Killarney councillors are seeking an urgent face-to-face meeting with the HSE to prevent the town’s health infrastructure from falling into further decay.

At Wednesday’s Municipal District meeting, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae raised a motion calling for clarity on the HSE’s long-term plans for its significant property holdings within the town.

The focus of the concern is the sprawling St Finan’s Hospital site, which has been lying derelict since the facility closed its doors in 2012.

Despite sitting on prime land, the Victorian structure has remained idle for 14 years with no progress on redevelopment.

While the new Community Nursing Unit has been built on a portion of the St Finan’s grounds, the vast majority of the historic site continues to deteriorate.

The concern among local representatives is that a “domino effect” of dereliction could follow once the new hospital eventually opens.

When residents are transferred to the new unit, both the existing Killarney District Hospital and the St Columbanus Home (the proposed new home for a minor injuries unit) will be vacated.
Cllr Healy-Rae and her colleagues are demanding guarantees that these buildings will not suffer the same fate as St Finan’s.

Without a clear strategy from the HSE, there are fears that Killarney could be left with multiple large-scale derelict sites in prominent locations, rather than seeing these buildings repurposed for housing, community use, or further healthcare needs.

The usual morning routine was swapped for slippers and dressing gowns at Maggie’s Montessori last Friday as the children took part in the annual National Pyjama Day.

The local event was held in support of LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, and Early Childhood Ireland’s Eco-Emotions project.
The theme for the day was “children helping children and having fun,” with the Killarney toddlers joining over 65,000 children nationwide in the massive fundraising drive. Since its inception in 2003, National Pyjama Day has raised more than €4.5 million to support developmental and wellbeing projects for young people across the country.
Funds raised during the day at Maggie’s will go directly toward LauraLynn’s Family Support Services. These services provide essential emotional, therapeutic, and practical care for children with palliative and complex needs, as well as their families.
Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, noted that the day is a celebration of kindness and community. This sentiment was echoed by LauraLynn CEO Kerry McLaverty, who stated that the spirit of children helping their peers aligns perfectly with the mission of the hospice.