Roxette soloist. Today she will go to a medical clinic to start taking in Ukrainian patients.

In Ukraine, Valeria worked as a family doctor and head of a medical centre. She is currently an assistant physician at a medical clinic in Killarney. She is preparing for an English language exam and confirmation of a Ukrainian doctor's degree.

Valeria moved to Killarney at the end of March with her two children, Hlib (13) and Veronica (21). Leaving Odessa was a real challenge for her as she had to urgently evacuate her children and herself when rocket attacks began on the city.

Valeria jumped in the car and ran towards the Moldovan border, the closest point to Odessa. There was no plan but to flee the war as far as possible to save her children.

All she managed to grab was a few things and put a knife under the car seat which was needed to feel at least a little bit safe. Of course, she would not be able to use a knife as a weapon.

"I completely forgot about this knife and crossed all borders with it. I can't even imagine what it would be like if it was found at a checkpoint or at the border. When I remembered about it, I was very scared. I left it in the kitchen in Sofia, Bulgaria,” Valeria says.

After crossing the border, Valeria's family took some time out to recover, and then became quite frightened because they had no money and nowhere to stay. Valeria moved to Bulgaria where she spent a week with the children.

Acquaintances in Sofia gave them housing, but not food. For several days they simply did not have anything to eat. Then Valeria got to the Red Cross, where she received some food. For several days, they have eaten only canned food.

"Nobody taught us how to behave in war, nobody prepared us to drive a car for 24 hours without rest, nobody told us to pay money in case of escape," Valeria added. “You have to do all this for the first time and you can't make mistakes and risk your children. You still have to take them away from the war. ”

To buy tickets to Ireland she had to sell her car. These were one-way tickets.

In Killarney, on the first day of her arrival, Valeria told me: “I need to come to my senses and rest. I'm terribly tired".

But in three days she started working. Valeria took a job as a waitress at The Killarney Oaks Hotel, all the time looking for an opportunity to be useful as a doctor.

All Innisfallen citizens know that we have a doctor that can be knocked on 24/7. Valeria is ready to help people, even when she is very tired after 10 hours as a waitress.

And now Valeria is standing by the mirror, straightening her hair and smiling. For several weeks now, she has been working as an assistant doctor in Killarney two days a week. For the remaining four days, Valeria works as a waitress and she spends all her free time learning English. She's a really tough cookie.

Advertisement

News

Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s

Published

on

By

Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s


World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.


The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Deerpark Retail Park placed on market for fifteen million euro

Published

on

By

Deerpark Retail Park in Killarney has officially been placed on the market with a guide price in excess of 15.4 million euro, excluding VAT.

International real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed as the sole sales agent to handle the high-profile commercial property sale on behalf of its current owner, Investcorp.

Investcorp, a global investment management firm headquartered in Bahrain, had previously acquired the prominent shopping complex.


The sale represents one of the largest commercial property offerings to launch in County Kerry this year.

Located roughly 1.3 kilometres west of Killarney town centre, the scheme enjoys strong regional connectivity and sits adjacent to independently owned operations including a Tesco Extra store, a Tesco petrol filling station, JYSK, and Aldi.


Constructed in 2006, the development extends across approximately 10,482 square metres, or 112,835 square feet.

The scheme comprises a mix of modern retail warehouse units and a complementary neighbourhood centre, offering 13 individual units in total with Part Open and Part Bulky Use planning permission.

The units range in size from 94.6 square metres up to 1,994.9 square metres. Visitors have access to approximately 248 customer parking spaces across the commercial grounds.

The park is currently 100 per cent occupied by a strong line-up of established national and international brands.

Key retail tenants include Marks & Spencer, Boots, DID Electrical, Maxi Zoo, and Mountain Warehouse.

The neighbourhood centre element accommodates service and convenience operators such as Costa Coffee, Card Factory, and Salon B.

The first-floor accommodation is fully let to Peak Performance Academy, which provides additional rental diversification.

Additionally, the scheme benefits from an agreement with Tesla to operate eight electric vehicle charging bays within the customer car park.


Commercial figures show that the property generates a total current rental income of 1,326,458 euro per annum, with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 4.45 years to break options and 6.46 years to lease expiry.

Cushman & Wakefield noted that the quoted guide price of 15.4 million euro reflects a net initial yield of 7.83 per cent, assuming standard purchaser costs of 9.96 per cent.

The selling agents highlighted that the fully occupied asset offers investors an attractive income profile alongside scope for additional income generation through parking commercialisation.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport