Hospice looks on to Good Friday
IT’S been enormously successful since its inauguration, and the annual Kilcummin Hospice Good Friday Walk from the Recreation Hall in Kilcummin will be back in 2018 to raise funds for the newly opened 15-bed palliative care unit at University Hospital Kerry (UHK).
Paddy O’Sullivan has been involved with the walk since its start back in 2006 – some two years after his wife, Sheila, passed away –and he is excited for this latest edition, which will leave the hall on the day at 10.30am.
Offering two child-friendly routes of four and eight kilometres respectively, Paddy describes the event as a very enjoyable community event, which offers ample opportunity to meet with friends and neighbours for a chat while enjoying the great outdoors.
This year’s event comes with added poignancy following the recent passing of Kerry Hospice Foundation’s talisman Ted Moynihan, who was a major influence on the walk, Paddy explained.
“Refreshments of tea coffee and home baking will be provided in the Recreation Hall after the walk, and it’s a great opportunity to have a chat and mix with the rest of the community,” Paddy said. “It moved to the Kilcummin area around five years ago and it’s been a huge success.
“We would always have been in touch with the late Ted Moynihan, and we’re happy to support the Hospice again this year.”
Last year’s walk raised almost €2,200. There is no registration fee, rather donations are accepted on the day. Entrants are also entered in a draw for spot prizes.
“It’s a nice family event, so please come along and support,” Paddy added. FOR 11 Garda recruits from Kerry St Patrick’s weekend 2018 will live long in the memory.
On Friday March 16 the latest Passing Out Ceremony took place at the Garda Training College in Templemore.
Of the 173 trainee gardaí who graduated to Probationary rank on Friday 11 of them hail from the Kingdom.
They include Stephen O’Dwyer from Waterville; Maura O’Sullivan from Beaufort; Sarah Jane Pierse from Ballyduff; Stephanie Maher, Eoin Horgan and Jason Galvin from Listowel; Michael O’Shea from Killorglin; Jason Sheehan from Kenmare; Kevin O’Sullivan from Ballingskelligs; Shane Walsh from Abbeydorney; and Tralee man Hugh O’Connor.
They will now go on to complete their training as probationary gardaí at stations outside Kerry and will complete another 16 months of on the job practical training before they receive their BA Applied Policing and achieve the full rank of Garda.
Three of Friday’s 173 graduates have been appointed to stations in Kerry with two to be station in Tralee and one in Killarney.
Probationary gardaí are allocated to designated training stations with tutors and training supervisors.