TV3’s Xposé presenter Lisa Cannon has been announced as the judge of this year’s Dawn Milk Ladies Day at the Killarney Races next week.
The Dawn Milk Ladies Day takes place next Thursday, July 14 during Killarney’s four day racing festival with a trips to Paris and Milan up for prizewinners at the event.
The Dawn Milk Queen of Fashion Winner will receive a trip for two to Paris and a specially commissioned vase. The winner of the Dawn Milk Most Stylish Hat will receive a trip for two to Milan and a specially commissioned vase also.
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A runner-up prize will also be presented in both categories. A total of 10 finalists will be selected by the judges, and ladies are advised to arrive early as the judges will be selecting finalists on the race course from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. All winners will be announced in the parade ring after the 5th race.
“I am very much looking forward to spending time at the Dawn Milk Ladies Day in Killarney,” said Lisa Cannon. “It is always an exciting day out and this being my first year I can’t wait to see all the style and indeed competition. In terms of style tips for ladies day I will be looking for fashion that is both inventive and comfortable. A lady’s personality and elegance needs to shine through. As it is one of the biggest race days on the social calendar I am hoping to see lots of stunning colours and takes on fashion that work for shape and style. It is going to be a fantastic day out I am so looking forward to it!”
Speaking at the launch, John O’Sullivan, General Manager, Dawn Milk commented “Dawn Milk is delighted to sponsor Ladies Day at the Killarney Races for 23 years, making it one of the longest ladies day patronages in Ireland.”
SGT JIM FOLEY was honoured for his work with the Tralee International Resource Centre (TIRC) at a special celebration on Wednesday.
The Town Council, volunteer Ann McKenzie and the late Gerry Moran were also honoured at the centre.
The Sergeant has been involved with TIRC since its inception in 2008.
“TIRC worked for us and we worked for TIRC, the centre allowed us a means of communication between us and the community,” Sgt Foley said.
“The communities we meet can have a different view of what a police force does, if you’re a resident of Central Africa what the police do there is different to what we do there.”
“I am not saying the Garda here are perfect, but we are open and transparent and willing to work with new communities. Sometimes people don’t see a police force as that so you’ve got to address that barrier straight away,” he said.
One of the highlights of the Sergeant’s work was the organisation of soccer blitzes for adults and underage asylum seekers and immigrants.
“It is so important for the new communities to be aware that they have a police force here to support their needs, the only way you can deliver that message is through engagement,” he said.
Sgt Foley will be moving on from his current post as Sergeant in charge of Community Policing in Tralee to a new role as Crime Prevention officer for the county.
The TIRC marked, in particular, the contribution of Tralee Town Council as they end their current structure and merge with Kerry County Council. “We are truly grateful to Tralee Town Council for their ongoing support,” said Chairperson of TIRC Cllr Gillian Wharton Slattery.
“They have supported us with a premises and are helpful to us in all our ventures. It has been a wonderful link and we hope to continue in the new structures of local Government.”
As it was National Volunteer Week, TIRC also honoured Ann McKenzie for her work as teacher of English in the centre along with other volunteers.
“Anne has been a core volunteer of TIRC and has helped so many people from so many backgrounds integrate into the local community by improving their English skills, and as well as that she befriended and supported so many of them with her kindness,” said Cllr Gillian Wharton Slattery.
Former volunteer Gerry Moran’s memory was also honored with the planting of a tree on the grounds of the centre.
“Gerry was a wonderful friend and volunteer and he and his wife Catherine and James and Sarah were part of the TIRC family. Gerry gave so much to TIRC in his time here and was always offering to help in anyway,” said Cllr Wharton Slattery.
“Look, I don’t know if I’m ‘a politician’. I class myself as someone who’s there for people, to attend the meetings, to do the best I can and to take the tough decisions when needed for the good of my county.”
IT’S been quite a journey for self-described ‘thoroughbred narie’ Terry O’Brien.
The Labour councillor, now resident in Tonevane, has seen the best of times and the worst of times and has the air of a man who’s enjoying life, despite the rigours of the canvass in the run-up to the May 23 election.
I met him in his office at the Kerry Branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association in Killeen to find out more about the past and what he and fellow councillors can do for the town’s future, should he be re-elected.
The youngest of ten children from a house in Cahill’s Park, Terry was educated in Holy Family, The Green and later the Technical School in Clash where he played on the football team (“I loved my time there”).
In the summer of 1989 he went to upstate New York to do Summer Camp counselling. On August 22, the day before he was due to go home, he had an accident in a swimming pool which changed his life forever. He broke his neck and was paralysed from the waist down.
Terry spent about the next year between hospitals and rehabilitation centres, but he didn’t wallow in self pity or get depressed.
“Very early on I accepted it was my mistake. It’d be different maybe if somebody was drunk and ploughed into me in a car. Then perhaps I may have said ‘I don’t deserve this, it was your fault’. But it was my mistake, I dived into the pool.”
He spent some time in Tralee RTC (where he met his wife Teresa) and later did a CE scheme before he joined the staff at the Kerry branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association, where he still works.
So how did he get involved in politics? According to Terry, the family didn’t have any political allegiances but, being from the Strand Road area, they were neighbours of the Springs.
“You had to be big admirers of the Springs and what they have done for the town. I remember when I had my accident, Dick called to the house to see how I was getting on and was there anything he could do for me. I was impressed by him, he was a real statesman.”
In 1999, Dick came calling again, but this time it was business. He asked Terry would he run for the Town Council and he agreed. At the time he was involved with the Kerins O’Rahilly’s GAA Club, Partnership Tra-Li and other groups.
“I was interested to see how I’d get on. I admire anybody who puts their name up for election. I was lucky I got a good vote but I did have the blessing of having Maeve Spring on my side. She was class, a great councillor.”
Maeve Spring became ill before the elections in 2004 and suggested Terry go for her seat on the County Council, as well as the Town Council again. He topped both polls.
