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Lissivigeen Community Alert to celebrate landmark birthday
Journeys back in time
Trip back in time: Pictured in 2000 are Kathleen and Tim Corcoran (back left) presenting the Pat Corcoran Memorial Shield from Lissivigeen Community Alert to four pupils of Lissivigeen National School Rosie Byrne and (front) Gavin Bastabelle, Nicola O'Connor and Aileen Kelly with Michael McAuliffe, Garda James Courtney, Sgt Diarmuid O'Shea, Garda Leo Randles, Det Pat Kelliher, Bernadette Noonan Principal, Christy Lehane and Pat Gill of Lissivigeen Community Alert at Lissivigeen National School.
THERE will be no shortage of help in blowing out the birthday candles when the dedicated members of Lissivigeen Community Alert gather to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The celebrations will take place on December 2 in the Torc Hotel, with entertainment by the Two Mikes. The current committee paid tribute to the two leading lights of the organisation in the early days, Pat Corcoran, RIP, and Pat Gill. The Community Alert is key to safeguarding the welfare of elderly residents in the area, added the committee. “This takes place throughout the year and is of course especially important in winter,” said Pat Kelleher. Since it was established, Lissivigeen Community Alert has ensured 25 alarms have been installed in the community.
It also, in more recent times, established a text alert system, with 250 participants to date. “This has been a very successful initiative in collaboration with the Gardaí,” added Pat But it is an organisation that spans all ages and all interests, throughout the area and across the generations. For instance, it has joined forces with the White-Tailed Eagle Project and has always spearheaded health and environmental-related projects.
Collaboration with school is a class act
THE team at Lissivigeen National School has always played a major role in the Community Alert. School principal Michael McAuliffe,
together with staff and pupils, have joined forces with the committee to organise educational days out and other events. “We introduced the Pat Corcoran Perpetual Shield at the school in 2000,” said Pat Kelleher of Lissivigeen Community Alert. “In addition, Lissivigeen National School also participates with the Community Alert in the St Patrick’s Day parade.” The school has enjoyed participating in educational days out, including a trip to the bog, with the Community Alert group, and in 2013 the latter organised a crossroads dance in conjunction with the school to celebrate the Gathering.
Members of the Lissivigeen Community Alert committee.
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Killarney Advertiser 25.11.16
THE members of Lissivigeen Community Alert are known for organising hugely successful and memorable voyages including tours of Glengarriff and Gougane Barra. The group has also shown its passion for history over the years, with a tour to Cobh to explore its links with the Titanic. “In 2012, almost 50 people boarded a coach to Cobh to take part in the 100th anniversary commemorations of the sinking of the Titanic,” said Christy Lehane of the committee. “Travelling with us on the day were relatives both of the survivors and those who perished on the ill-fated liner.” Committee members Neily O’Sullivan of Upper Lissivigeen and Pat Kelleher had connections with passengers on the liner. Radio Kerry presenter Sean Hurley recorded his conversations with participants on the trip who shared their memories. “We were honoured that Jackie ‘The Farmer’ O’Sullivan took time out to join us on the expedition, having just celebrated his 100th birthday the previous week,” said Christy.
In celebration of a cultural hotbed
CONSIDERING many in the area are steeped in the cultural traditions of Sliabh Luachra, it is not surprising that Lissivigeen Community Alert has a talent for staging entertaining rambling house nights. At these events, held in the Torc Hotel, there is never a shortage of talented performers. This often involves storytelling and recitations from older members of the community. Jackie ‘The Farmer’ O’Sullivan delivered a particularly memorable recitation several years ago. Lissivigeen Community Alert has also produced a newsletter since 2001.