.At the MTU Ditch the Disposables event today at the North Campus – from left: Gerard O’Carroll, Roksana Piatek, Fiona Scott Hayward, Sheila O’Mahony, Phil Guerin, Niamh Doherty (SU Vice President), Dr Brenan O’Donnell (MTU Vice President), Mary Burke, Martha Farrell, John Michael O’Brien, Tomás Aylward – all members of the MTU Kerry Green Campus team.
MUNSTER Technological University has discontinued the provision of disposable cups from yesterday in canteens on all campuses in Kerry and Cork.
This initiative is aligned with MTU’s commitment to be a sustainability and climate action leader regionally, nationally and internationally.
Disposable cups contribute significantly to environmental pollution as they are virtually impossible to recycle due to the combination of plastic and paper in their design.
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By phasing out disposable cups, the university aims to minimise plastic waste, contributing to broader global efforts in the sustainable and responsible use of resources.
As an alternative to disposable cups, staff and students are encouraged to use their own reusable cups and will also have the option to purchase a reusable cup at campus canteens for a refundable €2 deposit.
This initiative reflects the university’s dedication to creating a greener campus environment and fostering sustainable practices and attitudes among staff and students.
Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, welcomed the discontinuation of single-use cups commenting: “This move to reusable cups is a positive step forward in MTU’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental leadership. By implementing this initiative, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also instilling a sense of responsibility and awareness among our university community.”
.CBS pupils of different nationalities at the school on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
CBS Primary School in Tralee has been awarded School of Sanctuary Champion Status after a visit from a monitoring team on Wednesday.
A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment that benefits everybody, especially families seeking sanctuary.
It is a school that helps its students, staff, parents, and the wider community to understand what it means to be a refugee and to extend a welcome to everyone regardless of their immigration status.
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Currently, there are 25 schools in Ireland with School of Sanctuary Champion Status, However, CBS Primary Tralee are the first school in Kerry to receive this prestigious recognition.
CBS Primary welcomed the monitoring team to the school on Wednesday who observed different activities in the school. At the end of the visit the team met and decided to award CBS Primary Tralee Champion Status.
CBS Primary Tralee is unique as they currently have 52 different nationalities in the school.
CBS Primary staff with Sanctuary School monitoring team and representatives from other Champion Status schools at CBS on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
The school has a tradition of welcoming all children but especially refugees, migrants, marginalised ethic minorities and other vulnerable groups. In CBS Primary, the school models and celebrates diversity and difference, striving to ensure that every child or young person respects the identities, cultures and values of others.
To learn more about CBS Primary’s School of Sanctuary journey check out their padlet on www.cbsprimarytralee.com
KERRY College will hold its much-anticipated Open Week 2024 from February 19-23.
This will offer an exciting opportunity for prospective learners and their families to explore the renowned education, training, and support that the college has to offer across our Killorglin, Listowel, and Tralee based campuses.
During the week, Kerry College will open its doors to all those eager to learn about the diverse range of courses, state-of-the-art facilities, and supportive community.
This event is a chance for aspiring learners to gain first-hand experience and insight into the life changing journey that awaits them at Kerry College.
Visitors can engage with the education and training team and gain valuable insights into the wide range of programmes, from cutting-edge technology courses to skills based programmes to the arts and humanities.
Here’s some of the events taking place around the campuses…
Monavalley Campus Events
There is a ‘Further Options’ event on Monday 19th February between 5.30pm-8pm at the Monavalley Campus where you can explore a diverse range of courses and apprenticeships and gain insights into potential career paths.
Amazon Web Services Fibre Splicing Workshop takes place on Tues 20th and Wed 21st between 8am-5pm. LIMITED PLACES. Register here.
Get your tickets for the annual Apprenticeship Open Evening, taking place on Thurs 22nd between 5pm-8pm. This not-to-be-missed event is open to all those ready to kickstart their career and gain hands-on experience in a trade. Register here.
Clash Road Campus Events
Don’t miss the Kerry College Information Event on Tuesday 20th between 5pm-7pm. Join them for an insightful and inspiring evening featuring comedian, author, and mental health advocate, Rory O’Connor. Discover the exciting opportunities that await you in Kerry College.
Discover the Beauty Therapy building at the Kerry College of Beauty Open Evening on Wed 21st from 5pm-8pm.
Come along to explore the state-of-the-art facilities and meet the instructors with ample experience across the industry. Whether you’re passionate about skincare, makeup artistry, or holistic therapies, this event is your gateway to building a future within the beauty industry.
Listowel Campus Events
You will be spoiled for choice as Listowel Campus hosts many guest speakers on Thursday 22nd between 5pm-7pm.
Katie Hannon, RTE journalist, radio and host of her own self-titled weekly current affairs television programme. (Listowel Main Campus, 6pm-7pm)
Entrepreneur Lizzy Lyons, Head Chef and a regular on Ireland AM’s cookery slot. (Listowel Main Campus, 5pm-6pm)
Tracey Grimes, boasting over 9 years of expertise, serves as one of Ireland’s Head Educators for Pre-Bonded & Tape Hair Extensions and will be on site. (Listowel Hairdressing Building, 5pm-6pm)
Killorglin Campus Events
Avail of the FREE bus service operating from the towns of Tralee and Killarney to Killorglin Campus on Monday 19th. To find out more and secure your seat, click HERE.