He was then selected by the party to contest the general election in 2007 but, as he said, “I got my answer from the public that time.” He came fourth and said he wouldn’t be rushing back to run again.
He retained both county and town council seats in 2009 and here he is, running for the county again.
Terry says the role of the councillor is not the “gravy train’ some people make it out to be.
“People talk about expenses and the gravy train and so on, but it is hard work. The year that I was Mayor of Kerry, while it was a great honour, was tough sometimes. There’s a lot of travelling, meetings and unsociable hours.”
Terry says it’s a very different ball game going for the council rather than the Dail.
“The local elections are all about the person. The person who you’re sure will go to the meetings and do the work in the community. The general election is a very dirty campaign. I wouldn’t do it again. There’s nasty stuff written about you on the internet, which is all faceless. I remember when I running for the general election there was rumours going around that I was in trouble with the guards and I was thrown out of school when I was younger. I never saw the inside of the station growing up. Mind you, my mother probably thought I should have!” he joked.
When it comes to the issues facing Tralee, Terry realises that the powers of the council are limited.
“I got a text last night from a guy, irate that I was supporting the water charges. The water charges are coming in because of the Troika, but some people think that the county councillors can change the world. What we can do is look out for things like zoning and planning which are hugely important. And also to promote tourism. Look at what the Town Council has helped bring to the town over the past 15 years, especially with the Fels Point area, the cinema, the Wetlands, the museum and so on.”
He’s not in favour of making promises regarding bringing down the property tax either.
“Maybe it’s not the best to make the populist choice all the time. You have to be a realist with the hand we’re dealt with at the moment. It’s fine to say ‘I want a reduction in the tax or the rates’. If you have a budget that’s balanced, what do you do? Reduce services? You have to be careful what you commit to.”
As chairman of the ITT, he feels the purchase of the Kerry Technology Park by the college and the merging of the Institute with CIT will be enormous for the town.
“The technology park is so important. We need to secure it and get more companies in there. Getting the Munster Technological University will be huge for Tralee. It’ll mean people can get their university degrees here. You won’t have to go to Cork, Limerick, Galway or Dublin. The spin-off for the town will be amazing.”
Away from politics and work, he keeps an eye on the fortunes of Man United (“I have the club membership badges from 1982. I’m no fair-weather supporter”) and Kerry football. One thing he would love to see is the return of Super-League basketball to town as he was Chairman of Tralee Tigers from some years. “The nights up in the complex back then, especially playing the Cork teams, were incredible.”
Of course Terry loves spending time with his family. He’s married to Teresa O’Sullivan from Bantry since 2001 and they have seven year old twins, Mark and Millie.
“They’re our little miracles, they’re just fantastic and they put things in perspective. Once you have your health and your happiness that’s what matters. A fella said to me the last day ‘what would you do if you lost your seat?’ I said you wouldn’t find me down the canal with my head in my hands.”
GAELSCOIL Mhic Easmainn up picked up a national award at the All-Ireland Drama Festival for primary schools last month.
The 5/6th class won the 1st prize in their category and pupil Jimí Ó Súilleabháin scooped the best actor gong.
The road to victory began in Tralee, then moved to Ennis for the semi-finals, then on to Mullingar Town Hall for the national finals.
This is Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn 4th year in a row winning the class prize with the added bonus of picking up a best actor award.
“The students got a fantastic reaction and they deserve it as they put in an awful lot of hard work during the year. Staff and Parents were delighted,” said Cáit Uí Chonchúir, Principal of Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.
THE National Learning Network’s ‘Sporting Chance’ course based in Clash picked up a Cara National Inclusion Award at University of Limerick on Monday night.
“To be recognised nationally is fantastic, the students deserve it they’ve worked very hard,” said course co-ordinator Kevin Smith.
The course aims to enable people with disabilities – and others who are unable to access further education – to build a career as future coaches, leaders and managers in the sports and leisure industry.
The Tralee course won in the Best Disability Organisation category which was one of nine on offer.
Students of the course have worked with the FAI providing referees, linesmen and administration for primary school’s finals, they are also involved with Munster Rugby as coaches for tag rugby.
The CARA National Inclusion Awards recognise organisations and people who contribute to the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.
IT’S all go for Pa Daly, the solicitor from Oakpark, who is bidding to win a seat on Kerry County Council at the first time of asking.
The Derrylea native is contesting his first election in just over a week’s time and between running a law practice, canvassing the town and finding time for his wife Mary and four young children, he has his hands full.
But sitting down with him at his Rock Street office, you get the sense he is looking forward to the contest and relishes the chance to represent Sinn Fein in the County Council.
Educated at CBS and a graduate of law from UCD, Pa returned home from Dublin in 2003 after working for a law firm in Dublin for a number of years. He then set up his own business in Rock Street.
“We lived above the practice for a few years but when child number three came along, we had to move for more space,” said Pa.
The interest in politics came from a varied family history.
“My mother’s brother, Sean Farren, was on the Northern Executive for the SDLP. My cousin, Conor Fitzgerald was on the Town Council for the Green Party for a while and my great-granduncle Paddy Paul Fitzgerald was a Fianna Fail man, so there was different elements there in my background. But I was always interested from an early age in current affairs.”
It was the economic collapse that drew him to the politics of Sinn Fein.
“I wouldn’t have described myself as party political at all until after the bank bailouts of a few years ago. I felt that, practically, a coup had taken place in this country. Then I saw the cuts that came in since then, as a result of the payback to the banks, and I found that my views and the views of the Sinn Fein party were the same really,” said Pa.
He also laments, what he call the “carve-up that has gone on between the parties of the right and big business over the past number of years”.
