Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from December…

• THE Kerry Camino was a category winner at the IPB Pride of Place Competition 2019.

The Kerry Camino, based in Tralee, is a local initiative to promote walking in the area, specifically along The Dingle Way between Tralee and Dingle. The annual walking festival takes place every May Bank Holiday weekend.

They were one of three Kerry County Council nominated community projects and won the Community Tourism Category.

• THE Managing Director of the Garvey Group was appointed as the new President of Tralee Chamber Alliance.

Kevin McCarthy is one of a number of key appointments made by the Chamber. Heather O’Sullivan of Ross Jewellers, was appointed the new Chairperson of the Chamber, along with the appointment of Kerry Group’s Ronan Deasy as Company Secretary.

Following the retirement of Denis Reen as a Director of the Chamber, the existing Director Brian Stephenson will be joined by Shaun O’Shea of Sigmar and Paul Ruane of Midpoint Creative.

Continued below…

• A TRALEE woman was a winner at the KPMG/Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards at The Convention Centre, Dublin last Thursday.

Louise Cotter of Carr, Cotter and Naessens Architects in Cork was presented with the Design Project of the Year award for the Hanging Gardens building in Limerick City.

This isn’t the first award Louise — who is originally from St Brendan’s Park — has received for the project on Henry Street. Back in June, the project was a winner in the New Build Workplace category in the prestigious Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland annual awards.

• A TEENAGER with Kingdom Swimming Club was been named in the final national squad for the F4-24 Programme.

Grace Reidy (14) will take part in the programme for the Swim Ireland Performance team to develop a group of female athletes capable of qualifying a Female 800m Freestyle Relay to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Grace will train in the Limerick hub giving her regular access to long course water time at the UL Sports Complex up to three times per week.

Continued below…

• A STATUS Red Wind warning was issued for Kerry as Storm Atiyah approached on Sunday, December 8.

Storm Atiyah was forecasted to bring west to southwest winds veering northwest reaching mean speeds in excess of 80km/h with gusts in excess of 130km/h for a time on that Sunday but thankfully the county avoided any real damage.

• GARDAI were warning people to be vigilant after an elderly couple in the Currans area were conned out of thousands of euro on Saturday, December 7.

A male called to the home of the couple pretending to be a member of An Garda Síochána and said he wanted to check and count any money that was in the house.

The couple, believing the man to be genuine, produced €2,600 in cash and the man took it and never came back.

• TRALEE will receive €500,000 as part of the ‘Destination Towns’ initiative launched earlier this year by the National Tourism Development Authority.

The funding has been allocated through the Local Authorities as part of the €15.5million ‘Destination Towns’ initiative launched earlier this year by the National Tourism Development Authority.

• THE IT Tralee has won an award at the RSA’s 12th annual ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards in Croke Park.

The Institute won the Education Third Level award for the Road Safety Week spearheaded by Petrina Comerford, in her role earlier this year as Vice President for Welfare in IT Tralee Students’ Union.

Petrina — who is now President of the ITTSU — and students organised an all-encompassing Road Safety Week that targeted not only students of IT Tralee, but all students in the Kerry area as well as members of the general public.

Continued below…

• FIANNA Fáil Councillor Norma Foley was selected to contest the General Election for Kerry, joining John Brassil TD and Cllr. Norma Moriarty on the party ticket in that constituency.

Cllr. Foley is a teacher by profession and lives and works in Tralee. Since 2004, Cllr. Foley has represented the people of the Tralee Municipal District on Kerry County Council, topping the poll in last May’s Local Elections.

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Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from November…

• THE month began with The PwC All-Stars Awards and the Young Player of the Year went to Kenmare’s Sean O’Shea.

He also picked up an All-Star along with teammates Tom O’Sullivan, David Moran and David Clifford. Other Kerry nominees included Shane Ryan, Tadhg Morley, Paul Murphy, Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien.

• TO mark the passing of the late Gay Byrne, Books of Condolence were opened at Kerry County Council offices in Tralee (County Buildings)

The Rose of Tralee Festival has paid tribute to the late broadcaster who presented the live selection night shows at the Dome for many years. Gay Byrne compered the show from 1974-1994 and continued as a judge from 1996 through to 2001.

Continued below…

• COUNCILLORS in Tralee Municipal District gave the go-ahead for a new local authority estate at Ballyrickard.

