What happened in Kerry this week
The exceptional courage, professionalism and dedication of winch paramedic James O’Neill, who coordinated the rescue of 14 crew members off the stricken Fastnet trawler in stormy seas near Dingle in December, has been recognised at a ceremony in London’s House of Lords.
Susan Lawlor, a Tralee doctor who has won an award for her inspiring work in the mental health field, has dedicated the accolade to her late mother, and to her brother who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Cork over seven years ago.
The grandparents of young Cork girl, Feile O’Sullivan, who suffered catastrophic injuries in a farm accident a year ago, have expressed their gratitude to the people of Kerry who responded so generously to a fundraising appeal to get her the ongoing treatment she needs.
Do your best - that’s the Scouting motto and it’s one that Mary Heaslip from Tralee has tried to abide by ever since she first got involved with the 2nd Kerry Scouts group in Tralee 34 years ago.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
The hottest tickets in the country!
John B Keane said 'a day out of Kerry is a day wasted’, but that hopefully won’t be the case for the thousands of supporters heading to Croke Park on Sunday week - or for those watching the All-Ireland Final closer to home.
The big match build-up and the scramble for tickets is well and truly underway following Kerry’s hard-fought victory over Dublin in last Sunday’s semi-final.
Led by an impressive 1-5 from David Clifford and a powerful Man of the Match performance from older brother Paudie, Kerry’s back-to-back dream lives on as the Kingdom look forward to an All-Ireland SFC Final for a fourth time in five years.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Rescue vehicle damaged in Banna
A vital rescue vehicle stolen in broad daylight in Banna on Monday was subsequently recovered - but remains out of action after it was left badly damaged by the thieves.
Banna Rescue confirmed that the Argo Aurora Responder, a crucial rescue vehicle used by the service, was stolen at around 2pm on Monday and was subsequently recovered a short distance away.
However, the vehicle was found to be extensively damaged, leaving it out of service and impacting the organisation’s emergency response work at the busiest time of the year.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Kerry gran ready for ‘nip’ around Cork!
Elayne van Keulen is not your typical granny. The 64-year-old grandmother-of-six from Castlegregory will prove this when she strips and cycles naked through the streets of Cork City next Saturday.
She will be taking part in the Irish stage of the World Naked Bike Ride – an annual event organised to highlight the dangers faced by cyclists on our roads.
“I’m a keen cyclist myself but I’m terrified on the roads of West Kerry,” she says. “I’ve been clipped by wing mirrors a few times as motorists have overtaken me. You’re never more vulnerable than when you’re in the nip and by cycling naked, we’re bringing people’s awareness to how vulnerable cyclists are when motorists don’t prioritise their safety.”
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Community’s rally call for Cíalan
IF last year’s hugely successful Iveragh Vintage Club field day is anything to go by, the close-knit South Kerry community are expected to once again turn out in force this Sunday to support brave Waterville boy Cíalan Walsh as he urgently waits for a kidney transplant.
The inspiring young South Kerry boy, who suffers from chronic kidney failure, is currently undergoing eight hours of dialysis every night, and will need a kidney transplant in the not too distant future to survive.
Cíalan is currently on the live donor kidney transplant waiting list with mom Fiona and dad Johnny about to get tested to see if they are possible matches.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
New bike makes wheel difference for Luca
Luca O’Brien Leahy, from Tralee, is all set to hop onto his bike and freewheel into a sporting future. That’s thanks to a brand new bicycle that the Kerry Recreation and Sports partnership arranged to be adapted to his specific needs.
Luca is 12 years old and his father Colm explains that he was diagnosed with a brain tumour as a baby. “He needed surgery to remove it when he was 13 months old and as a side-effect of that surgery, he developed something called hemiplegia, a form of paralysis that affects one side of the body and which means he has little to no use of his right hand or arm,” says Colm.
His parents were determined that this disability wouldn’t hold Luca back. He learned how to cycle a bike “even though it took him longer than most kids,” says Colm. “He is also a member of the Tralee Triathlon Club, like I am and his 15-year-old sister Lara is. We’ve just always had to adapt his bike to suit his needs.”
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Denis sets benchmark for club and community
95-year-old Denis Brosnan, from Castleisland, has given more than a half-century of service to An Ríocht Athletic Club. His work as a founder member, coach, supporter and long-standing president was recognised last Friday with the unveiling of a bench in his honour.
Joe Walsh is another founder member and driving force behind the club. He describes Denis as “a mighty man who has made an outstanding contribution to An Ríocht over the years. From the building of the track to the coaching of young athletes, and his efforts in organising the Goal Mile every Christmas, he has always been there behind the scenes, playing a huge part in making the club the fantastic community amenity that it is today.”
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
