Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
MEMBERS of the Killarney Soroptimist Club were gifted an oak sapling by the Tree Council of Ireland to plant in celebration of the Soroptimist International centenary.
The organisation’s national president, Mary Kerr, from Wexford, personally delivered the sapling to Killarney president Teresa Irwin.
Permission to plant the oak was sought from Kerry County Council and members from the Killarney club chose the Maurice O’Donoghue Memorial Park and new River Flesk path on Muckross Road as the preferred location.
The club has a connection with the park as, 20 years ago. they dedicated a bench in memory of their deceased members and Maurice O’Donoghue’s mother, Sheila O’Donoghue of the Gleneagle Hotel, was also one of the founding members of the Killarney Soroptimists.
At the planting ceremony, President Irwin, thanked Kerry County Council and Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Marie Moloney, for their support with the project.
“Cllr Moloney has been most supportive of our club events over the years. As a women’s organisation, it was now wonderful to have her attend as Cathaoirleach,” Ms Irwin stated.
The Killarney Soroptimists’ major fundraiser is the annual charity pancake morning, held on Shrove Tuesday, which raises much needed funds for local charities and community groups.
“It is one of those events that people put on their calendar and attend year in year out. We were lucky to host it in 2020 just before Covid turned life upside down and we look forward to hosting it and welcoming all our friends back when we run it in 2022. “ said the club president.
The Soroptimist organisation was originally founded in Oakland, California in 1921 and now there are 75,000 members worldwide with the aim of educating, empowering and enabling women and girls to strive for a better life.
The Killarney Soroptimist Club was founded in 1963 and the first president was Beatrice Grosvenor. The club is proud to have one of Killarney’s founders, Elizabeth McCarthy, as an honorary member.
