Dave the Dog is worried about Coronavirus
Great little story book here for small ones who are a bit anxious about COVID-19!
If you need us we’ll be there…
Kerry Diocesan Youth Service (KDYS) – A Community based Youth Work Organisation connecting with and supporting Young People
Following advice from the Government of Ireland in relation to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), all KDYS Centres, youth cafes and volunteer led youth clubs are closed to the public from Friday 13th March.
While our centres are closed, our staff are working to provide continuity of service, information and reassurance during this time. We are in regular contact with young people and parents using phone, text, social media and all digital platforms. We are also linking with other services and community organisations to ensure young people receive the supports they require.
For young people or parents who are in need of support the following are the contact details for your local area:
| Area | Contact name | Contact Details |
| Tralee | Sharon Roche | 085- 2539402 sharonroche@kdys.ie |
| Listowel | Michelle O’Neill | 085- 8011172 michelleoneill@kdys.ie |
| Killarney | Ken O’Neill | O87-2066738 kenoneill@kdys.ie |
| Caherciveen | Anne Murphy | 087-7801575 annemurphy@kdys.ie |
| Killorglin | Alfie Hughes | 085-7878049 alfiehughes@kdys.ie |
We encourage all young people, volunteers and staff to follow the advice and guidelines issued by the relevant authorities such as the Health Safety Executive (HSE).
For further updates please visit www.kdys.ie and/or KDYS official social media sites.
In times of adversity we come together and realise the strength and importance of our families and communities. As ever KDYS is available for support so please contact us.
Stay well, look after each other and keep each other safe.
KDYS YOUNG PEOPLE LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO BATTLE COVID-19
KDYS with a group of teenagers from Kerry and Italy have launched a campaign to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. They have created a video with a very important message for their peers and for all people. They have pledged their commitment to this cause and they are calling on all young people and all of us to do the same. Their campaign is to observe our physical distancing and all of the measures in the Health guidelines in order to keep us safe and flatten the spread of the virus. The campaign is called:
#ImInAndImStayingIn
This is their video: https://youtu.be/mJ2tJZxKDfs
KDYS Youth Worker Michelle O’ Neill coordinated a determined group of Kerry young people who partnered with Italian young people on an international exchange through KDYS European Youth Centre ‘eurOg’ last year. They have created a powerful message for all of us to hear.
KDYS is a community based youth work organisation working with young people and communities in Kerry since 1971. The organisation constantly evolves and adapts as the needs of young people change through the generations.
The pandemic sweeping the world calls us to action now more than ever to connect with and support our young people. KDYS is partnering with young people to play a vital role in protecting our communities.
In recent days the world has anxiously witnessed the alarming pace at which the Covid-19 virus is spreading. The highly infectious nature of the virus makes us all a potential threat to each other if we don’t observe the critical health guidelines. The importance of physical distancing and hand hygiene is repeatedly impressed on everyone, however we continue to see people ignoring this each day.
In the course of this a great deal of attention has fallen on young people and stories of them gathering in groups throughout our towns and villages. This has invoked a lot of frustration and anger towards young people but we should be careful not to single them out as the main culprits. Instead we need to acknowledge that people of all ages are have been slow to embrace our new ways of living and interacting and we should also remember that the majority of people – young and old – are complying with HSE and WHO guidelines.
In KDYS a group of young people have made a video to send out an important message to their peers and to all people. Their message is about doing your part to protect yourself and others in the fight against Covid-19. They are inspirational and thoughtful. They want people of all ages, in all countries to be safe. They are thinking of others and this is their action in our call to arms in this emergency.
Please watch and share this really important video and share with as many people as possible. Let’s make this go viral in our effort to #flattenthecurve and beat the virus.
We are asking all young people and adults to be heroes and save lives by pledging to ‘I’m in and I’m staying in’.
Send us your pledge via our social media sites using the hashtag #ImIn&ImStayingIn & #KDYSHeroes – it can be an image, message, comment, so that we can build solidarity with each other and the rest of the world in this fight.
Video also available at: https://youtu.be/mJ2tJZxKDfs
Further information please contact:
Tim ODonoghue, CEO, KDYS
T: 0872383396
Email: timodonoghue@kdys.ie
Street Feast Killorglin
AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT!
Neighbourhood Youth Project Youth Committee with Darran O’Sullivan and the spinnies!
On Friday the 28th of July, KDYS Killorglin hosted their annual Street Feast at their Centre on Lower Bridge St Killorglin. Almost 200 people attended on the day. So what exactly is Street Feast?
