Daily Archives: July 30, 2022

News

PHOTOS: An Emotional Day For The Kelliher Family As ‘Ox Park’ Is Officially Opened

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The Kelliher family at the opening of Ox Park near Tralee Sports Complex on Friday. In front; Cody Kelliher, Graham Kelliher and Archie Kelliher. Back from left; Ray Kelliher, Evelyn Kelliher, Kai Kelliher, Denis O’Regan, Mason Kelliher, Michelle Kelliher, Carmel O’Regan and Vicky Kelliher. Photo by Dermot Crean

THE new €200,000 skateboarding facility in Tralee was officially opened on Friday afternoon by the Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy.

He cut the ribbon on Ox Park near Tralee Sports Complex, which is named after the late skateboarding enthusiast and campaigner for the amenity, Bruce ‘The Ox’ Kelliher, originally from Ard na Lí in Oakpark.

Bruce’s family were present for the opening ceremony and his brother Graham spoke on their behalf, thanking all involved for the honour bestowed on Bruce in the naming of the park.

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“When we were asked a couple of weeks ago as a family if it was okay to name the park after Bruce, as Ox Park, we were thrilled to bits,” he said.

“Bruce was a gentlemen and was the best of us. He would have been thrilled with this, but it’s not something he would have welcomed as he never sought the limelight.

“He just did his thing, got on with everybody and loved skating. He would be delighted to see it [the skatepark] being used by people of all ages. We’re thrilled as a family,” he said.

Graham Kelliher speaking at the opening of the skatepark named after his brother Bruce. Photo by Dermot Crean

Graham also explained that Bruce acquired the nickname ‘Ox’ after it was discovered he had the same skateboarding style as an American skater, Pete ‘The Ox’ Colpitts.

Speaking at the opening, Mayor Mikey Sheehy acknowledged the campaign over many years by the local Skatepark Community Group for the development a safe and designated space in which skateboarders could pursue their passion.

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“This is a really special day for Tralee,” said Cllr Sheehy “and is testament to the tremendous work done by the community group as well as Kerry County Council, Kerry Education and Training Board and Tralee Sports Complex. It is a wonderful addition to the local community and recreational infrastructure.’

In late 2017, a suitable site for the amenity was identified near Tralee Sports Complex and Tralee Skatepark Community Group applied for and were granted planning permission in April 2018.

Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy, with members of the Kelliher family, cutting the ribbon to open Ox Park on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean

Funding was provided from the Sports Capital Programme, the Leader Programme and Kerry County Council and work commenced in April 2022. The project was supported by significant local fundraising.

“Many towns and communities around the country would dearly love a fantastic facility like this. The contractors, Bendcrete, have delivered a really top-quality amenity of which they and the project promoters can be immensely proud,” said Cllr Sheehy.

The Kelliher family with Tralee MD councillor at the opening of Ox Park on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean

“I would like to acknowledge all the funding partners for this project, including Kerry County Council, Tralee Skatepark Community Group, the Department of Rural and Community Development through NEWKD and the LEADER programme as well as the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media through Sports Capital Funding,” he added.

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“This wonderful amenity belongs to the people of Tralee and the wider county and that is the legacy of all those involved. I hope that the park here will bring great joy and entertainment to young people from Tralee and beyond over the coming years,” said Cllr Sheehy.

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News, SCHOOLS

PHOTOS: A Treat For Tralee And Listowel Schoolchildren Before The Holidays

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Presentation Primary pupils enjoying the Bill and Fred show.

PRIMARY schools in Tralee and Listowel received a visit from some fun guests before they broke up for the summer holidays at the end of June.

Elysia McMullen and Luisa Schmitz perform as Bill and Fred – a clown duo who merge dance, clowning, circus and theatre and they were in Kerry recently, bringing their show Bill and Fred’s Adventures to a number of schools.

The performances were facilitated by Kerry County Council’s dancer in residence, Catherine Young. The residency is funded by Kerry County Council and the Arts Council and supported by Creative Ireland Kerry.

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“It’s really important that children have an opportunity to experience live performance by dance artists, as well as also getting a chance to dance and move themselves,” says Catherine Young. “I had seen Bill and Fred perform for a young audience in Limerick and I knew they would bring a show full of fun and energy to Kerry school children.”

The schools visited were Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn and Presentation Primary School in Tralee and Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail in Listowel. Each school was treated to a performance and a dance workshop afterwards.

The Bill and Fred show came to Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.

“It was engaging, interactive, funny, entertaining and had a little message too which was lovely and meaningful for the children,” says Helena Hennessy, Assistant Principal and Arts Co-ordinator at Presentation Primary, Tralee.

“They loved it. They were talking about it for the rest of the day. They were asking me afterwards when would Bill and Fred be coming back!”

“We were delighted to have Elysia and Luisa with us under the dancer in residence programme – this was a great opportunity for children to access free dance performance and learn about movement in a relaxed and fun-filled way,” says Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer with Kerry County Council. Scroll down for photos…

Presentation Primary pupils enjoying the Bill and Fred show.
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The Bill and Fred show came to Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.
The Bill and Fred show came to Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.
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Children at Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail in Listowel enjoying the Bill and Fred show.
Children at Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail in Listowel enjoying the Bill and Fred show.
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Children at Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail in Listowel enjoying the Bill and Fred show.
Children at Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail in Listowel enjoying the Bill and Fred show.
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Presentation Primary pupils enjoying the Bill and Fred show.