The development will consist of 21 housing units of 15 three-bedroom houses and six four-bedroom homes, access road, parking, services, landscaping and associated works.

It will be located at a greenfield site north of Kerins Park, with Ballyrickard Court on the east, Ballyrickard Close to the north and The Kerries housing estate to the west.

• GARDAI arrested two men (early and late 20s) and a woman (early 20s) following the seizure of €4,150 of suspected drugs and €1,700 in cash during the search of a house in the Cois Abhainn area of Tralee on November 9.

Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit executed a search warrant at the house  and during the course of the search Gardaí seized suspected cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cannabis worth approximately €4,150.

• A BALLYMAC woman won an impressive €62,000 on Winning Streak almost five years after she first appeared on a National Lottery TV game show.

Ita Neligan won a hefty €62,000 in cash which dwarfs the €2,000 she won when she took part in the Crack the Code game on the Million Euro Challenge game show on RTE One back in April 2015, then presented by Nicky Byrne.

Continued below…

• SINN Féin Councillor Pa Daly is asking Kerry County Council to pilot a scheme in Tralee that would see people refunded for returning their plastic bottles.

Cllr Daly said Reverse Vending Machines allows people to return their plastic bottles in return for cash. Such a scheme was recently piloted in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. Cllr Daly believes Kerry County Council should look at running a similar project in Tralee.

• TRALEE Chamber Alliance announced it has plans to make a bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann in 2022 and 2023.

Managing Consultant with Tralee Chamber Alliance revealed the news at the launch of ‘Developing Tourism in Tralee — Action Plan to 2025’  by Minister of State for Sport and Tourism, Brendan Griffin.

Pat Carmody of Bank Of Ireland in Tralee and Ken Tobin have already met with key people involved with the Fleadh Cheoil to outline their desire to host the event.

• IT was truly the‘end of an era’ is overused when the Abbey Inn closed its doors for the final time after over 50 years.

The building was sold in November and the bar closed. Danny Leane’s bar developed a reputation as a great live venue back in the 70s, especially for rock music, giving local bands a chance and bringing fledgling stars down over the years, including a nascent U2.

Continued below…

• AN RTÉ Investigates programme revealed there are 26 unauthorised quarries in Kerry, the second highest number for a county in Ireland.

RTÉ has found over 150 quarries across the country are unauthorised out of 1,100 active quarries in Ireland. Donegal has the most unauthorised quarries at 30, followed by Kerry with 26 and Cork with 19.

• THE sod was turned on two new greenway amenities in Kerry marking the commencement of construction on the multi-million-euro projects.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, today turned the sod on the new ten-kilometre Tralee to Fenit Greenway and the 10.5km greenway between Listowel and the Limerick county bounds. Construction on the Tralee-Fenit Greenway is expected to take between 18 months and two years.

• THERE was a fantastic family-friendly atmosphere in The Square on November 30 as the Christmas lights were switched on. Thousands of people filled The Square to dance and enjoy the festivities.

Mayor of Tralee, Jim Finucane and Brian McMahon from Ballyvelly switched on the lights to the cheers of the crowd.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from September…

• IT took two attempts but Dublin achieved their five in a row of All-Ireland titles in September by beating Kerry.

The first encounter was thrilling with Kerry coming back late to almost pip the Dubs. But a draw it was and the replay was a different game with Dublin’s guile and clinical finishing put paid to our hopes. We’ll be back!

• THE Council is to look into extending the walkway from Cockleshell beach to the Spa.

A tarmacadamed walkway was recently constructed linking the car park at the Lock Gates to Cockleshell and it had been a huge success over the summer.

At the Tralee Municipal District meeting, Cllr Terry O’Brien had a motion that the Council would immediately look to continuing the walk from Cockleshell over to the Spa. The Council said it is supportive of this proposal, but a requirement to negotiate with landowners to facilitate the development funding would be needed.

Continued below…

• A TRALEE swimmer became the first Kerry woman to swim the English channel on September 10.

Elaine Burrows Dillane completed her incredible feat just after 8pm that evening, She set off from Kent in England in the morning, accompanied by ‘The Optimist’ boat with her supporters, with the aim of reaching France. Just before 8pm a post on the event’s facebook page simply read; “She has landed!”

• TRALEE was celebrating being awarded the Purple Flag for the third time in September.

