What happened in Kerry this week
A West Kerry footballer will swap the football boots for dancing shoes this weekend when Riverdance comes to the Kingdom.
Three Kerry kids are set to represent Ireland on the international stage at this year’s ITFU European Open Taekwondo Championships, which take place in Italy from the 18th to the 20th of September.
A Faha couple who lost their baby boy, Noah Daniel, earlier this year have raised €10,710 for Down Syndrome Kerry during this year’s Ring of Kerry cycle - taken on by Neil Blennerhassett in his son’s memory.
Kasia Kolodziej, a Polish woman who has made Kerry her home went to Hell And Back in Wicklow last weekend to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association.
The community of Firies demonstrated its support for one of its own when approximately 300 people took part in Pedal for Grace, an annual cycle and walk in support of Vision Ireland, last Saturday.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
‘Palliative Care - it’s not what you think!
When Susan Mills was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer at the age of 48, the words palliative care were not ones she wanted to hear.
Living in Ballymac with her husband Barry, Susan had spent a year dealing with intolerable back pain before a diagnosis in December 2024 finally revealed the cause.
Following what Susan describes as “excellent detective work” by Dr Mulgrew and his team at the Bon Secours in Tralee, she was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, which had spread to her bones and brain.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Siobhan’s 60-mile run for a good cause
A heartbroken wife who lost her husband to suicide earlier this year is running 60 miles this month to raise funds for a charity she hopes will help others who may find themselves in the same situation.
Siobhán Favier lost her beloved husband Ollie on March 13 and says she loves and misses him more than words could ever say.
Siobhán, their two young children Gracie Mai and Frankie, a close-knit family and an entire community around Glenflesk was left devastated by the unexpected death of Ollie, at the age of 44.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Euro hopes for Kerry’s Taekwondo trio
Three Kerry kids are set to represent Ireland on an international stage at the ITFU European Open Taekwondo Championships, which take place in Italy from the 18th to the 20th of September.
Aoife Celaya (10), Emily DeSwardt (12), and Fionn Celeya (12) are members of the Ballyheigue TaeKwondo Club and are the sole representatives from the Kingdom who will join the Ireland team.
The team - predominantly made up of athletes from the east of the country - will converge upon the Palazzetto PalaBrillia in Corigliano-Rossano, Calabria, Italy.
Mentored by Jonathan Dowling, the trio train twice a week in Ballyheigue and Fenit, and excitement is building in the club for what promises to be an extraordinary weekend.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
New playground officially opens in Dún Chaoin
THE NEW playground in Dún Chaoin has been officially opened by the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, on a site leased to Kerry County Council by the OPW.
‘Oileán na nÓg’ is the first playground in the county constructed entirely from hardwood and it provides a range of play facilities for all abilities.
It’s arguably Kerry’s most scenic playground too, located near Ionad an Bhlascaoid, against the stunning backdrop of the Blasket Islands and the Atlantic Ocean.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Musician sisters weigh in for Katie
Two musicians living in Duagh kicked off a historic weekend for Irish sport, performing at the weigh-in for Katie Taylor’s homecoming fight.
Sisters Ruth and Joyce O’Leary, originally from Monaghan, make up Sephira and were once again a vital cog in Katie Taylor’s team in the build-up to her final professional fight on Saturday, where she defeated Flora Pili in Croke Park last Saturday evening to become an undisputed world champion for the third time.
The sisters once again got to be a part of a Taylor fight weekend - making it Round Three in the superstar's corner, having performed ahead of her world title fight against Amanda Serrano in New York in 2022 and before Katie’s bout against Chantelle Cameron in the 3Arena in 2023.
Taking place in Trinity College, Sephira took to the stage for the main event of the evening - the weigh-in for the Taylor-Pili fight.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Red Cross honours its heroes
The Kerry branch of the Irish Red Cross gathered in The Grand Hotel in Tralee last Friday to celebrate the achievements of its members over the past year.
“The Irish Red Cross has been going since 1940, providing humanitarian aid in whatever form it’s needed,” the chair of the Kerry branch Joe McDonnell told Kerry’s Eye. “We’re a voluntary group and we have approximately 40 members across administration, first aid and ambulance services, our youth sector and community service.”
These members take part in training programmes throughout the year. Rather than sending their certificates in the post, Joe said the Kerry branch decided to organise a function so that official presentations could be made.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