“The parties of the left have been warning about this privatisation for years. Big business representatives like IBEC were in favour of this policy and we can what’s happening now from water to the National Lottery – which was making hundreds of millions every year for charities and sports organisations and now the Government have sold it off. I also disagreed with a two-tier education and health system. I met an retired couple from Oakpark recently who told me they’re paying €5,000 a year to the VHI for health insurance, after working their whole lives. Then I met a friend of mine who works in a hospital in Liverpool who says only about 2% of British people – the extremely wealthy – have private health insurance because the system is so good over there.”
Pa was co-opted on to the Town Council two years ago when Toireasa Ferris wanted to concentrate her efforts on Kerry County Council, so he agreed to take her place.
Now he is out on the canvass looking for votes where he has found a range of issues cropping up on the doorstep.
“I started canvassing in January. Being a first-time candidate I needed to get out there early to let people know I’m there and the reaction I’m getting is fine. Most people are polite – a lot of people don’t have interest in any party or politician – but many want to engage on some issue or another. Very local issues come up like the water issue out in Fenit and the dangers of the road in Curraheen/Tonevane, but other than that it’s national issues that come up about all the cuts that have been imposed.”
If he’s elected to the Council, Pa intends to fight to reduce property and water charges in order to put money back in people’s pockets.
“I was in the town centre on Friday at 4.30pm and, while I know the weather was poor, there was only a few people on the main street. We must get money back to the people to spend. The lack of investment and interest in town from the IDA must change, nothing is coming in from central government,” he said.
“We have a large public sector workforce in Tralee. We need to try to ringfence those jobs. Many lost their jobs in Kerry County Council the hospital and other places, those jobs have been eaten into.”
Away from the office and the council, Pa spends as much time with his wife and four children as possible, as well as keeping active.
“I play a bit of 5 a side soccer and I ‘manage’ the Tralee Dynamos B team. I like to go the Irish soccer internationals when I can,” said the boyhood Liverpool fan.
“I used to be an avid fan of Liverpool years ago but that died off a little over the years. I still keep an eye out for results, but I wouldn’t be depressedif they lost. If what happened two weeks ago [Liverpool lost to Chelsea which badly dented their title hopes] happened when I was 14 I probably would have locked myself in my room for a month,” he joked.
Pa was also involved in the Kerry Film Festival screenings in The Square last year of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’ and ‘The Italian Job’ and also helped organise the big screen event in the same location for the Euro 2012 games.
“If Kerry got to the All-Ireland again it would be great to do something similar,” he said.
Let’s hope our footballers keep him this busy come September.
MERCY Mounthawk proved to be the big winners in Kerry Final of the Irish Junior Mathematics Competition following an hour long battle of mathematical knowledge.
The Kerry Final for First Years student took place last Friday evening May 9 in the South Campus of IT Tralee.
In total, four Kerry schools were represented; Meanscoil Nua an Leith Triuigh Castlegregory, Mercy Mounthawk Tralee, Millstreet Community School and Presentation Listowel.
The 14 students competing on the night had previously qualified from their respective schools as the highest scoring students from all participating schools and each received a certificate of attendance at the final.
Matus Lukco of Mounthawk was declared the overall winner beating his fellow student Tiernan Brosnan into second place by only two points.
Lucy Walsh from Meanscoil Nua an Leigh Triuigh finished in third place just one point behind second place. Each received specially commissioned trophies signifying the origins of mathematics.
Competition co-ordinator, John O’Regan, praised the students.
“Each of them was a winner having qualified for the final from their respective schools and I hope that they would each continue to develop their interest in mathematics,” he said.
A TRALEE man has raised a total of €2,000 for three separate charities by hosting a night of dancing in the Meadowlands Hotel.
The event called ‘I’m In The Mood For Dancing’ took place at the Medowlands on May 3. The beneficiaries of the funds raised were the Palliative Care Unit at KGH which received €900, €700 for Recovery Haven and €400 for the Kerry/Cork link bus.
“I lost my leg years ago. The townspeople were very good to me and pulled together to raise over €22,000 at the time so I could get an artificial leg, so I wanted to give something back,” said Denis.
“Also because cancer has affected my family and my extended family, that’s another reason I felt I had to do something,” he said.
“It was a fantastic night, the band and everything else was covered and it was great to give back these cheques,” Denis said.
THE latest jewel in the Mitchels/Boherbee Regeneration was opened by Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan TD on Monday.
Minister Jan O’Sullivan praised those whose efforts had seen Aras an Phobail come to fruition. “It will act as a focal point, not only for the Mitchels/Boherbee community, but will also attract visitors from the wider Tralee area, who are anxious to avail of the services that are on offer here,” she said.
The impetus behind the new addition, Aras an Phobail, came through the Regeneration Project, which saw community and agency representatives highlight the need for an integrated services building to enable local and government agencies to be able to provide services within the community.
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Pat Hussey, paid tribute to the Mitchels Regeneration Steering Group and Community Participation Group for seeing the potential behind the project and wholeheartedly supporting it.
Resident in the area, Noreen McElligott, was very positive about regeneration work.
“I think people here are more integrated with each other, it’s great to see all these new buildings and the community aspect is still there,” she said.
“The houses are fabulous, the area is lovely as well,” said another Mitchels resident, Marian Murphy.
The project is a result of interagency collaboration between a number of local statutory and non-statutory agencies anxious to have a presence within the community. These include the Tralee Town Council, North & East Kerry Development, HSE, An Garda Siochana, Kerry Education and Training Board, KDYS, Springboard Kerry Travellers Project and the Tralee Women’s Resource Centre.
Already the building is at full occupancy, with the agencies paying rent that will support and pay for the running of the building, ensuring the sustainability of the project into the future.
IT was a miserable day weather-wise, but that didn’t bother Spa National School pupils as they made their First Holy Communion on Saturday.
Thirty-four youngsters from Miss O’Donoghue’s class celebrated the special day with their families and while they couldn’t take any photos outside in the wind and rain following the service, they all retired back to Spa school for reception organised by parents.
SO now the pupils of CBS Primary School are getting in on the ‘Happy’ vibe.