Tralee is one of over 70 large towns and cities across the UK and Ireland who have been awarded with Purple Flag status for their achievements in helping people to have a great night out.

The Purple Flag is similar to the Blue Flag for Beaches and the Green Flag for parks and green spaces, in that the Purple Flag quickly allows members of the public and visitors to quickly identify town and city centres that offer an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out.

Continued below…

• THERE was tragic news on Sunday, September 15 when a fatal road traffic collision occurred at Aughacasla, Castlegregory.

A male pedestrian, aged in his 50s, was fatally injured when he was struck by a car.  The driver of the car, a man in his mid 20s was not injured and a female passenger (mid 20s) received minor injuries and was removed to Kerry University Hospital for treatment.

• TRALEE Gardaí (aided by police dog Rex) discovered drugs, cash and an imitation firearm during two searches in Tralee on September 17.

Around 4 kg Cannabis Herb valued at approx €80,000, 250g Cannabis Resin valued at approx €2,000, €1,400 cash, an Imitation Firearm and Drugs Paraphernalia were seized at residences in the Mitchels Square area. A male in his 40’s has been arrested and later charged.

• ANOTHER Kerry GAA great was inducted into the GAA Museum Hall of Fame in Croke Park in September.

Ogie Moran, winner of eight senior All-Ireland medals with Kerry, was joined by five other players receiving the honour for the period covering 1985 to 1989.

Continued below…

• PROTESTS took place all over the world on September 20 to highlight the issue of climate change and to call on Governments to act now.

In Tralee, students gathered at Kerry County Council buildings in Rathass, while later there was a protest in The Square organised by the Kerry Climate Action Network (KCAN).

This is made up environmental organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals from all over Kerry, including the Green Party and People Before Profit members, Transition Kerry and others.

• TRALEE ladies met pop superstar Ariana Grande in a Dublin restaurant and she couldn’t have been nicer.

Tim Lynch from Tralee was with his two daughters Sinead and Dearbhla and their friend Jenny O’Donnell, in Marco Pierre White’s Courtyard restaurant in Donnybrook and the eagle-eyed Chairman of Na Gaeil GAA club spotted the pop star having dinner.

Sinead and Jenny went over to her table and the pop star happily posed for a photo and chatted to the girls. She then told the ladies that she would put them on the guest list for her Sunday show  in the 3Arena and sent a cake over to their table at the restaurant.

• TRALEE once again retained its Tidy Towns Gold Medal for the eighth year in a row. It received 331 points, up eight on last year’s total.

It was a testament to the great work being carried out by the local Tidy Towns group in Tralee, Team Bramble, Kerry County Council and local community groups.

Joe Moynihan  of Tidy Tralee Together wished to thank everyone involved in the Tidy Towns effort, all the voluntary groups and especially Kerry County Council for their co-operation over the past year.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from August…

• CASTLE Street  reopened to traffic after almost a month closed…and so did Baily’s Corner.

The street had to be closed  following a structural assessment of the building on Castle Street and a subsequent consultation with An Garda Síochána back on July 6.

• THERE was tragic news on August 9 when a man died after a house fire in the Killorglin area.

Gardaí and emergency services went to the scene of the fire that occurred at a house in the Glencuttane Lower area, a few miles south of Killorglin, at around 5am. A man aged in his late 60s, the sole occupant of the house, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Continued below…

• THE search for All-Ireland tickets began when Kerry qualified for their first final since 2015.

A win in their final Super 8 game against Meath set them up for a semi-final against Tyrone in Croke Park on August 11. After a tense and exciting encounter they beat the Red Hand county to set up a date in early September against the Dubs.

• IT was mostly smiles around town when hundreds of students collected their Leaving Cert results at Tralee schools in mid-August.

While the results were available online from 10am, many decided to come into their schools to meet friends and find out how they got on.

• KERRY County Council gave notice that it is planning to build a boxing club/community facility at a site at Dean’s Lane in Boherbee, Tralee.

The proposed development will include a boxing gym and club, circulation area, changing rooms and toilets on the ground floor, while on the first floor there will be meeting rooms, a community space, canteen, mezzanine, circulation area and toilets.

The two-storey development will also include, a new foul drain, storm drain and public water infrastructure works and all associated site works.

