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Win a racehorse and help injured jockeys

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WIN THIS HORSE: Kieran Looney and Gavin Nolan with 'True Dreamer' - a 50 percent ownership in the racehorse is up for grabs while at the same time helping injured jockeys.

 

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By Sean Moriarty

Internet competitions for high-end products have been all the rage for the last year, and even more so during the lockdown, but two Killarney men have come up with a different take on the popular schemes.

Instead of winning a high-performance car or a camper van, the usual fare on offer in such competitions, subscribers to this one can win a 50 percent share in a racehorse.

As an added bonus, a portion of the raffle’s takings will be given to charities that supports injured jockeys in Ireland and Britain.

Horse Racing Buddy Club was founded by Killarney-based horse racing fans Gavin Nolan and Kieran Looney.

The club was originally set up to allow several horse racing fans come together to own a race horse – syndicates are limited to 20 persons but clubs can have unlimited membership – and can arrange visits to famous training stables.

The club’s plans for the year were disrupted as a result of pandemic related restrictions but they also wanted to do something to help injured jockeys.

They have organised an online competition via their website www.horseracingbuddyclub.ie.

Punters can enter the competition for €50. The prize is 50 percent ownership in a racehorse called 'True Dreamer', and a large portion of each entry goes towards either the Injured Jockey Fund in the UK or the Irish Jockey Fund.

“We must be the unluckiest horse racing club ever – we just got off the ground when the shutdown came into force,” Glenflesk man Kieran Looney told the Killarney Advertiser. “But we knew we needed to do something to help the jockey funds that were also suffering as their main event did not happen either. We came up with this idea and so far nearly 60 tickets have been sold.”

They hope to run 'True Dreamer' at Mallow on July 5 but, as demand for entries to all events are now at a premium, their entry is subject to a ballot.

“That is the plan, but if the ballot goes against us we will get a higher place for the next ballot so we placed the entry anyway,” added Looney.

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Free composting workshop in Fossa on Saturday

The Fossa Climate Action Group is inviting the public to a free composting workshop this Saturday at Fossa Community Hall. Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the workshop will be […]

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The Fossa Climate Action Group is inviting the public to a free composting workshop this Saturday at Fossa Community Hall.

Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the workshop will be led by Donal O’ Leary of Waste Down, who will share his 25 years of expertise on turning household and garden waste into valuable compost for gardens. The session is aimed at anyone with an interest in gardening, improving soil health, and reducing food waste.
Diarmaid Griffin, PRO of Fossa Climate Action Group, said: “It is a great to start off our series of workshops with Donal O’ Leary of Waste Down. He has a vast knowledge on the fundamentals of soil health and explains it in simple and understandable language. Everyone can compost whether you have a big garden or none at all. Each method will be explained in detail.”
The Fossa Climate Action Group thanked the Department of the Environment and Community Foundation Ireland for their support in making this informative workshop available to the community free of charge.

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Radio Kerry to feature National Park’s dawn chorus

The spectacular dawn chorus in Killarney National Park will be the focus of the Saturday Supplement on Radio Kerry this Saturday morning. Presenter Frank Lewis will highlight the natural spectacle. […]

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The spectacular dawn chorus in Killarney National Park will be the focus of the Saturday Supplement on Radio Kerry this Saturday morning.

Presenter Frank Lewis will highlight the natural spectacle.
“The chorus of birds singing together, from about 45 minutes before to 45 minutes after sunrise, our most spectacular phenomenon in nature, is at its best during these weeks.” He said.
The programme, recorded in Knockreer at dawn on April 13, will also capture the early morning floral displays.
The programme will also include insights from 88-year-old former Park Superintendent Dan Kelliher, who describes “the amazing experience of seeing a full moon sitting on top of Torc mountain – and hearing bagpipes being played in Muckross Abbey around midnight.”
Conservation ranger Padruig O’Sullivan will discuss the Park’s ongoing development.
Walks guide Richie Clancy will share a historical anecdote: “In 1969 this tall stranger asked if I could take him to where he could get a photograph of Dairy Cottage where General de Gaulle was staying. I told him we would be a long way away but he said that was no problem that he had a long lens. Over the years there had been 33 attempts to assassinate de Gaulle. I learned afterwards that the stranger was Padraig Kennelly who started Kerry’s Eye.”
The programme will also touch on the blossoming wild garlic woods, the view from Deenagh Lodge, improvements at Knockreer Gardens, the story of Coda the monk, the bluebells, King’s Bridge, the changing path at Gamewood Bridge, and stories from Teahouse Point.
Tune in to Radio Kerry this Saturday to hear Frank Lewis in conversation with Dan Kelliher, Padruig O’Sullivan, Richie Clancy, and Ed Carty, who began their recording walk at 5.30 am in Knockreer.

Field ornithologist Ed Carty has revealed that the Great Spotted Woodpecker is breeding in Killarney National Park.

Carty will be a guest on Radio Kerry’s Saturday Supplement. The programme, recorded on April 13, (see main story) will focus the dawn chorus,
During the recording of the programme, Carty said: “During the past few weeks the Great Spotted Woodpecker has been heard here in the Gamewood in Knockreer. We expect to find it breeding here in the coming weeks – for the first time in hundreds of years or maybe much longer.”
Since the recording, it has been confirmed that the Great Spotted Woodpecker is now breeding in this area of Killarney National Park.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers appear to have gone extinct in Ireland following deforestation in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The first recorded sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker for Killarney National Park was in 2013, where it was observed in the Tomies Wood area. This new development is significant as it is one of the first recorded breeding activity within the Park.

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