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Ukrainians plant Viburnum bushes as a sign of gratitude

As Independence Day of Ukraine approaches on August 24, the Ukrainian community presented 20 Viburnum bushes (Kalyna - ukr) to the Killarney community.
Ukrainians want to leave behind a memory for many years in Killarney, as well as express their gratitude to all locals for their hospitality and warm welcome.
Ukrainians, together with the Mayor of Killarney, planted the 20 Viburnum bushes in the Maurice O'Donoghue Memorial Park on the footpath behind the Riverside Hotel on Tuesday.
Viburnum is a very important symbol for every Ukrainian. In every yard of every grandmother in Ukraine, you will find a Viburnum bush. Its white flowers and red berries are sung in folk songs, embroidered on traditional clothes and towels, houses, and coats of arms of towns and cities have been decorated with Viburnum since ancient times.
The battle march "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow" is now heard all over the world and is the anthem of the resistance of Ukrainians against Russian aggression.
"Viburnum for a Ukrainian is also a symbol of his native home," says Volodymyr Kravchenko, one of the youngest participants of the initiative. "We want to have a little corner of Ukraine here in Killarney. We also want to express our gratitude to all residents of Killarney for their hospitality and leave a Viburnum alley as a memory."
Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney, who granted permission to plant the bushes and also joined the action, added that "there is a lot of Ukrainian people in our community so it's very important".
"We're all growing together in our community and it's going to set vector for the growth of those bushes and the growth of Ukrainians here in Killarney and in Kerry and in Ireland. It symbolises where we're going together as human beings and after one another, so I suppose it's important if we can do that.”
Ukrainians are very grateful to Sheila Casey for her help in organising this event.
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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 […]

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 […]

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.”