Brave toddler Kai Critch is all set to go to the US in the new year for vital life-changing treatment – after his family raised enough funds to cover costs in the space of just a week.
Two-year-old Kai, from Ardfert, was born with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain.
In January last year, Kai developed infantile spasms, a type of epilepsy, a time his family described as ‘awful for us all’.
Now, thanks to the generosity of friends, family and strangers, the little boy will undergo intensive therapy at the NAPA centre in Boston in January.
What happened in Kerry this week
A brave Kerry toddler is all set to go to the US in the new year for vital life-changing treatment – after his family raised enough funds to cover his medical costs in the space of just a week.
Two Kerry couples featured in an RTÉ documentary, ‘The Irish Wedding’, which aired this week and captured special moments at their wedding – even the ‘cringey’ speeches.
KERRY football legend Kieran Donaghy was the ‘Star’ of the show last Saturday when he made a record-breaking 60th championship appearance to help Austin Stacks dump champions East Kerry out of the Kerry SFC.
Tralee solicitor Pat Mann has dedicated a top legal award to the Hayes family from Abbeydorney, who he has represented for almost 40 years of the Kerry Babies saga.
The first gathering of the Virtue Club, Kerry’s alcohol-free alternative for a night out, was a huge success according to the event’s organisers.
A father and son in West Kerry are hitting the road in style this weekend as they battle to be crowned champions of the Kerry Winter Rally.
Agreement on Chemo move not yet signed
A SERVICE level agreement that would relocate chemotherapy services from University Hospital Kerry (UHK) to the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee on a temporary basis has still not been signed, despite a short term plan for its relocation being agreed in January/February 2021, a consultant at UHK has revealed.
This is despite assurances by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in mid October that plans were “at an advanced stage” to move the day ward service to a unit on the Bon Secours campus once it was refurbished.
Consultant surgeon Dr Tom McCormack said it appeared no consideration or planning had been given to oncology services at the hospital, despite positive developments over the past 20 years.
Who’s got the keys to the house?
THE MAYOR of Tralee wants the Council to buy a derelict house in the town centre to demolish it – but the local authority has been unable to find a registered owner for the property.
Councillor Johnnie Wall says the derelict house and sheds near the High Street roundabout are ‘jutting out’ onto the road and causing an obstruction to traffic at Chapel Street and Basin Road.
He wants the two-storey house to be demolished to facilitate the widening of the road at that location.
Armed man arrested after standoff
A man wielding a hammer and knife brought Abbeyfeale to a complete standstill on Tuesday evening after barricading himself into an apartment in Main Street.
Shortly before 7pm, gardaí were alerted to a serious incident in Main Street, where a man in his thirties was threatening to self-harm and to harm anyone who entered the premises.
Armed Support Units from Limerick and Cork assisted local branches of An Garda Síochána as they negotiated with the man. Traffic was blocked off in both directions along the N21, leading to mile-long tailbacks on the main road between Tralee and Limerick.
Golf Hotel sells for €650,000
Ballybunion’s Golf Hotel has been sold to an Irish hotel chain for around €650,000 – after a price drop of nearly 25% since it failed to attract a buyer at auction earlier this year.
The 65,000 sq ft building failed to sell at its guide price of €850,000, but contracts have now been exchanged with the new owners, according to auctioneer Gary O’Driscoll, who said he’s satisfied the development has sold for a figure ‘very, very close’ to €650,000.
However, the Tralee based auctioneer says he’s not at liberty to reveal the exact selling price of The Golf Hotel or the identity of the new owners until all documents have been finalised.
Solicitor dedicates award to Hayes family
Tralee solicitor Pat Mann has dedicated a top legal award to the Hayes family from Abbeydorney, who he has represented for the almost 40 years of the Kerry Babies saga.
Mr Mann received a standing ovation from over 400 people after he was announced the recipient of the Special Merit Award at the Irish Law Awards held at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin last Friday night.
The awards aim to identify, honour, and publicise outstanding achievements, while also recognising those who have dedicated their lives to serving in the legal profession.
Lights out as Cathedral left in dark
HOW MANY agencies does it take to light up the outside of a cathedral? According to Tralee councillor Deirdre Ferris, the answer is FOUR.
Trying to get the lights turned back on to illuminate the outside of Ardfert Cathedral has turned into a situation that’s ‘beyond ridiculous’, she said.
The Sinn Féin councillor said one of Kerry’s most important gems is ‘wasted, sitting there in the dark’ and that in trying to get the lights on, she’s had to deal with:
● the Office of Public Works (OPW)
● the National Monuments Service
● the National Graves Association, and
● the State Archaeologist’s office.
‘I don’t regret what I did’
A CASTLEGREGORY man who goes on trial in Greece in two weeks time accused of assisting illegal refugees enter the country says he has no regrets about his involvement in a humanitarian organisation that led to his arrest.
Seán Binder says he is neither heroic nor criminal and the charges before him are farcical because “I checked someone’s pulse before I checked their passport”.
The 27-year-old and two co-accused, Sarah Mardini and Nassos Karakitsos, are charged with people smuggling, membership of a criminal organisation, espionage and money laundering and could face up to 25 years in jail if convicted.
Students from MTU carry out clean-up of Tralee waterway
A polluted and littered section of the Big River in Tralee has been cleaned up as part of a project by students from Munster Technological University (MTU).
Andrew Long, a Third Year student of Wildlife Biology in MTU, says the condition of the river is a ‘chronic environmental problem that ceases to change’ due to continuous littering and pollution of a section of the waterway.
The students cleaned up a section of the river beginning at the greenway walkway bridge near the Oakpark Road, as far as Brewery Road last Saturday.
‘A Kerry Christmas’ collection for Hospice
The Kerry Hospice hope to match the success of last year’s Christmas Card fundraiser which raised over €40,000, with the launch of a brand new collection of Christmas cards entitled ‘A Kerry Christmas’.
This year’s selection of Christmas cards are dedicated to essential workers across all sections of society and were unveiled by Nurse Manager of the In-patient Palliative Care Unit at UHK Liz Reidy.
Also at the launch was Jane Hilliard, the Kerry artist responsible for creating the cards each year. Jane, who works from her studio in Tralee Shopping Centre, created all the illustrations for this year’s collection of Christmas cards.
Music families set for live shows
The families of both multi-instrumentalist Liam O’Connor and legendary Clannad vocalist Moya Brennan are once again set to collaborate for a special live concert at St Brendan’s College, Killarney.
The concert kicks off a series of live concerts which will see the two families perform together on stage – the series will also take in performances in Cork and Kilkenny.
At this stage, St Brendan’s is somewhat of an old stomping ground for the O’Connor family, the show on December 8 will in fact be the ninth year the family have performed at the college. What’s more, one of the star performers at the show – Liam’s son Cillian – is currently a Transition Year student at the Killarney secondary school.
Father and son gearing up for the Kerry Rally
A FATHER and son in West Kerry are hitting the road in style this weekend as they battle to be crowned champions of the Kerry Winter Rally.
Up to 140 rally drivers from across the country are tackling the difficult terrain of North Kerry on Saturday and Sunday for the long-awaited return of the Banna Beach Resort Kerry Winter Stages Rally – setting out in all makes and models of cars from Subarus to Ford Escorts and Volkswagon Golfs.
Now, Annascaul duo Declan and Alan O’Sullivan are determined to make their mark on the competition, as they gear up for separate races on Sunday morning.