Continued below…

• ON August 19, Walsh Colour Print in Castleisland confirmed that two of its magazines were to cease publication.

The Tralee Outlook and Sliabh Luachra Outlook will no longer be printed and it has resulted in the loss of two full-time jobs with other staff redeployed within the company. The Killarney Outlook will continue to operate.

• IT had been a long time coming, but Causeway fulfilled their potential on Sunday, August 25, to become Kerry Senior Hurling Champions for the first time since 1998.

They beat Lixnaw by 2-13 to 1-13 in front of 2,618 hurling fans in Austin Stack Park, sparking celebrations not seen in the venue for some time.

Continued below…

• SINEAD Flanagan, the Limerick Rose, was announced as Rose of Tralee 2019 live on the Dome stage. The shocked 27 year old was surrounded by fellow Roses after Daithi Ó Sé announced her name.

It ended another fantastic Rose of Tralee Festival with huge crowds descending on the town, amazing entertainment and a wonderful atmosphere around town.

• SINN Féin Councillor Toireasa Ferris announced her intention to step down from political life in late August..

In June, the councillor confirmed she would not be contesting the next general election for the party in place of her father, Martin, but in August it emerged she would step back from political life after 16 years on a local level.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from July…

• THE R556 road between Collins’ Cross near Abbeydorney and Ballinclogher Cross (known as the Rathscannell Road) closed to traffic in July, to facilitate significant roadworks.

However, the council acknowledged the inconvenience for local residents and every effort would be made to mitigate the impact on them, so access for residents will be maintained at all times, but the road would be closed to all non-resident traffic.

• A PREMIER Junior Camogie Championship between Kerry and Wicklow had to be postoned due to the contaminated water incident in Limerick in late May.

Around 60 people, including 12 Kerry players, involved in camogie fell ill after drinking water in the Croagh Kilfinny GAA Grounds.

Continued below…

• THERE was anger expressed as the St Vincent De Paul shop on Castle Street was forced to close for the day because of equipment left piled up outside the front of the shop and inaccessibility issues.

Footpath improvement work was taking place for the Council and when the contractor left for the weekend, they left barriers and equipment stacked up near the windows, while the shop can only be accessed by what was described as an unsteady plank.

The Council have expressed regret that the contractor left the area in such a way and have contacted them about the matter.

• BAILY’S Corner announced it had to close until further notice. Work had been taking place at the front of the building on Castle Street to extend the pub, but in July there were safety concerns.

Kerry County Council and the gardaí made a decision to close Castle Street to traffic from the corner of Edward Street to the junction at Ashe Street.

• KERRY County Council opened a Book of Condolences for the late Brendan Grace after he passed away in July.

Brendan Grace was a frequent visitor to Kerry over a number of decades and performed his shows many times in Tralee.

He was also in Blennerville back in July 2016 to unveil a plaque dedicated to the memory of Tralee character, Nedeen Kelliher.

Continued below…

• Kerry played two games in the Super 8 All-Ireland quarter final series in July.

The first was a comprehensive 1-22 to 0-15 win against Mayo in Killarney on July 14, while a week later they played out a thrilling draw against Donegal in Croke Park. More exciting days would lie ahead.

• COUNCILLORS in the Tralee Municipal District approved local authority housing developments in Tralee at the July meeting.

There will be 30 residential units built at Croogorts near the Gort na Gréine/Rockwood Park/Lios Rua/Gallowsfield estates, on a greenfield site of 1.13 hectares.

They also unanimously approved the construction of a 61 unit housing development at Lohercannon.  An application for a development at Hawley Park for a two storey complex consisting of 12 one bedroom/two person apartments and four two bedroom/three person apartments was also passed unanimously.

• A NEW tarmacadamed walkway was developed in one of the most scenic parts of Tralee thanks to the generosity of a local landowner.

Brian Walsh allowed for the fenced off laneway to be constructed on his land near the car park by the lock gates in Lohercannon going out to Cockleshell Road/beach and it’s already proving a big hit with walkers during the fine weather this summer.

Continued below…

• A LOCAL councillor asked the Council to take measures to make the Abbeycourt area less hazardous to pedestrians.

Cllr Toireasa Ferris said the kerbing around the trees there was causing problems and someone had fallen recently.

