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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Kerry and Donegal marriage ‘holding up' as All-Ireland final tension builds
And while no one has, as yet, been consigned to the spare bedroom, depending on how the big game pans out it might well have an occupant soon enough! The north Kerry couple from Lisselton have been here before. They were married prior to the 2014 final between Kerry and Donegal when they held a GAA style wedding. The couple made their grand entrance to the wedding reception on that special day to The Sunday Game theme tune. Of course, it comes as no surprise when one considers Pauline is part of Kerry football royalty being a niece of the late, great Tim Kennelly and cousin to All-Ireland winners, Noel and Tadgh. It's the kind of famous footballing link that lets Robert know exactly where he is. The hop ball started the second that Donegal beat Meath in the semi-final knowing Kerry were waiting. The couple attended both semi-finals in a show of solidarity with one another. However, the battle lines have now been drawn as Pauline and Robert retreat to their respective shades of green and gold. 'He is sitting next to me at night playing 'Jimmy's Winning Matches' on TikTok. The slagging has well and truly started but we're holding up,' Pauline told The Kerryman. 'It's so long since we last met in a big game so we're having great craic. It's lovely to see the flags up around the place. At least we can agree on the colour,' she laughs. Pauline feels Donegal are going to be hard to beat. But on the flip side, an easy semi-final win over Meath won't do them any favours. Robert has been digging Pauline over the fact Kerry always get 'an easy run' to the final every year. 'We'll be absolutely going, 100 per cent. Robert supported me in the semi-final, and I supported him in Donegal's semi-final. We came out on the good side of it. We'll meet up with Robert's family in Dublin before heading to Croker. They're all mad about Michael Murphy, they want it to be his year. If it was any other year I would agree with him,' she said. Being Tim Kennelly's niece naturally means football is that bit more personal to Pauline. Tim was a member of the star-studded Kerry side of the 1970s and '80s, captaining Kerry to All-Ireland glory in 1979 on an occasion that is still top of the Kennelly family's memory list. 'I would have been younger when he was in his prime. We always knew how famous he was. Even the amount of people that still talk about him today, they idolise him. We would have remembered the great times mom and dad had going to matches. They had great stories from travelling around the country watching Tim. 'I know my late mother and Tim are probably looking down at us and laughing at all this carry on. It's great for the family to have that connection. Hopefully, we can bring back Sam Maguire to Kerry. It's also been a great year for our local club man (Ballydonoghue) Jason Foley. He is having a super year for Kerry,' Pauline said.
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Kerry woman appeals for walkers to support Kenyan charity event
Joan is a stalwart volunteer with Brighter Communities Worldwide – a Cork based NGO that works in partnership with local communities in Kenya across health, economic empowerment, education and water projects. The charity is spearheading a nationwide initiative called 'The Big Walk' as a fundraising initiative organised to highlight the gruelling daily walks that people in Londiani in East Kenya have to make to get clean water for drinking and cooking. Roundtrips of up to 20 kilometres a day are not unusual for this most basic of necessities. 'The effects of climate change mean that people in east Kenya, where Brighter Communities Worldwide works, now must walk further to get water, and this is a huge and pressing concern,' she told The Kerryman. 'We are so lucky here that we can turn on a tap and have clean, fresh and safe water but for the vast majority of people in Kenya, this is the stuff of dreams. Brighter Communities Worldwide is doing absolutely sterling work for decades now to empower the local communities with whom they work to help themselves. "They champion a unique model of working with and being led by the communities who of course are the best to determine their own needs and those of their communities,' Joan added. The trail takes in the Old Kenmare Road from Kenmare to Killarney and the uplands of Killarney National Park on July 27. This one-way trail of 16km involves four to five hours of walking and requires modest fitness levels. 'There is still a bit of time to get cracking on some training. That's the wonderful thing about walking, people can build up a decent level of fitness quite quickly,' said Joan. She added that Kerry people know how to get behind a worthy cause and are generous by their nature. She is hoping for a big turnout. "Kerry people genuinely have a grá for those in difficult circumstances, so I think we'll have a fabulous day,' she said. A shuttle bus will bring walkers from Killarney at 9am to the start of the walk in Kenmare (cost €25). Participants will be sent full details of logistics when they register. ADVERTISEMENT Lastly, Joan said each time she travels to Kenya to volunteer she sees more improvements and benefits to the community and individual families through the work of Brighter Communities Worldwide. 'I visited homesteads and communities where lives have been completely transformed by interaction with the charity,' she said. For more information contact denise@ or phone 021 4813735.
Irish Independent
12-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
North Kerry owner of land bordering dangerous stretch of road speaks in support of building footpath
Pedestrians wishing to make their way into Listowel from some parts of the Clieveragh and Bedford residential areas, located on the northern outskirts of the town, currently have no choice but to walk on the narrow stretch of road due the absence of a footpath. Brendan Hegarty told The Kerryman that he owns much of the property adjacent to the road running between the Old Road and Slí na Spéire. Mr Hegarty provided a statement after this newspaper reported on a frightening near-miss with a van recently experienced by Old Road resident Stephen Galvin and his daughter Freya (4) while they were walking on the section of road into town. Mr Hegarty's statement reads: 'Just to clarify, I own Slí Mo Scéal, Clieveragh, Listowel; a small development which constitutes the majority of the road frontage referred to in last week's Kerryman. 'Kerry County Council has engaged with a view to the making safe of the R552 Clieveragh Road by the provision of a footpath and street lighting. 'I would encourage guardians here to respect road users and for my part and as previously stated, I will only deal directly with the legitimate designated personnel currently employed by Kerry County Council, if only on grounds of legal capacity. 'Works could begin immediately to avoid the escalated danger, with the Clieveragh Road now even busier as a feeder route to the new Listowel bypass. "Just imagine heavy goods vehicles from opposite directions meeting with pedestrians; maybe carefree youngsters making their way home from after school sports of a dark, rainy evening! The work also removes obstruction to other local housing projects. Kerry County Council has not responded to an enquiry from The Kerryman asking if it plans to install safety measures, including a pedestrian crossing and filling in the gaps of the footpath, in the Clieveragh and Bedford areas along the road into Listowel on May 28.