With the huge success of the Ballybunion ‘Happy’ video on Youtube, the pupils of Michelle Culloty’s third class decided to make their own version in the school on Friday last.
“They had an absolute ball making it, they really let loose” said Michelle, who put the link on the CBS facebook page on Monday morning, where it had been shared nearly 30 times by the end of the school day.
“One of the pupils was talking about the Ballybunion video and suggested we make our own. It took about two hours to film and I edited it down on my iPad,” continued Michelle.
“The pupils were absolute stars and some of the staff, including the principal, took part as well. They’re mad to make more videos now!”
“We shot some of it in Applegreen across the road and the staff there were great. Martin Ferris was there at the time but we couldn’t convince him to take part,” she said.
CLEAN Coasts Week is already underway and a number of events are taking place in the county over the next few days.
Organised by An Taisce’s the week sees hundreds of clean coasts events being organised around the country but if you want to get involved in Kerry, here’s where to go.
• Ventry – Dingle Oceanworld will be doing a clean-up of Ventry Beach on Saturday, May 17 at 11am. Volunteers to meet at Ventry Beach Car Park directly beforehand.
• Whale Watch – Irish Dolphin and Whale Group: A morning of whale and dolphin watching off Slea Head, Co. Kerry. No booking required, event is Saturday, May 17 from 10am to 12pm in car park on Slea Head along the R559 (Lat 52° 05.86 ‘ N, Long 10°27.03 ‘ W).
• Ballybunnion – Clean up of Ballybunnion beach on Thursday May 15 at 4pm. Volunteers to meet at the Lifeguard station directly beforehand.
• Rossbeigh Beach – Glenbeigh Community Council will be doing a clean-up of Rossbeigh Beach on the 14th May at 6pm. Volunteers will meet at the end of tarred toad on Rossbeigh Beach directly beforehand.
• National #2minutebeachclean Day – Saturday May 17th
Clean Coasts are delighted to be holding Ireland’s first ever national #2minutebeachclean day as part of Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week. The aim is to engage as many people as possible in this BIG IMPACT initiative.
On Saturday they are asking everyone who goes to the beach whether it’s for a surf, swim or walk to do their very own #2minutebeachclean. Take a snap of the litter collected and post your snap on instagram/twitter/facebook with the tags @cleancoasts #2minutebeachclean.
It’s as easy as that and be in with a chance to win a Clean Coasts hoodie!
To register a clean-up or find out more about Clean Coasts coastal celebration events please visit www.cleancoastsweek.ie or @CleanCoasts #cleancoastsweek
THOUSANDS descended on Ballybeggan Racecourse on Sunday for another great Kingdom County Fair.
“We were very lucky with the weather,” said Organising Secretary, Mary Barry. “Saturday was a disaster and we thought we’d be rained out, but Sunday was a great day, thankfully,” said Mary.
The venue had something for everyone with an area of bouncy castles and ‘hurdy-gurdys’ to keep young children entertained, food stalls, arts and crafts stands, a bonny baby competition, not to mention all the animal competitions going on.
Of course there were many agricultural stands and horse enthusiasts were spoiled for choice with the amount of equestrian events taking place.
There was a stiff breeze but everybody was enjoying the sunshine and agreed the show is still going strong after 65 years.
OVER 30 brave souls went out in the driving wind and rain to raise funds for Fenit Lifeboat on Saturday morning from O’Donnell’s Mounthawk.
Unfortunately, the elements were very much against the participants, but it’s vital that these events are held.
“The cycle is very important for us,” said Tom McCormack, Chairman and Medical Officer of Fenit Lifeboat. “It raises about €8,000 every year for the Lifeboat.”
“We have a number of fundraising events every year because to run a Lifeboat station is very expensive,” said Gerard O’Donnell, the Lifeboat Operations Manager. “A call-out would cost about €8,500, between the the boat costs, training etc, so these fundraising events are very important.”
The cyclists set off at 10.30pm and went to Farranfore, Castleisland and back to O’Donnell’s Mounthawk for refreshments and to dry off. Well done to all involved.
“We’re a great, generous community-orientated town – that’s what makes us a little bit different.”
By Dermot Crean
GRACE O’Donnell is no longer the new kid on the block.
Having been elected for the first time to Tralee Town Council in 2009, the Oakpark woman is now hoping to take the step up County Council level against stiff opposition from the other 13 candidates.
I spoke to the Fine Gael candidate at her home in a quiet area of Oakpark, to find out how the campaign is going.
Born and bred in Riverside, Grace was educated at Presentation Primary and Secondary before going on to do a business and secretarial course at the VEC. She then joined the workforce with Kerry Cleaning Centre Ltd (now Total Cleaning Supplies) back in 1994 and has been there since.
Unlike some of the candidates, the O’Donnell family isn’t steeped in politics, but Grace gained an interest from her time in Presentation Secondary.
“In fifth year I got involved with the Youth Centre or the KDYS as it’s known now. We used to produce a newsletter about what was going on in Tralee and other things, but through this I was selected to represent Ireland at a European Youth Conference in Brussels. That really gave me an interest in politics,” she said.
Grace got involved with Young Fine Gael while at school, through people she knew in organisations and has been a member since. But it’s only before the last election did she decide to throw her hat in the ring.
“I was approached by Jimmy Deenihan and he asked me to run for Tralee Town Council. I thought about it and discussed it with my family and felt that I would do a good job.”
She was elected and has served on the Council since 2009, becoming Mayor in 2011-2012, an honour she will never forget.
But now Grace is back looking to be elected to the new Kerry County Council. Is it harder going back on the doorsteps again and what are people’s concerns?
“I find that last time people were more argumentative, people were more cross, but there is a certain amount of apathy this time around. Water charges though is the issue which keeps coming up. People are suffering; they’re trying to put children through college, through secondary school, which isn’t cheap and they’re worried about the future.”
Grace says she finds it difficult when she hears of families with sick children or children with disabilities, are finding things difficult, especially since she is a co-founder of the Care4Kids charity.