Street Feast is a day of local lunches across Ireland in June/July hosted by you and your neighbours. They can be anywhere really – out on the street, in a local park or in your front garden.There are lots of good reasons to have a Street Feast, but it’s really just a great excuse to eat great food, celebrate your local community and meet new people who live near you.(Street Feast Ireland)
Lots of local businesses were invited as well as community groups, agencies, teachers and the general public. The KDYS wanted to highlight the good work they are doing in the community and also say thanks for all the local support they have received over the years. The event itself was wholly organised by the KDYS Youth Committee who did all the planning and organising. Posters, flyers, and promotion along with all the decorations and ideas came from them. A special word of thanks goes to Siobhán O’Byrne, former member of the Youth Committee who led the way in co-ordinating the event. They supplied Cakes, treats and savoury food on the day as well. The Youth Committee won the Kerry Community Award in 2014 for their efforts in the local area.
The KDYS Neighbourhood Youth Project is funded by TUSLA and its main function is a Family Support Project. It also runs a Youth Café weekly with over 70 young people attending. Various groups are run throughout the year to support the young people of Mid Kerry like the Youth Committee, Homework Support, Soccer Group, Girls and Boys Groups. It works with young people in the 12 to 18 yr old age brackets.
The support this year from local businesses was overwhelming. Donations from the following were greatly appreciated… Jack’s Bakery, Chicken Zone, Quinlans Seafood Bar, Killorglin, The Real Burger, Jones Eurospar, Keane’s SuperValu, Foleys Spar / Inver Group, Mad Mix Discount Store, Zest Killorglin, Selina’s Café K, Eamonn Sheehan’s Butchers, Houlihan’s Butchers, Tralee Credit Union, A Time To Party (who supplied a marquee and games for a third year running), Mickos Family Restaurant/Apache Pizza.
Special mention goes to Kerry footballer Darran O’Sullivan, Singer/songwriter Tom Lucey and comedy/magician StevenevetS(Steve Mills) who gave their time free of charge.
Last but not least, thanks to everyone who supported the event and joined in the party atmosphere on the day!
Singer/Songwriter Tom Lucey
GAA Football star Darran O’Sullivan
Comedy magician Steve Mills
KDYS Youth Day 2017
A GREAT DAY OF MEMORIES – YOUTH DAY 2017
A truly amazing day was had by nearly 1400 teenagers on Sunday March 26th at the annual KDYS Youth Day. This event has been running for over 40 years and sees the involvement of KDYS youth club members, along with hundreds of volunteers from across the Diocese of Kerry.
Enjoying the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service annnual Youth Day at the INEC Killarney on Sunday.
This year, for the first time, a panel of seven young people were the Youth Day organising committee, supported by KDYS staff. The young people involved were Barry Sugrue, Edith de Faoite, Kerri Williams, Leanne O’Grady, Lin Moriarty, Rebekah Crean and Unity Ankomah. What they planned was a huge party in the INEC, marking the end of the 2016/17 youth club year. They have been meeting weekly and organised an epic event with a pop-up Gaeltacht including a ceili, a virtual reality suite, inflatables, photo booth and a mega disco. In addition to this they invited two very special guests – Lucy Fitz Makeup, who did 4 make up masterclasses which went down a storm, and Madison Cawley, a YouTuber, who brought sheer excitement with her meet and greet.
Enjoying the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service annnual Youth Day at the INEC Killarney on Sunday were in front from left, Cara Courtney, Olivia O”Shea, Rebecca Coyle, Caoimhe O’Shea, Ciara Devlinand Kelsey McCarthy. At back, Ava Radgie O’Sullivan, Rachel Devane, Emily O’Sullivan, Natalie O’Connor, Sarah Landers, Sarah McCarthy, Isabel O’Connor, and Emer Sugrue all from Cahersiveen and Waterville.
Part of the event was a Youth Club Challenge, where young people got points for their youth club by taking part in various challenges including jousting, a bucking bronco, bungee run, loopy ladder and countless more! The event was very kindly sponsored by Chapter 23 of the Credit Union and the winning clubs were Listowel Youth Club in first place, Kenmare in second place and Ballymacelligott in third. The focus of the day is fun, participation and encouraging young people to socialise with each other and it certainly did all this and more.
A special word of thanks to all the volunteers who made this event possible – One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time!
The full gallery of photos are available on Facebook at KDYS Youth Day 2017 photo album
We’re looking forward to Youth Day 2018 already!!!
Enjoying the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service annnual Youth Day at the INEC Killarney on Sunday were at back from left, Ben O’Connell, Dylan Murphy, Andy Connell, Ian Moriarty, Rory O”Shea and Jake O’Driscoll. In front, Donagh Quinlan, Mark O’Leary, Darcy Quinlan, David Clifford all from Cahersiveen.