Irish Independent
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
See photos of riders and volunteers at start of ‘most successful' Ring of Kerry Cycle 2025
Though the many participants of the 180km event did not enjoy ideal weather all the way along the route, the vast majority battled through to complete the testing cycle. They were rewarded for their efforts as the home stretch back to Killarney was soaked in glorious sunshine, and riders were greeted by music and celebrations at the Beech Road car park. This year's event was dedicated to the late Paddy O'Donoghue (78), who died in a road collision last month while cycling in Kilgarvan. Mr O'Donoghue had been a fierce supporter of the cycle since it was established and participated in the event a total of 39 times. The late Mr O'Donoghue rode the event for many charities, as did the participants of this year's cycle. Among those who did the event this year were Olympic gold medalist Sonia O'Sullivan, who was riding for Breakthrough Cancer Research, and Anto 'Butch' Cronin, who took on the route on a penny-farthing to celebrate his 50th birthday. Eithne Murphy, from Castleisland, rode the Ring in aid of the Irish Kidney Association, the original beneficiary of the event. Ms Murphy cycled in gratitude for the kidney transplant her father and grandfather of five, Ted Murphy who lives in Gneeveguilla, received 12 years ago. Popular Killarney woman Bernie O'Sullivan (80), who has volunteered with the Irish Kidney Association since the first Ring of Kerry Cycle in 1982, crossed the finish line of the event on a novelty bicycle that was ridden around the route by a charity volunteer. The final amount raised by all the cyclists will be revealed at a special presentation in October. Cathal Walshe, Ring of Kerry Cycle PRO, told The Kerryman that organisers hope that at least €1 million has been raised for Irish charities by the participants of this year's event. Mr Walshe said experienced riders at the event told him that it remains the best charity cycle in the country. ADVERTISEMENT 'They said nothing comes close to the Ring of Kerry Cycle,' he said. 'And they were so well catered for by the line of food in Cahersiveen, Kenmare and Killarney on the way back that people actually put on weight rather than losing it!' Mr Walshe thanked the roughly 1,200 volunteers who were involved in road safety, catering and more, whose help was crucial to running such a successful event. 'It was a most successful Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle,' he said.
Irish Independent
01-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Kerry man abseils off Croke park for ‘butterfly skin' charity – ‘My brain was screaming ‘what are you doing?'
People living with EB are missing the essential proteins that bind the skin's layers together, so any minor friction, movement, or trauma causes it to break, tear, and blister. The skin is as fragile as a butterfly wing. James has long been a supporter and advocate for the Debra charity locally and so it was no surprise to hear that he had put his hand up to take part in Debra's Abseil Challenge 2025. Every single euro raised by James will go on to have a direct impact helping Debra to provide essential care, fund groundbreaking research, and campaign for better treatments and support for families facing the unimaginable. Funds are also allocated for research into more effective treatments than are currently available, mostly raised by volunteers. Speaking to The Kerryman after the stunt, James said that it was a mixture of nerves and excitement as he stood there on the edge, ready to drop off. "When they say 'let go now', everything in your head is saying 'you bloody idiot, what are you doing?!'. Once you're hanging there in the hair though, it's totally, totally brilliant. I'd highly recommend it to anyone,' he said. "Everything was so safe, you do all the prep work and there's no danger whatsoever unless you decide to do something very stupid such as undo the harness,' he laughed. As for being such a passionate advocate for Debra Ireland, he said that it's a charity that because of how severe and traumatising the effects of the condition can be for both the person with it and their families, it's a cause that deserves all the support it can get. "There's no cure for EB. The only treatment for it is to wrap people up in bandages and even this has consequences. Taking off the bandages can literally rip the person's skin off which as you can imagine, must be extremely painful. If you're a parent of a child going through this, just imagine how tough it must be for them so that's why it's so important to make sure the families are looked after as well,' he said. As well as this, he said that the people behind the scenes of the charity are just amazing. ADVERTISEMENT "It's not just a job for them, it's something more. They are so passionate about it,' he said. Sadly for James, he joked that he wasn't able to hang around up above Croke Park long enough to get a bird's eye view of Kerry's epic win against Armagh on Sunday. Although he joked that he might have gotten too absorbed in the drama of the game and would have forgotten to hold on to the rope! "I am so grateful for all the kind support and vital donations to this event. As always, people are very generous to good causes of which there are many,' added James, speaking on the success of his fundraiser. The donation page will stay open for a few more days if anyone would like to make a contribution which would be gratefully accepted at Further details on EB and the supports available for it can be found on the Debra Ireland website.