“They’re worried about losing medical cards and they’re suffering so much with their children being ill. To have the financial worry on top of that breaks my heart.”
So what does Grace plan to do if she is elected to the new municipal authority?
“Jobs, obviously, is the top priority and with this new regional aid map, Kerry is on a level playing field to attract large companies. That will be of huge benefit. We need to support our SMEs and businesses and look after their interests as best we can.”
With the Town Council gone, she believes there are challenges ahead.
“Our role as municipal authority members is going to be a lot more important because we’re going to have to shout louder in the chamber for the town’s interests. We have a beautiful town with fabulous facilities and the Tralee Chamber Alliance has been very instrumental in promoting the town.”
Outside of politics, Grace was Secretary of Tralee Rugby Club for 16 years up until last year.
“I started going up to the club to watch the games about 20 years ago and I got involved. There’s fabulous volunteers up there, like in the other clubs around the town. They’re doing brilliant work with young people.”
Speaking of young people, Grace was involved for years with the now defunct SAM group and founded the Junior Rotary Club in Mounthawk five years ago.
Through her involvement with the Care4Kids charity, she has fundraised to help families with sick children with their financial expenses.
“We work in conjunction with the Pediatric Social Officer in Kerry General Hospital and she comes to us when she has a family who are in a bit of bother. They fill out an application form and we try to give them an amount of money then.”
“The first couple of years was a struggle but we were lucky to be nominated as one of Donal Walsh’s charities and we have received a substantial amount of money from them over the last two Christmases. It was a huge day personally when I was able to give our first cheque to a family.”
So why should people vote for Grace O’Donnell?
“I’m a hard worker and I believe communities can make our town a better place to live. It’s important to get out there and do as much as you can.”
MINISTER for Education, Ruairi Quinn, revealed to a pupil that his greatest achievement in politics so far was ‘getting re-elected’.
The Minister was speaking during a Q&A session in Listellick NS, one of two Tralee schools he visited when in the county on Friday.
He went to Listellick NS on an invitation received from Principal Annette Dineen in February, following the storm damage that affected prefabs in the school. He was also there to discuss the building of a new school on a site nearby.
During his visit he took in a Q&A session with one of the classes and student Jack Horgan asked the Minister, what was the his greatest achievement in politics to which the Minister replied with a smile; “getting re-elected”.
“It was great, he was very impressed with the students,” said Principal Annette Dineen regarding the Minister’s visit.
“He will look at the building program. We’re in for planning permission on a new site and we should know the timeframe by June 3,” said Ms Dineen.
Next the Minister and his entourage made their way to Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School. While there he chatted to Principal John O’Roarke about plans for a new extension to the school.
He also gave a speech to students, at one point telling them they need to “earn their place in the world” as Europe is no longer the power it was. He said they will face far greater competition from the likes of India and China than other generations before them.
“We have talked about it for quite sometime that he would come, it’s always great to see a Minister for Education in the school,” said Mr O’Roarke.
“We spoke about the new extension and the monies the Department of Education has allocated us for it. We’re basically trying to get that sorted out,” said the Principal.
THE Rose of Tralee statue was kept warm on Friday morning thanks to volunteers from Tralee International Resource Centre.
The Craft Group from the centre took part in CraftBomb, a nationwide secret project as a part of a Voluntary Arts Week.
CraftBomb is a project to brighten up your community and help launch Voluntary Arts Week in an explosion of colour and creativity on 9 May!
The aim is to brighten up an area for local public, engage communities and celebrate creativity. TIRC Craft Group asked permission from Tralee Town Council to brighten up the Rose of Tralee statue in Town Park, by adding crochet, knitted and sewn pieces and the statues looked very fetching in their new ensemble.
This year’s Voluntary Arts Week will take place from May 9-18. To find out more visit www.voluntaryartsweek.org
TIRC Craft Group meets every Monday evening from 7:30 pm – 9:30pm in in Tralee International Resource Centre,
13 – 14 St Patrick’s Bungalows, Boherbee, Tralee, Co. Kerry; Phone: 066 71 27918 / 087 982 2983.
Everyone welcome!
SCIENCE projects ranging from increasing milk yields through cow-love to getting drunk on mouthwash were on show at the SciFest fair at the ITT on Thursday where students from all over Kerry took part.
SciFest is a series of one-day science fairs for second-level students hosted locally in schools and at regional level in the Institutes of Technology and there were nearly 40 projects up for judging at the fair.
We visited the college to find out more about the Tralee schools’ projects.
Faring best of the Tralee schools was Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai’s Laura Ni Eidhin who finished Runner-Up in the Best Project category for her ‘Sábhálacht ar ár mbothaire – Safety on our roads (A statistical analysis of driver knowledge)’ project.
“It’s about safe and fuel-efficient driving. I’m very interested in the environment and I was on the Green committee in my primary school so I decided to do a project on it,” said Laura.
Orla Ni Chonchuir of Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai did a project on the effects of wearing cheap flat shoes.
“I found that wearing flat shoes causes more pain and swollen ankles. You have a greater chance of hip, knee and back problems and of getting athletes foot,” said Orla.
A project from a Mercy Mounthawk student found that greater affection towards cows increases milk yields.
“Giving cows names has a big influence on the amount of milk they produce,” said Grace Egan, who lives on a farm in Ardfert.
“I tested the milk levels one group of cows, which I gave names to, every week for six weeks at evening milking time and compared them to another group over the same period. I found that the group with names’ milk yield went up by seven litres by the end of the period,” said Grace.
Aran Deely of Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai compared Mediterranean, Japanese and Irish diets and found that if Irish people took elements from these diets we’d he much healthier.
Mounthawk students Niall Marley and Tiernan Brosnan found that the alcohol in mouthwash is enough to make somebody fail the breathalyzer, within 20 minutes, when following the instructions from the bottle.
