News
Vision impaired Fires girl goes driving

A vision impaired Fires girl got the chance of a lifetime recently when she drove a specially adapted car for the first time.
Grace O’Sullivan, 13., who has Stargardts, took part in a special Vision Sports Ireland event at Mondello Park last week.
Run in partnership with Motorsport Ireland, the day provided an experience of a lifetime for 80 blind and vision impaired participants.
During the morning session, participants got behind the wheel of hybrid and electric dual control Opel Corsa cars, offering a unique driving experience. For many of them, including Grace, it was their first time ever getting behind the wheel of a car.
“She had a brilliant time and loved every minute of it,” said her mother Mary.
“Grace is already asking if she can go again next year.”
In the afternoon they took to Mondello’s famous track where they experienced passenger rides in a host of different rally cars driven by some of Ireland’s top drivers.
Grace teamed up with Mayo-based rally driver Vanessa McFadden, sister of the event organiser, Sara, to get her first taste of rally driving.
She also met her sporting hero, multiple Paralympic gold medallist Jason Smyth who also has Stargardts.
“Grace has followed Jason since she was seven years old, not alone is a great runner but he is an inspiration, he is married with two children and just shows that you can have a near enough normal life.,” added Mary.
The O’Sullivan Family is organising a charity cycle on September 9. Pedal for Grace will raise funds for the National Council for the Blind and will be based in the Firies Community Centre.
News
Massive Park Road housing development given green light
A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road. The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near […]

A private developer has been given planning permission to build 249 new residential units at Upper Park Road.
The development, which will be built on a recently cleared site near An Post’s sorting office, will include a variety of properties from five-bed houses to single apartments, along with a crèche and over 500 car spaces and over 300 bike spaces.
The development has been welcomed by local councillor Martin Grady.
“Killarney has a massive housing shortage so this is very positive. It will retain young families in the area, stimulating economic growth,” he said. “After 17 years of different planning applications it’s finally coming to fruition.”
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Ballydribeen residents living in fear due to anti-social behaviour
Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate. Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits […]

Residents in the Ballydribeen are living in fear as a result of increased anti-social behaviour in the estate.
Several serious incidents in the estate have resulted in several Garda visits in the last week.
Local councillor Martin Grady told the Killarney Advertiser that residents are “living in fear” as a result of very serious incidents in the last week alone.
One house in the estate was badly damaged when fire crackers were placed inside a letter box.
Another house had its windows smashed in over the weekend.
“It’s a major problem,” added Grady after meeting residents there earlier this week.
One of the most serious incidents occurred on Tuesday night.
A passing motorists had rocks thrown at his car while driving along the bypass whch is adjacent to the estate.
Taking to social media, local primary-school teacher Pádraig O’Sullivan posted:
“Travelling home tonight, at 11.05pm on the Killarney side of the bypass our car was hit by a rock – not a pebble – from the Ballydribben side , which hit the passenger door.
“It was centimetres away from hitting the window where my father, who is visually impaired, was sitting.
“This could have caused catastrophic permanent injury to him.
“The Killarney Garda were on the scene within three minutes.
“They can’t be patrolling the bypass all night.
“It comes down to parenting. You should know where your children are at this hour and be able to teach them what’s funny and what ruin a person’s life or cause a fatal crash.“