Learn about careers in the Great Outdoors from tree planting to high altitude guiding. Gain insights on forging a fulfilling career in outdoor pursuits from the instructors’ own experiences in addiction treatment, youth work, private training, and corporate events. Explore how each path intertwines with nature, education, and personal growth, inspiring your own meaningful journey under the open sky.
Check out our Scuba Skills Showcase and experience the mastery of our scuba diving instructor learners in a captivating demonstration of essential diving skills and safety protocols at our campus lake.
Embrace serenity and strength at our Yoga Mastery Event. Dive into the transformative world of yoga! Join us to witness essential poses and techniques, inquire about our courses, and deepen your understanding of this ancient practice.
Kerry College Open Week 2024 enables individuals to envision themselves as part of our diverse and thriving community, where dreams become a reality.
For more information contact our Admissions Office on (066) 7149696/(064) 6622593.
Killarney Events
Join us for the Killarney Open Day at 25 High Street, Killarney! Connect with the Admissions Team, Current Learners, Teachers, Instructors, the Apprenticeship Team, the Business Support Unit, Representatives from our Pathways Programmes, and many more! Come along to find out the suite of full-time and part-time courses available in Killarney. Furthermore, find out about transport, childcare and financial supports available to help you access your Kerry College journey to success.
Our door is open to everyone – including school tours, parents/guardians and walk-ins. It is a chance for parents, school leavers, job seekers, career changers, those who wish to re-skill or up-skill, and guidance professionals to see the range of full-time and part-time courses for employment, college progression, professional development, and apprenticeships on offer. Get your tickets today at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/801584660297?aff=oddtdtcreator
THE Nationwide Search is on for Miss Universe Ireland 2024 and Kerry women are invited to apply to take part.
The 73rd Miss Universe Competition is now officially open for applications and, for the first time ever, applicants can be married or divorced, they can be mothers or trans women and there is no upper age limit of height requirements.
Contestants from over 90 countries compete each year for the title of Miss Universe. Miss Universe Ireland will be crowned in June 2024 and the competition is now open for applications with a straightforward application process available on www.missuniverseireland.ie.
The closing date for applications is February 29, 2024 at 5pm. This is an opportunity to follow in footsteps of previous winners Roz Purcell, Joana Copper and current title holder Aishah Akorede and represent Ireland at the spectacular final of the competition which takes place this year in Mexico in November.
WITH just a few weeks until the deadline, writers across Ireland are reminded that the submission window for the Dingle Lit Short Story Competition will close at midnight on February 29.
“We are very pleased with the response to date and encourage interested writers to submit their work before the deadline,” said Dingle Lit Festival Director, Sheila O’Reilly.
“This competition is part of our dedication to fostering literary talent. It is an exclusive opportunity for aspiring Irish writers to showcase their talent.”
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The competition judges are Nicole Flattery, Anna Stein and Camilla Dinkel for the entrants in English with Cathal Póirtéir judging the entrants in Irish.
The Dingle Lit Short Story Competition, in partnership with Dingle Distillery, is open for short story writers to submit work in English or Irish.
The award is open to all writers on the island of Ireland at the time of submission. Writers are invited to submit previously unpublished work. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, February 29th, 2024.
The winner of the Irish competition will receive a week’s retreat in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. The winner of the English competition will get a week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig.
Each Runner Up will receive €250 and a place on a Dingle Lit writing workshop in 2024, and the third prize for each category will be €100 and a place on a Dingle Lit writing workshop in 2024.
The winners’ and runner-ups’ submission will be featured on www.dinglelit.ie and extracts from the winning short stories will be featured in 2024 Dingle Lit festival brochure.
Winners will also be invited to to read from their work during this year’s Dingle Lit Festival which will take place between the 15th and 17th November 2024. Last year’s event was attended by over 2,000 people.
A FRUIT Tree and pruning maintenance workshop is set to take place tomorrow at the Rock Street section of the Tralee-Greenway near Werner Heinrich engineering, opposite entrance to Dunnes Stores.
You can learn how to care for and maintain fruit trees and shrubs to maximise fruit production and prevent disease.
This practical, interactive workshop with also cover how, why, and when to prune followed by a hands-on pruning demonstration.
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Bring warm, waterproof clothes and shoes and work gloves. This workshop is free but places are limited, places can be booked via EventBrite
This event will take place on Saturday February 10 from 10:30am to 1:30pm. This initiative is supported by Kerry County Council Community Support Fund and facilitated by Transition Kerry.
KERRY College will hold its much-anticipated Open Week 2024 from February 19-23.
WITH just a few weeks until the deadline, writers across Ireland are reminded that the submission window for the Dingle Lit Short Story Competition will close at midnight on February 29.
A FRUIT Tree and pruning maintenance workshop is set to take place tomorrow at the Rock Street section of the Tralee-Greenway near Werner Heinrich engineering, opposite entrance to Dunnes Stores.