The Council said they would have a look at it. They also said that they had engaged the services of an independent and competent test facility to assess the slip resistance of the slab surfaces in Abbeycourt and the Square in February of this year. Following their assessment, no areas of high slip potential were identified.

• FENIT RNLI Lifeboat saved the lives of four people responding to a late night mayday call for assistance in Tralee Bay in late July.

The volunteer crew of Fenit RNLI responded with full efficiency to the call following an urgent request for assistance by the Irish Coastguard late. Urgent assistance was required for a speedboat carrying four people which was taking in water very quickly.

The All Weather Lifeboat with a full crew arrived at the scene within a very short time and transferred them from the vessel onto the lifeboat safely and securely.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from June…

• CABALLS on Bridge Street announced it would be closing its doors for the last time in June after 99 years in business.

There was sadness around town at the news but Ann Laide decided it was time to move on and retire from the business.

• THE new Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council was elected at the first meeting of the newly elected Council, following May’s local elections.

Rathmore native Cllr Niall Kelliher — who now lives in Headford, Killarney — was chosen at the meeting at County Buildings in Tralee.  First elected in 2014, the Fianna Fáil representative is a councillor for the Killarney Municipal District.

Continued below…

• THE new Kerry Rose was announced at the selection night in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel. Seventeen ladies from all over the county and beyond, were vying for the chance to represent Kerry in the Rose of Tralee Festival this August.

Watched by over 400 people, host Dáithi Ó Sé announced Sally Ann Leahy from Causeway as the winner to the delight of her family and supporters.

• GARDAI in Tralee received a number of complaints from the public about people engaging in road bowling games. According to gardaí, these groups were playing these games in locations around the town and on the outlying roads.

This was causing serious traffic disruption and gardai say this is an offence which could result in fines of up to €1,000.

• IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) announced their first results for 2019 in June, which saw Tralee leap from a lowly 30th in January, right up to 5th in the overall rankings, the biggest difference of any town in Ireland.

The rankings show Tralee to be ‘Cleaner Than European Norms’ in their report. Glan Tralee spokesperson Martha Farrell said “a concerted effort has been made by many groups in Tralee to work together for the good of the town, including Glan Tralee, Team Bramble, Tralee Tidy Towns, Kerry County Council, Friends of Able and North East Kerry Development, and massive congratulations must go to all of them”.

Continued below…

• KERRY Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, announced major funding of €2,208,911 for Kerry Airport towards improvement works, safety and security.

The amount was almost €1 million of an increase on the 2018 figure. This Government funding from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will go towards a range of investments for the airport.

• FINE Gael councillor, Jim Finucane was elected as the new town Mayor of Tralee at the first meeting of Tralee Municipal District since the local elections in May.

Cllr Finucane was proposed for the position by Labour Cllr Terry O’Brien and seconded by Fianna Fáil Cllr Norma Foley. Similarly, Cllr Foley proposed Cllr Sam Locke as Deputy Mayor which was seconded by Cllr Terry O’Brien.

In his first address to the Council, Mayor Finucane — who last held the position in 2014 — said it was time to take “bold steps” for the town.

• STATISTICS published in June by the UK Department of Health show that 52 women giving Kerry addresses travelled to have an abortion in England or Wales in 2018.

This is up from 50 in 2017 and 49 in 2016. The figures show that the number of women giving Irish addresses who had an abortion in Britain was 2,879.

Continued below…

• A VALIANT effort, but it just wasn’t enough to attract the masses to the Town Park for the Tralee Nun Challenge.

Organised by Tralee Rowing Club — with part of the proceeds going to Pieta House — the aim was to beat the Guinness Book Of Records feat of 1,436 people dressed as nuns assembled in one place, achieved by people of Listowel and north Kerry back in 2012.

While hundreds showed up, it sadly wasn’t enough to threaten the record but a lot of fun was had.

• IT was a long time coming but it was announced on June 21 that the Tralee-Fenit Greenway was to receive €3m in Government funding.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffinannounced funding of €3.5m for the Kilmorna to Listowel and €3m for the Tralee to Fenit Greenways.

This was fantastic news for all involved in the project and work would start in November on the greenway which will be a huge boost to tourism in the Tralee area.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from May…

• A TRALEE councillor called on the public to contact the gardaí when they see anti-social behaviour at the Lee Walkway.