“It says to half-fill the cap and rinse for 30 seconds. Our subjects did that and within 20 minutes they failed the homemade breathalyser,” said Tiernan.
Fellow Mounthawk students Dorcas Oyewande and Busola Akintope did a project on the weight of schoolbags and their effect on students.
“We found that there’s no documented evidence to prove it has an effect on students’ backs but many believe that if the weight of the bag is over 20% of the student’s body weight it may cause future back problems,” said Dorcas.
Presentation students Hannah O’Connor and Aoife Sheehan did a project on the dangers of household products to children.
“We found that many people didn’t know what the hazard symbols on the bottle mean and that mixing these household products is dangerous,” said Aoife.
The girls decided to do the project after reading an article on how young children were eating liquitabs because they thought they were sweets.
SciFest has developed rapidly since its launch nationwide in 2008. In that year just over 1,600 students exhibited 680 projects. Five years later in 2013 over 2,300 students exhibited 941 projects at SciFest@School fairs while almost 3500 students exhibited their work at 15 SciFest@College events.
OVER €11m in funds left in the Town Council coffers will stay in the town, Tralee Town Council Management informed councillors at the May meeting on Tuesday evening.
Tralee Town Manager, Michael McMahon, said he has received assurances from Kerry County Council management, that these monies will remain for use in the town and were “ring-fenced” for projects in Tralee, despite the fact that the accounts will be merged with the Kerry County Council account after the abolition of the Town Council.
When asked by Cllr Ted Fitzgerald (FF) how sure he was of this ringfencing, Mr McMahon replied: “Everything is tagged for Tralee. Assurances have been given by the County Manager that these capital monies raised in Tralee will be spent in Tralee.”
The assurances were widely welcomed by councillors who were concerned that these funds would be spent in other parts of the county.
The councillors also praised how the management has handled the town’s finances over the years.
The Council’s capital account showed a credit balance of €11,085,936 on December 31, 2013.
THE issue of dangers to pedestrians at two busy Tralee roads was raised by two councillors at the May meeting of Tralee Town Council on Tuesday evening.
Cllr Johnnie Wall (Ind) put forward a motion that a pedestrian crossing be put in place on the Killerisk Road because of the level of traffic and the fact that it’s a very long stretch of road.
“There are a lot of elderly people living on that road and the only way they can cross safely is to got to the crossings at the end of the road near county buildings or way up at the supermarket towards Ballymullen – that’s about a mile apart,” said Cllr Wall, speaking to TraleeToday.ie after the meeting.
“There should be traffic calming measures and two pedestrian crossings put in place on the road ideally,” said Cllr Wall.
Cllr Norma Foley (FF) agreed that a crossing was needed and said she had brought up the matter at Kerry County Council.
Cllr Conor Foley (SF) brought up the issue of pedestrian safety on John Joe Sheehy Road, especially since the opening of the new Aldi store.
“People coming out from the Mitchels side at Champers can’t see the oncoming traffic due to the bend and it’s an accident waiting to happen,” he said.
Council management said the issue of pedestrian crossings in these areas will have to be looked at by Kerry County Council.
THE KERRY Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association are holding ‘A Night at the Dogs’ in The Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, on Saturday, May 31.
The association is run on a voluntary basis and their main aim is to assist persons who were born with Spina Bifida or Hydrocephalus in Kerry. They provide advice, guidance services and conferences for the medical and social needs of their members. All money raised from events and collections are spent on members in Kerry.
Tickets are priced at €10 per adult and children are free of charge. Tickets cover entry fee, race programme and entry into a cash draw, there will also be face painters, a bouncy castle and music following the races.
YOU COULD be forgiven for thinking aliens had landed on the Tralee to Killarney road at the weekend, but a far more likely explanation is that ‘Boy Racers’ have been making use of the area the way they know best.
These pictures were taken on the flyover just before the Currans/Ballyfinnane turn off on the N22 between Tralee and Farranfore and it’s believed the incidents took place on Friday and Saturday night.
The Killarney ‘Rally of the Lakes’ took place over the weekend so the Kerry roads would have seen an influx of budding motor enthusiasts some of whom, evidently, were itching to leave their mark on the Kingdom’s highways and byways.
Did you see the culprits in action? Email gavinoc@traleetoday.ie
NEARLY 50 people took part in this year’s Kerry Camino and the organisers deemed it a great success.
“Our three day guided walking festival on The Dingle Way was a great success,” said Adrienne McLoughlin, secretary of Kerry Camino. “Between 40 and 50 walkers of varying experience took part each day, some coming back to Tralee each evening and more staying in accommodation along the route,” she said.
Walkers were given an information pack in Tralee which included a Kerry Camino Booklet, passport to have stamped along the route and other tourism information. There was an option for walkers to join the Kerry Camino for one day if preferred.
On day one (Saturday) they left St. Johns Church, Tralee and followed the Dingle Way route via Blennerville and Tonevane to Lower Camp.
On Sunday they departed Lower Camp on Sunday, coming off the trail at Inch for a lunch-break at Sammy’s Cafe before continuing into Annascaul. The Ballinaclar Fair was in progress in Annascaul, which made for a lively and enjoyable finish to the second day, with buns, sausage rolls and mutton pies being sampled in Hanafin’s Bar and music enjoyed at The South Pole Inn.
OnMonday, the intermittent rain didn’t stop this enthusiastic bunch, who set off from Annascaul, continuing on The Dingle Way via Minard Castle, Lispole and on into Dingle.
The finish of The Kerry Camino was at St. James Church where certificates were presented to all who had completed the three days walking by Billy Nolan of the organising Kerry Camino group.
There was opportunity also to enjoy some of Feile na Bealtaine which was drawing to a close in Dingle, some refreshments in a local hostelry and then travelling back to Tralee on bus transport provided.
“A most enjoyable weekend for all, who thoroughly enjoyed the West Kerry scenery, meeting new friends and experiencing walking on The Dingle Way. They tell us they’ll certainly be back and will be telling their friends to do likewise!” said Adrienne.
