Kerry achievements and Loughrea jokes
Senator Kennelly congratulates Kerry achievers, especially Young Scientist award winner Aoibheann Daly. Light interjections from Senator Craughwell and Kennelly follow about moving down there and paying tribute, with a joke about votes in Loughrea.
I want to recognise greatness on the Order of Business and acknowledge several outstanding achievements by individuals and communities from my county, Kerry. These achievements reflect the very best of our young people, athletes and sporting tradition. I want to congratulate 15-year-old Aoibheann Daly, whose remarkable success at the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition brought immense pride to her school, family and Kerry as a whole. Her work on a brain cancer diagnosis tool demonstrates the talent, curiosity and ambition that defines the next generation and she stands as a wonderful role model for young people across the county. I also want to pay tribute to last year's winner – we had two in a row in that category – the three sisters Laoise, Saoirse and Ciara Murphy, from Presentation Secondary School in Tralee.
I also want to recognise Killarney actress, Jessie Buckley, who continues to shine on the world stage, most recently with her success at the Golden Globes, where she won best performance by a female actor in a motion picture. Her achievements highlight the extraordinary artistic talent Kerry has long produced and her dedication to her craft is something we can all admire. She is one of ours and I wish her all the best in the upcoming Academy Awards for her role in "Hamnet".
I want to pay special tribute to our wonderful GAA football teams across Kerry. The recent victories of Ballymacelligott GAA, An Ghaeltacht GAA and Dingle GAA have brought immense pride to every corner of the county.
Ballymacelligott's all-Ireland junior championship triumph reflects a club that has been steadily building and investing in its underage structures and nurturing a spirit of togetherness. An Ghaeltacht becoming all-Ireland intermediate champions and the success of Dingle Peninsula teams are a testament not only to the sporting excellence but the strength of our Gaeltacht communities. Last Sunday, Dingle - Daingean Uí Chúis - became the all-Ireland senior club champions. That victory marked three in a row, and the club's achievement showcases the resilience and pride of west Kerry. These three small parishes have taken on the country and won all-Ireland championships for Kerry. These teams represent far more than silverware. I congratulate them on unifying and bringing Kerry football back to where it should have been, with all the new rules.
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We all have to move down there.