Cllr Terry O’Brien brought up the issue at the Tralee Municipal District meeting of councillors after he received a number of complaints from people on the doorsteps when out canvassing for the local elections.

“We have a fabulous river walk but we have a problem with anti-social behaviour there. All of us have heard about it on the doorstep. It’s a fabulous amenity but people are afraid to go down there, because there’s an element that have taken it over,” he said.

• TRALEE-BASED software development company, JRI America announced it was to further expand and create 100 new jobs over the next five years at its centre in Kerry Technology Park.

Since 2011, when JRI America, Inc. established in Ireland, it has grown its team in Tralee to 100 staff. JRI America, Inc. now plans to expand its Tralee Technology Centre with the creation of a Security Operations Centre (SOC) involving around 25 roles across a range of security-related functions including Security Operations, Security Event/Incident Monitoring, Threat Vulnerability Analysis & Management & Network/Systems Security.

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• THE moving of the Tralee Food Festival from September to early May resulted in the event proving an even greater success as thousands attended events.

The fine weather  helped but it seemed that the people of Tralee really took ownership of the festival and thronged the town on Saturday and Sunday.

• KERRY County Council came in for heavy criticism from Tralee Municipal District (MD) councillors, businesses and the general public for the poor state of the grass and plants in the Town Park.

They also criticised the lack of policing in the Town Park playground where teenagers and older children are causing problems and making it a no-go area for families.

Cllr Toireasa Ferris said that the Town Park is not looking its best and appeared ‘butchered and scalped’ in some parts.

Continued below…

• PEOPLE of all ages took part in the Darkness Into Light Tralee walk for Pieta House on May 11.

Tralee Bay Wetlands proved the perfect venue and the dry weather also played its part to enhance the atmosphere as thousands of people set off at 4.15am.

Con O’Connor of Pieta House praised the organisers and said it was a special morning.

“To see thousands of people relaxing and just sitting for hours afterwards, totally calm conditions without a ripple on the lake and the steam rising from the heat of the early morning sun was just so spiritual and uplifting for so many people there,” he said.

• TRALEE truck driver Ciara Sheehy won an amazing €52,000 and a holiday in Iceland on the National Lottery Winning Streak TV game show on May 11.

Ciara had great support on the show on Saturday night from boyfriend John and family members. She spoke about her job as a truck driver and how she met John and appparently did all the chasing! She also saw a video message of good luck from her niece Seoidín and nephew Donnacha back home.

• THE Institute of Technology, Tralee welcomed An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney TD to officially open the €19 million Kerry Sports Academy (KSA).

Construction began on the Kerry Sports Academy in 2017 and the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., turned the first sod on 27th March 27, 2017.

The KSA is located in the North Campus at IT Tralee and provides state-of-the-art facilities for the Health and Leisure Programmes at the IT Tralee; UNESCO Chair in Inclusive Physical Education, Sport Fitness, and Recreation; National Centre for Adapted Physical Activity – CARA; Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – Traditional Irish Music Headquarters; Kerry GAA.

Continued below…

• CIARA Griffin was announced as the Women’s XVs Player of the Year at the Zurich Irish Rugby Players Awards.

The Irish Women’s Rugby team’s captain, who hails from Ballymac, was named as the winner at the awards which took place at the Clayton Hotel on the Burlington Road.

• THE then Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Norma Foley warmly welcomed the news that Kerry had retained its 14 Blue Flags at 13 of the county’s beaches as well as Fenit Marina.

The decision of the International Blue Flag jury announced on May 20 sees the following beaches retain their flags for 2019: Rossbeigh, Ballybunion North, Ballybunion South, Ballyheigue, Fenit, Maherbeg, Kells, Derrynane, White Strand, Ballinskelligs, Banna, Ceann Trá (Ventry) and Inch. Fenit Marina also retains it Blue Flag this year.

• NORMA Foley topped the poll to retain her seat on the Tralee Municipal District as the local elections took place.

The seven councillors elected were, in no particular order, Sam Locke, Independent, Pa Daly of Sinn Fein, Mikey Sheehy of Fianna Fail, Cllr Jim Finucane of Fine Gael, Cllr Toireasa Ferris of Sinn Féin, Norma Foley of Fianna Fáil and Cllr Terry O’Brien of Labour as Tralee area representatives on the Council.

• TRALEE brothers who spearheaded a campaign to clean up the canal area won a national award for their efforts.

