Senior Ladies Football

Massive congratulations to our Senior Ladies Football team who are through to the Munster Final after overcoming Scoil Mhuire Crosshaven in a fantastic display winning 9-11 to 3 -11 in very tough windy and wet conditions last Monday in Cloughduv. Super effort by all involved Well Done girls, roll on the final.

"Signs Speak Louder Than Words"

Transition Year students represented Killarney Community College at this year’s Young Social Innovators Speakout which took place last Thursday 8th March in Cork City Hall. The Young Social Innovators (YSI) Programme for senior cycle is a youth-led, team-based, action focused programme. Working in teams, young people aged 15-18 identify a social issue of concern to them, explore it and come up with real actions and responses. The students in Killarney Community College chose an issue they feel very passionately about. The aim of the student’s project is to raise awareness of the Deaf Community here in Killarney and encourage people to learn sign language. They believed that this issue needed to be explored in order to create a more inclusive society especially now that ISL (Irish Sign Language) which is now officially recognised as a native and independent language in Ireland. This legislation was passed by the Dáil in December 2017 which was put forward by Senator Mark Daly.  Their teacher YSI Guide Ms. Lorraine Crowley received an award for the most inspiring YSI leader guide to her students.  She encouraged and motivated them throughout their project.
The TY students completed research to find out the level of knowledge and awareness of the deaf community the students already possessed. They also invited Aileen Curtaine from DeafHear Killarney to visit their class with her daughter Aisling who is a member of the deaf community. Aisling explained how she wants people outside of the deaf community to learn some basic sign language so we can all communicate. This is a wish for many people who are deaf and this motivated the students to organise sign language classes for their Transition Year class. The students are currently learning sign language with John Patrick Doherty who himself is a member of the deaf community. This is a QQI Level 3 Certificate and once they have this completed, these Young Social Innovators hope to teach sign language to the first years in the school. The students are creating a positive influence in the community.

Killarney Community College TY students equipped with First Aid Skills

BUSY Transition Year students at Killarney Community College have successfully completed an emergency first aid training course, mentored by expert tutor Sheilah Nolan, to help equip them with essential skills that can help others in need. The objective of the course, which was undertaken over the past few weeks was to provide them with the knowledge, practical skills and competence to be able to respond to an emergency. It also allows students to support the occupational first aiders and cardiac first responders in an emergency. The intensive course involved:

•         The aims of first aid and responsibilities of administering first aid
•         Casualty assessment and monitoring vital signs
•         Respiratory emergencies for asthma, choking and anaphylaxis
•         Recognition and management of partial complete obstruction
•         Recognition and management of chest pain/heart attack
•         CPR and introduction to the defibrillator
•         Stroke and management
•         The unconscious casualty: causes and management
•         Fainting, shock and management
•         Bleeding and management
•         Medical emergencies for epilepsy and diabetes
•         Fractures and soft tissue injury

The college’s TY co-ordinator, Kerri McCarthy, said the students thoroughly enjoyed the practical first aid course.  Sheilah was a superb, professional instructor who instilled the knowledge and skills to our students. It has given them the confidence and knowledge to act safely and quickly in an emergency situation,” she said. “It is a critical life skill that will benefit them throughout their lives,” Ms McCarthy stated.Participating students all received certification for taking part in the emergency first aid course.

Rapunzel has audiences in Raptures!

Killarney Community College’s Christmas Panto Rapunzel had the audience “Dancing on the Ceiling for two nights. In true panto style the children in the audiences really got into the spirit of the moment with excited cries of “Behind you” and “Oh no she’s not!” On stage the sheer professionalism of this young cast dazzles a fairy-dust struck audience.  Under the direction of Killarney Community College teachers Mike Lynch, Joanna Hughes, Denise O’Sullivan and Mary Fuller many of these first-time actors showed us that there are plenty successors to Michael Fassbender in Killarney!

Every panto needs a goodie and a baddie.  Emma Lynch as Rapunzel dripped goodness and all things nice ably romanced by the prince of cool Ethan McKeon. On stage Lena Wildhirt as Gothel strutted the boards with evil intent, you could hear a pin drop and the beating hearts of frightened kids. Laughs came thick and fast when Grainne O’Sullivan was on stage as “The Dame” and her double entendres had adults and children in knots. Liam Waldron, as the Captain of the Guard, was her perfect foil and the chemistry between them sizzled. Abbi O’ Mahoney as Queen Gertrude shone majestically especially in songs such as “You don’t own me”. She was ably supported by her Royal Highness Jeffrey played by Sasha Furlong.

Fairy Flora was poetic and Julie Aleksejenko must be commended for sparkling magic on all of us. Curly and Bob played by Kim O’Brien and Caoimhe Fleming were so good at slapstick circus-style mayhem that if Fossetts ever needed a pair of clowns they should talk to their agent now! Frankie was played with aplomb by Carmel Looney. Her exchanges with the Prince and The Dame will live long in the memory. Special mention also to the three secretaries, Gracie, Lacie and Macie played by Brian Kelliher, Shenice Good and Chantelle O’Sullivan.

The music was sensational, everything from “Fever” to “Ghostbusters” and “Christmas Carols” sung to perfection. The choreography was also a delight and a special mention to our sister school “Two Mile Community School” for the contribution made by Robert, Andrew, Setanta, Cailean, Holly, Rebecca, Aoife and Erica. When the Curtain descended on this epic production the crowd rose in unison – Rapunzel had had us in raptures! According to Principal Stella Loughnane “at this Christmas time of year there is nothing more festive than a panto. What makes this panto more festive and more special is the hard work and dedication of the staff and students who have worked tirelessly for months on end. The talent, the originality, the willingness to give of their time, has contributed so much to the life of the school.

It was a pleasure to welcome the primary school children to our Monday Matinee Show. For those who attended on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night, I hope they had a wonderful night, the cast and crew of this two hour extravaganza deserved the rapturous applause and standing ovations they received.”