For updates see their facebook page: www.facebook.com/KerryCamino, check out the website: www.kerrycamino.com or for more specific information send an email to info@kerrycamino.com
THERE was a steady stream of customers lining up at Eason’s in town on Monday afternoon for a book signing by Fionnbar Walsh.
The author was there to sign copies of ‘Donal’s Mountain’ which tells the story of his son Donal, the inspirational teenager who came to national attention last March with his anti-suicide message.
Donal passed away on May 12 last year and his father will be travelling the country in the next few weeks to sign copies in bookshops and to speak to students in 16 primary and secondary schools throughout the country.
IT’S hard to imagine being a political veteran at the age of 34, but looking at her record, it’s a description that could be applied to Toireasa Ferris.
A county councillor since 2003, the daughter of the Sinn Fein Deputy, Martin Ferris, has been a mainstay there since and has served as Mayor of Kerry during her stint in the local authority.
I met her at the Sinn Fein offices in Tralee where she was busy answering calls from constituents and preparing to head out on the canvass.
Educated in Ardfert National School and the Gaelcholaiste in Tralee, she went on to UL to study Law and European Studies. She then went to Queens University, Belfast where she did a Masters in Human Rights and Criminal Justice and next week she will be enrolling in UL again to do her Phd. (“I either do it now while my children are young or wait until they finish their education in about 15 years time”).
Was a political career always on the cards for Toireasa?
“Well there’s six of us in the family and I’m the only one involved in politics. So it’s not so much that it was inevitable, it’s just that I have an obvious interest in politics and having grown up in a Republican household, I was drawn to a Republican party. Obviously when my father got out of jail I became involved in electoral politics. I helped out in the 1997 campaign where we came very close, before success in 2002. Once I turned 16, myself and Conor Foley started a branch of Ogra Sinn Fein in Kerry and that’s when my real activism started.”
Then in 2003, with the dual mandate abolished and her father having to give up his local seat, the party came knocking.
“I was co-opted on to Kerry County Council in September 2003. It wasn’t something I envisaged or desired as it was the night before my second last final exam in UL and I got a call saying the party decided I was the best person to put forward to the council. It was a huge shock for me. I spent the night thinking ‘how am I going to tell my father that I do not want to do this’.”
But she relented and gave a year’s commitment.
“I said I’d go into the council and contest the local elections and then I’d get my life back but it’s now 11 years later and I’m still involved in electoral politics.”
Still there and facing into another election. So what does she feel are the major issues facing the Tralee electoral area (see video)
She has been surprised at the reaction on some doorsteps during the canvass.
“I have been stunned at some doors we have been gone to. The welcome we’re getting at some traditional Fianna Fail and Fine Gael households has been surprising. A number of households have told us they’ve chased other candidates from their doors. While it’s heartening, it doesn’t mean we’re going to be getting number ones from all these houses. We’ll certainly get preferences but it’s the extra ones which will determine whether we get the extra seat or hold onto what we have.”
While national issues are out of the hands of councillors, Toireasa said she is determined to try to reduce the property tax by 15%.
“We [Sinn Fein] have given a commitment that we’ll reduce it by 15%. I know another party has said they will do this also but I want people to judge them by their actions. Months ago I put forward a motion saying the Council should commit to reducing the property tax by the maximum of 15% and not one single member of the other parties supported it.”
She sees huge tourism potential for north Kerry which is untapped at the moment.
“The Wild Atlantic Way, if it’s done right, will give a huge opportunity to sell a countywide product. I’m involved with a group that is working with the St Brendan story where we can attract visitors interested in the religious aspect or the celtic angle and the Brendan The Voyager story. There’s huge potential inland too in Ratoo Tower and many medieval sites dotted around north Kerry.”
Politics is of course a time-consuming career, especially for someone with young children.
“It’s not a career conducive to a good quality family life regardless of whether you’re a mother or a father. There are other parents in Kerry County Council with young families, both male and female, and it is as hard for me as it is for any of them. But definitely for family life, entering into politics would not be the best idea. The time that’s involved, the exposure and lack of privacy for elected representatives.”
On the whole women in politics issue, she doesn’t support gender quotas.
“I support equal opportunity for all to get involved in electoral politics. I personally do not support gender quotas, I do not support discrimination of any kind when it comes to any position in life. It has to be based on ability rather than gender or anything else.”
When it comes to hobbies she says she has “a very dull and boring life”.
“I’m exceptionally lazy when it comes to sport or physical activity, I’ve tried the gym but no…I’ll eventually find my niche. Were it not for becoming involved in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ for Austin Stacks last year, I probably wouldn’t have much of a social life. Children, work, children, work,” she said referring to Liadain and Seadhna, her children with husband, Pa Kelly.
Being a councillor, Toireasa’s phone is always on and she gets calls into the night. Sometimes though it’s better to turn it off once in a while…
“I remember when I was having my first child and I had the phone with me to inform family of any developments. I got a phone call, that I stupidly answered, so I was having contractions and listening to somebody ranting about an issue she was having with the housing department.She was quite taken aback when I said ‘can I ring you back in a few days, I’m going into the labour ward shortly’. That was my own fault though, I shouldn’t have answered the phone.”
THERE have been four reported suicides in south Kerry since Donal Walsh came to national prominence in March 2013, down from 28 on the previous 12 months.
The figures came from South Kerry Coroner, Terence Casey, who told Donal’s father, Fionnbar, when he met him in Killarney on Thursday. Mr Walsh revealed the figures in a speech to students in the CBS The Green gym on Friday when the Cycle Against Suicide participants paid a visit to the school.
The cyclists were completing the Donal Walsh Memorial leg of the cycle, named after the anti-suicide campaigner who took part in a similar cycle fundraiser two years ago.
The coroner told Mr Walsh that since Donal appeared on Radio Kerry’s ‘Kerry Today’ programme in March 2013 to receive a local hero award, there have been four reported suicides in the south Kerry area.