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News

Know Your Rights: Help To Buy Scheme

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Know Your Rights has been compiled by Kerry Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public…

What Is the Help to Buy Scheme?

The Help to Buy (HTB) Scheme assists first-time buyers to purchase a newly-built house or apartment. It is also available for once-off self-build homes.

It only applies to properties that cost €500,000 or less.

The HTB Scheme gives a refund of the income tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) you have paid in Ireland over the previous 4 tax years.

How do I qualify?

To qualify, you must:

• Be a first-time buyer. If you are buying (or self-building) the property with someone else, they must also be a first-time buyer.
• Buy or self-build a new residential property between 19 July 2016 and 31 December 2022.
• Take out a mortgage of at least 70% of the purchase price. Cash buyers do not qualify.
• Live in the property for 5 years from the date that it is habitable. HTB is not available for investment properties.
• Be fully tax-compliant for the 4 years immediately before your claim.

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What do I get?

If you sign a contract for a new house, or draw down on a self-build mortgage, between 23 July 2020 and 31 December 2022, you can get an increased relief. This is known as the Enhanced Help to Buy Scheme. You can claim relief on the lesser of:

• €30,000
• 10% of the purchase price of the property
• 10% of the completion value of a self-build
• The amount of income tax and DIRT you paid for the previous 4 years

The maximum payment is €30,000.

How can I apply?

There are 3 stages to the online application process:

• The application stage: If you are a PAYE employee only, you can apply for the HTB Scheme through Revenue’s MyAccount service. Or, if you are a self-assessed taxpayer, you can apply through Revenue’s Online Service (ROS).
• The claim stage: Once your application is approved you can make your claim using ROS or MyAccount. You will need to provide documents about your mortgage and confirm details about the property at this stage.
• The verification stage: The information you have provided is verified by an eligible verifier. This is the contractor if you are buying a new home, or your solicitor if you are building your home.

How do I get the refund?

If you buy a new build, the refund is paid directly to the builder. If you self-build the property, the refund is paid to a bank account you hold with your loan provider.

• Read more about the Help to Buy Scheme on https://bit.ly/3O2jdxF .

If you need further information about any of the issues raised here or you have other questions, you can call a member of the local Citizens Information Service in Kerry on 0818 07 7860. They will be happy to assist you and if necessary arrange an appointment for you.

Kerry HELPLINE 0818 07 7860

Monday to Friday from 10am -4pm. Alternatively you can email on tralee@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie

The National Phone Service is available on 0818 07 4000 Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm.

Entertainment, News

Finnegan On Films: Kerry Scenery Among The Stars Of ‘Joyride’

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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, gives his verdict on Joyride, the film shot in Kerry last summer which is now on general release…

I love odd couple, buddy stories with a feel good factor, a strong charisma between the cast and a script that has some humour as well as drama, together with quality performances, a good soundtrack, and cinematography collated by sensitive direction.

Joyride has these qualities in abundance with an additional factor.  It was conceived, written and filmed here in Tralee and other Kerry locations, written by local talent Ailbhe Keogan and directed by Emer Reynolds.

In the interests of full disclosure, I know and have worked with Ailbhe, and Emer directed one of my favourite ever documentaries, the award winning ‘The Farthest’.

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The premise of the film is that Joy (Olivia Colman) is a solicitor, approaching middle age, who gives birth after an unplanned pregnancy.  She plans to give the baby to her sister for adoption before heading to Lanzarote.

She and baby are sitting in the back of a taxi when it is hijacked by Mully (Charlie Reid) a 13 year old.  He has the cash proceeds of a benefit night for the hospice that cared for his mother before her passing, stolen by his father.

Olivia Colman (Joy) and Charlie Reid (Mully) in Joyride which is now on general release.

So these disparate characters are off on the road together, chased by Mully’s dad and the Gardai.

The taxi is abandoned, another car is stolen and they need to hitch a lift on a truck with a poignant festival character head.

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Mully’s life experience assists in feeding the baby and there are nods towards folklore with a robin – all in all everything you would expect from a road film, especially one filmed in this county.

The cinematography from James Mather is spectacular, showing the Kerry colours and scenery that we perhaps take too much for granted, and that Bord Failte could use to promote the county.

There are also local landmarks that are viewed with slightly changed perspective that only come from a fresh and different perspective, the glamour of showbiz and the cinema camera lens.

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There is a lovely score from Ray Harman that adds to the enjoyment of the film.

I bow to no one in my admiration of Olivia Colman as an actress and a person.  I had the privilege of working with her a few years back and there is no one with her range of comedy and drama.

She is a consummate professional at the top of her game, and her commitment to this project is a great compliment to her, the director and the writer.

The second high point is the performance of Charlie Reid as Mully.  The chemistry between him and an established multi-award winner is heart warming and spectacular given the difference in experience.  I look forward to future performances from this gifted young man.

The third high point is seeing people and places I know so well up on the big screen.  Congratulations to those who took part in this production.   I hope their experience enhances their appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes of a large scale production.