Daisy Sugrue and Culann Cronin have recently begun studying at Killarney Community College. Both students have had a very exciting few weeks with new friendships and lots of learning and fun.

Both students are from Kilcummin and they chose KCC after the open night. Daisy Sugrue who hails from Coolcorcoran was immediately impressed by the teachers. She said: “The teachers were so kind and made me feel really welcome.”

Culann was already familiar with KCC as his dad and cousins had previously attended the school. The subjects were of great interest to him. “Seeing all of the practical subjects and hearing about the panto really drew me in.”

Daisy and Culann both attended Gaelscoil Faithleann before starting at KCC.

Daisy did not know anybody before she came to the school and her first day was nerve-wrecking. She remarked: “It was strange not speaking Irish in school!”

Culann was also nervous however he made a friend named Seb on the bus which made his experience much easier on him.

Both students credit their teachers for the support they have been shown so far. The kindness, caring nature and the willingness to help has been a huge factor in helping them settle into their new school.

So far, their favourite subjects are Engineering and Graphics.  

KCC has bright, modern facilities, including a new extension and Daisy thinks it looks amazing. “It’s big, but there’s still loads of space for everyone.” She added. She loves having her own locker and Culann likes the canteen as the food is “really good.”

KCC is co-ed and both students say it feels more balanced, inclusive and natural which they both appreciate.

Daisy’s favourite part of the school is the therapy dog, Jet. He brings joy and calm to everyone he meets.  Making new friends has been Culann’s highlight and both students appreciate the caring nature of their teachers, which has made all of the difference.

Daisy is excited for the upcoming school trips, and she can’t wait to explore new talents. She is also looking forward to house competitions which is a fun way to build community in KCC.

Culann can’t wait to get stuck into Woodwork and get involved in the many clubs on offer such as Lego, chess, and various sports teams.

Both Daisy and Culann are looking forward to the school panto which brings students together in a fun and creative way.

 “Be open, get involved, and don’t worry help is always on offer” is the advice they would give to new students starting at KCC.

Both students have settled in very well and are enjoying making new friends.

KCC’s great facilities, delicious food, wide variety of subjects and the welcoming atmosphere has made the school a place where students can thrive, grow and feel right at home.

A call to introduce fixed stops on Killarney’s new Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) bus service has been made at this Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting, with a view to making the service more accessible for older residents.

Speaking to the chamber, Cllr John O’Donoghue welcomed the new service, which he described as a “very welcome addition to life in the town.” However, he expressed curiosity about its usage levels and sought an update on how successful it is proving.
Cllr O’Donoghue’s key proposal was to adapt the service to better suit older customers. He said that a number of people had mentioned that while the service is a “superb idea,” its app-based operation could be a struggle for some.
“Were there to be one run per day into town with defined stops and times, and another one later on to do the return journey, it would make the service much more accessible to older people who struggle with the app,” he said. He suggested a single morning loop calling to the entrances of major estates, with a return trip in the afternoon.
“It would greatly enhance the experience for all and increase user levels which would in turn increase the chances of the service becoming a permanent fixture around the town,” he added.
In reply, the council said that the Smart DRT Project is a pilot initiative funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The council’s response stated that the service is defined by its flexible routing and scheduling, which reacts dynamically to passenger requests. It involves three buses operating seven days a week from 6 am to 11 pm.
The reply from the council said that given the “dynamic response to passenger demand is a central feature of the pilot project,” there are currently no plans to include fixed stops in route planning. The project is overseen locally by Local Link Kerry.