Nine year old twins Evan and Alex and their 12 year-old brother Dylan Nealon travelled to the ECO UNESCO Young Environmentalists Awards at the National Convention Centre in Dublin and came home with the Overall Super Junior Award for their ‘Evan, Alex and Dylan’s Tralee Canal Clean Up’ entry.

The Nealon brothers’ project involves the removal of plastic from the Tralee canal and bay, as well as the protection of wildlife and the environment.

• THE Austin Stacks GAA family was in mourning after the news of the passing of Jackie Power.

Son of Limerick hurling legend, Jackie and brother of Kerry great, Ger, Jackie himself was an accomplished hurler and footballer with the Stacks club.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from April…

• CBS Primary Tralee announced a major transformation after Easter when work commenced on the construction of a two-storey building containing four new classrooms, a special educational needs unit and administration area.

The project at one of Tralee’s most famous landmarks will be completed by the summer of 2020 when pupils and teachers entering the new extension can look forward to the most modern teaching and learning environment available.

• A TRALEE man has won a trip of a lifetime to the US Masters in Augusta with Paddy Power.

Aidan Teahon, who is floor manager at Kirby’s Brogue Inn, entered a competition with the Paddy Power Rewards Club and was notified that he won the competition for two people to travel to the prestigious major in Georgia.

He took his wife Eilish on the trip of a lifetime which included flights and accommodation, entry to the Members club for two days a €1,000 bet on the event and $1,000 spending money.

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• CARA Credit Union was the focus of a brand new eight-part RTE One series titled The Borrowers.

The fly-on-the-wall programme took viewers behind the scenes and into a credit union loan office, for the first time ever on Irish television.

Cara Credit Union’s popular loan officers, Maurice O’Donoghue and Derry Fleming (famous from the viral ‘Batdad’ video) featured prominently in the show.

• A NEW grant-based incentive scheme which aims to reduce the number of vacant properties in Tralee town centre was launched by Kerry County Council.

The Business Incentive Scheme is designed to encourage both landlords and new or aspiring business owners or leasers to occupy vacant premises by offering a grant towards the level of rates payable on the property.

Continued below…

• THERE was a rise in crime overall in the county in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2018.

Kerry Garda Division Chief Superintendent, Eileen Foster, revealed the figures at a Joint Policing Committee meeting where she gave a rundown of crime figures for January 1 to March 31, 2018.

It showed a rise in the categories of Property Crime (11%), Crimes Against The Person (27%) and Drugs and Offensive Weapons (55%) and a slight drop (2%) in Criminal Damage and Public Order.

• ALL involved with Garvey’s Tralee Warriors gathered at Council Chambers at Kerry County Council to honour a club which has taken basketball to new heights in this town.

Tralee Municipal  District Manager, Michael Scannell, said at a civic reception in their honour, they have provided a sporting team that the whole town can get behind.

• THE men and women from Kerry who took part in the 1916 Rising were honoured in Tralee on Easter Sunday at the unveiling of a commemorative stone in Pearse Park.

The annual Easter Rising Commemoration organised by Kerry County Council saw a large attendance with relatives of those involved in the Rising joining local politicians and members of the public for the ceremony.

Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Graham Spring, unveiled the memorial which has the names of 108 Kerry people who were arrested or incarcerated after the Rising.  The stone was created by Billy Leen and is made from Valentia Slate.

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• APART from a fallen tree on Dan Spring Road, debris on some outlying roads and power outages in some areas, Storm Hannah didn’t cause too much damage in town in late April.

A Status Red Wind Warning had been issued for Kerry but it did not affect Tralee too much. However, other areas of the county saw many trees blocking roads in north and south Kerry.

• IT was announced at a Tralee Municipal District meeting that the Council was to finally take action at a junction in Tralee.

Councillors had repeatedly brought forward motions about speed and safety issues in the Basin Road/James Street/Low Field junction area.

An analysis carried out by Kerry County Council at Basin Road last year found that speed was not an issue to warrant traffic calming measures, but Tralee Municipal District revealed in April that there will be traffic lights forthcoming at the junction.

• GARDAI were warning the public about bogus callers after an incident in Connolly Park.

Two men called to the home of an elderly resident and offered to clean the gutters. They charged him excessively for the work which was not completed to an acceptable standard.

