Concluding our review of 2023 we look back at some of the news we brought you in December…

• HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Tralee on a chilly December afternoon as the Christmas parade returned to the streets of the town on Saturday, December 2.

The event was organised by Tralee Chamber and Kerry County Council, in partnership with Sean Murphy Electrical and the local business community, as ‘Santa’s Magical Fairytale Parade’ proved a big hit with families.

• IT was announced that the public consultation would commence on plans to develop a new greenway linking Tralee and Listowel.

It is expected that the proposed Tralee to Listowel Greenway will connect to the Tralee to Fenit Greenway and the Listowel to Abbeyfeale Greenway.

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• THE Kerry Heritage Award, which is presented each year by the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, has been awarded for 2023 to Kerry historian and author, Tim Horgan.

The presentation to the author of several books on the revolutionary period in Kerry was made at a special ceremony at the Rose Hotel in Tralee.

• MULTI-MILLION euro funding was announced for two projects in Munster Technological University (MTU) that will progress to the next stage of development under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund (TSSPF).

The Tralee campus proposal is the development of a Student Learner Centre with the potential to serve 2,000-3,000 students.

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• A KERRY woman won a Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Award at a ceremony in Dublin on Thursday.

Martha Farrell from Maharees Conservation won the Individual of the Year in Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Awards at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. She is also involved in Tidy Towns Tralee.

The award acknowledges those individuals who initiate change and inspire others to do more to protect and conserve their coastline.

• THERE were some very lucky people playing the lotto in Kerry this month. A EuroMillions Plus draw winning ticket worth €500,000 was bought in Tesco in Tralee while over in Dingle a player scooped over €192,000 in the Lotto draw, all over the weekend of December 15/16.

• IT was revealed there would be two Fianna Fáil candidates contesting for Kerry County Council seats in the Tralee Electoral Area next year.

At the convention in December, Councillor Mikey Sheehy and Anne O’Sullivan, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister Norma Foley were both selected to run for the party in the local elections in 2024.

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• IT was also revealed that this year has seen the highest numbers of patients waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Kerry since records began in 2006.

There were 3,775 patients waiting on trolleys at the hospital since the start of the year according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) released earlier in December.

• KERRY saw a stormy end to 2023 with wind and rain warnings issued by Met Eireann. Storm Gerrit brought heavy rain and strong winds in the few days after Christmas Day, while another wind warning was issued for New Year’s Eve with a wet end to the year.

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Continuing our review of 2023 we look back at some of the news we brought you in November…

• NOVEMBER started brightly in Tralee with hundreds of people converging on Denny Street to watch the National Circus Festival of Ireland parade and fireworks display.

There was a great family atmosphere enjoying the post-Halloween entertainment on a chilly night with colourful performers and floats lighting up the night.

• AN Garda Síochána held its annual National Garda Youth Awards in Portlaoise with Kerry teenagers honoured.

A Special Achievement Award was presented to Erin O’Sullivan from Tralee who has a rare disorder Ataxia Telangiectasia, a condition that combines the symptoms of muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and immune system disorder.

Members of Banna Rescue — Amber Dunne and Eoin Buckley — received a Community Safety Award while The Upcyclers from Castleisland Community College received a Group Award.

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• THE winners of the Family Business Awards were announced and a Tralee business picked up an award in Dublin.

Ryle’s Pharmacy on Ashe Street was named Pharmacy Family Business of the Year while Romantic Castles Of Ireland, who have Ballyseede Castle Hotel in their collection of hotels, won Hospitality Business of the Year.

• OVER 200 people headed to the Greenway at Fenit  in November to take part in the first ever Fenit Parkrun.

The efforts of volunteers paid off as it was a hugely successful first running with people of all ages taking part. The runners and walkers set off from the starting line at the bridge making their way off on a 5k route.

• FAMILY Carers Ireland announced that this year’s Netwatch Kerry Family Carer of the Year was Kathleen O’Sullivan from Portmagee.

This accolade recognises the exceptional dedication and commitment of family carers across the nation who provide vital care at home for loved ones with additional needs.

Kathleen was described as being an incredible and passionate individual who is constantly giving her time to help others. Kathleen, in particular, cares for her daughter Hannah who has cerebral palsy.

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• UNIVERSITY Hospital Kerry (UHK) has officially opened its newly renovated Interim Oncology Day Ward.

Located within the hospital in a reconfigured space of the Ratoo Ward, this dedicated medical oncology unit provides a modern, bright, and compassionate environment, ensuring patients experience privacy and a welcoming atmosphere.

• MINISTER for Education and Kerry T.D, Norma Foley, visited Presentation Secondary School Tralee to announce multi-million euro funding for new facilities there.

The Department of Education announced funding for the school to provide for a suite of new facilities including specialist classrooms for music, science, technology, graphics and textiles. Prep rooms, where required, are also included.

• THE Kerry College Assistant Principal won a national award for her work on Universal Design at the John Kelly Awards.

Celia O’Shea said it was a great honour to have won the John Kelly Award for the Further Education and Training Sector this year.

• KERRY GAA launched the new home jersey for its teams. With this jersey, the classic green and gold colours have a deeper tone and is inspired by the jersey of the 1984 All Ireland winning Kerry team.

“This statement piece of combining the vintage elements with modern characteristics embodies the message of Kerry GAA – always building on tradition when moulding future vision,” reads the description on the Kerry GAA website.

• THE PwC GAA Football All-Stars were held at a gala black-tie event in Dublin’s RDS tonight and four Kerry players received the accolade.

There were nine Kerry players nominated, but Tom O’Sullivan, Sean O’Shea, Paudie Clifford and David Clifford were the ones who collected the prestigious awards, while David Clifford won the Footballer of the Year honour for the second year in a row.

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• KERRY star Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was named as the 2023 TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year at the annual TG4 All Star banquet, in association with Lidl, at The Bonnington Dublin Hotel.

Kerry had five representatives on the All-Star team — defenders Eilís Lynch and Cáit Lynch, midfielder Lorraine Scanlon and forwards Niamh Carmody and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

• THE month saw a number of changes at Kerry FC. There was change in the senior management team for the 2024 season.

Billy Dennehy is moving to his original position as Sporting Director while the first team coaching group will consist of Billy’s original staff of Conor McCarthy, James Sugrue and Del O’Shea with Shane Guthrie joining as Strength and Conditioning coach.

Also, Brian Ainscough has stepped down as CEO of Kerry FC to pursue other interests at Dundalk FC.

• TRALEE Chamber’s Annual General Meeting took place at the Meadowlands Hotel where Stephen Stack was elected the new President.

He expressed his enthusiasm for the Astellas project, highlighting its potential to be a game changer for Tralee. Stack commended Kerry County Council for its proactive efforts in enhancing the town’s infrastructure, setting the stage for such progressive developments.

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