Gardaí warned people not to engage with persons calling to homes offering to do this type of work and asked residents to look out for their neighbours and report any suspicious behaviour.

Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from March…

• KERRY and Kerins O’Rahilly’s man, Tommy Walsh, was voted GAA.ie Footballer of the Week early in March after his performance against Monaghan in the Allianz National Football League match.

Tommy finished with four points, continuing the good form that saw him recalled to the Kerry set-up after Peter Keane took over.

It was the fifth time in 2019 that a Kerry player won the weekly competition with Sean O’Shea winning three times and Dara Moynihan once before that.

• CH, one of Tralee’s best recognised retailers for over 50 years, announced it was to undertake a major renovation of its store at The Mall.

The retailer began work on a 1.5 million euro revamp of the iconic local business, engaging one of the world’s leading retail design agencies Dalziel and Pow of London to redesign CH.

In the meantime, they moved the beauty and cosmetics department to Abbeycourt. The new store would open in October.

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• A SINN Féin councillor accused Kerry County Council as being “mean-spirited” for not contributing to putting members of a delegation from a Palestinian town up in a hotel when they visit Tralee.

The delegation from Beit Sahour, a town near the Shepherd’s Field of Bethlehem, would arrive in the spring as part of a twinning arrangement with Tralee.

The Council said contributing financially would not be in line with any previous visits by twinning delegations. Cllr Ferris called this attitude “mean-spirited”.

• A TRALEE woman was appointed as the new General Manager of The Kerryman newspaper group.

Having joined the company in 1979, Siobhan Murphy had been the Sales and Marketing Manager since 2009.

• GARDAI arrested 12 people as part on an Operation Thor Day of Action in Tralee on March 5.

Gardaí arrested seven people in relation to a number of recent incidents of burglary, theft, possession of drugs and public order.

Five people were charged, two were to be summonsed to court and one was released pending a file to the DPP. Eight warrants were also executed on five people who had since been brought before the courts.

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• TRALEE Chamber Alliance encouraged the elected members of the Tralee Municipal District to place a greater emphasis on supporting businesses in the town’s retail and hospitality sectors before the local elections in May.

The Chamber said the local authority needs to revisit, in collaboration with Tralee Chamber Alliance, the recommendations and concerns raised by 23 businesses on The Mall/Bridge Street area that were submitted to Kerry County Council last August.

When surveyed, 15 of the 23 businesses voted in favour of retaining a part-pedestrianised format, albeit with further consultation being required, whilst eight businesses of the 23 opposed any form of pedestrianisation.

• A KERRY person won an incredible €182,567.80 for a €2 stake on the first day of Cheltenham, according to Boylesports.

The anonymous Boylesports customer won it in a placepot in six of Tuesday’s races. The dividend of the successful selection was €91,283.90 with the €2 stake returning a total payout of €182,567.80.

• After the horrendous rain, hail and gales of previous days, the rain cleared and the sun came out for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Tralee.

Hundreds of people, many decked out in green, lined the streets to cheer on the hundreds of participants.

Pride of place was reserved for the two Grand Marshals, Chief Executive of the Rose Of Tralee Festival Anthony O’Gara and eight year old Ryan Kelliher, a young muscular dystrophy patient from Tralee, who was accompanied by dad Trevor.

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• LABOUR councillor and then Mayor of Tralee, Graham Spring, announced he was stepping down from politics and would not run in the local elections in May.

He cited family reasons and concentrating on developing a career away from politics while he is still young as reasons for his decision.

Graham Spring was elected as a councillor for the Tralee Municipal District in 2014.

• GARVEYS Tralee Warriors sealed their first Men’s Superleague title in style to reach the top after just a few years in existence after two games in 24 hours over a weekend.

The heavy lifting was done on Saturday night in Dublin against UCD Marian, when they overcame 12 point deficit with four minutes to go to force overtime and then win it.

On Sunday, the complex was packed to see them easily beat UCD Marian by 88 points to 73 to secure the title and spark wild celebrations.

• CHIEF Superintendent Eileen Foster officially took up her role as the Divisional Commander for the Kerry Garda Division on March 25.

Speaking at Tralee Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Foster said; “I am delighted to be assigned as the new Chief Superintendent for the Kerry Garda Division. I am looking forward to working closely with the communities and stakeholders in the county.”