This is a drop of 24 from the 28 reported in the 12 months prior to that interview. (see video)
Mr Casey has spoken in the past of the effect Donal Walsh has had on young people and his influence in preventing them from taking their own lives, since the Tralee teenager came to national prominence in the months prior to his death.
Mr Walsh will be signing copies of his book, ‘Donal’s Mountain’ at First Chapter bookshop in the Manor West Retail Centre on Sunday from 2-4pm.
OVER 300 cyclists rolled into CBS The Green on Friday afternoon for the Donal Walsh Memorial leg of the nationwide Cycle Against Suicide.
The students and staff of CBS were joined by Labour Deputy AJ Spring, local councillors, well-wishers, and students representing other schools from the town, who gave them a rousing guard of honour as they arrived after making the journey from Killarney that morning.
The cyclists were treated to refreshments before they all congregated in the school gym with the students where there was a great atmosphere (see video).
The main organiser of the cycle, Jim Breen of Pulselearning at the Kerry Technology Park, was MC in the gym and gave a talk on how students should always seek help from family, friends and youth groups if they are feeling suicidal or depressed.
He also paid tribute to Donal Walsh and the immense impact he made on people in his short life.
“One young man has done more to prevent suicide on the island of Ireland than anybody else in Irish history. Today is a celebration of Donal’s zest for life and I am so proud that we’re doing this today,” said Mr Breen.
He interviewed students and teachers from the school and also spoke to local taxi driver, Kevin Finn, who has been taking part in the cycle around the country. Kevin informed the audience that he was 18 stone this time last year, but since he has been cycling in the past year he is down to just under 15 stone.
Fionnbar Walsh then spoke to the crowd, beginning by reading Donal’s now famous letter which brought him to national attention. He went on to recall visiting the school soon after his son’s passing and also reiterated Donal’s anti-suicide message and asked those who are feeling depressed to seek help from family and friends. (see excerpt from Fionnbar’s talk in this video)
The cyclists then got back on the road for the next leg which finished in Newcastlewest on Friday evening. The cycle finishes in Dublin next Sunday.
THE machine keeps on going. Another election, another new Spring on the ticket for Labour.
It’s a name synonymous with Kerry (and national) politics and Graham Spring says he is determined to give his all to try to emulate the achievements of his grandfather Dan, uncle Dick, aunt Maeve and brother Arthur.
But Graham’s journey to where I meet him, in the Labour Party HQ in Rock Street, has been a roundabout one: from professional golfer to candidate for Kerry County Council.
Educated at CBS primary and secondary in town, Graham left Ireland on a scholarship to the University of West Florida.
“I went there for five years on an athletics’ scholarship. I studied business administration and played on the golf team there.”
Golf has played a big part in Graham’s life over the years.
“I started golf from about the age of seven. I played other sports too, football, basketball, hurling but I made the decision in my teens to pursue the golf.”
Graham spent five years studying in Florida.
“I came home and played for the Irish amateur team after that and then I turned professional. I moved abroad a lot and played for four years until 2000.”
“I suppose the highlight was qualifying for the British Open in 1998. I got to a good enough level but injuries just kept putting me off,” he said.
He decided to retire from the game in 2000.
“It was very disappointing. I was gradually improving every year and then around 1999 I was hit with continuous injuries. I tried it for another year but I realised I couldn’t go any further with it.”
Graham worked for a while for a company developing software for golf but when the dotcom bubble burst in 2002 that employment ended. He then spent some years in Qatar out in the Middle East in corporate hospitality and working for the Olympic committee.
But home beckoned and Graham and his wife Carmel (O’Connell from Lixnaw, whom he married in 2005) came back and settled in Tralee in 2007, working for an insurance company.
Graham would be drawn back into the ‘family business’ when his brother Arthur asked him to help out in, first, his 2009 local election campaign and then his general election bid in 2011.
He has been working for his brother since from the Labour party office in Rock Street.
So was he always drawn to politics considering his family background?
“I suppose I’ve always been drawn to it, but over time I’ve had other priorities and that would be making a living. Sometimes I’ve had to go abroad to do that so I couldn’t really get involved in politics. But I’ve always been around it. I remember helping out as a child back in the early 80s putting letters into envelopes in Union Hall next door for my uncle. I’ve always had a deep interest in politics,” he said.
So while he is used to canvassing for his uncle and brother down the years it’s pretty different when you’re asking for votes for yourself.
“It’s different alright! First of all there’s a lot more pressure. You’re the man on the posters putting yourself forward. I find that when you’re canvassing [for someone else] you can switch off for a while, but when you’re the candidate you’re always going. There’s a lot more responsibility and my goal is to meet as many people as I can. I’m going to give this my best shot and keep going until the election.”
So what’s the reception like on the door?
“It’s been good. Employment in Tralee is the main issue along with the economic recovery and how long it’ll take. But people realise we’re local politicians and they bring up local issues. People are more concerned about Tralee and the surrounding area,” he said.
For Graham, the ITT and technology park is the key for getting more jobs for the town.
“There’s a huge amount of jobs up there and some great companies with the potential to grow. We also need to get confidence back in the retail sector, making sure the rates are competitive for local businesses. I think the announcement last week of Kerry being entitled to the maximum regional aid grants will be of assistance. We mightn’t see immediate benefit but we’re now on a level playing field. That’s something we’ve been working on here in the office for a while.”
With Tralee riding high in tourism at the moment, Graham feels we can capitalise on this industry.
“With Labour’s involvement in government, we saw a reduction in VAT and the abolishment of the travel tax. It’s very important to retain the PSO route from Kerry to Dublin, especially when we have so many foreign students at the ITT using the service.”
He praised the business and community groups for their efforts to better the town over the past few years.
“The efforts by the Tralee Chamber Alliance and the Tidy Towns has been great and shown results. We’ve got some fantastic facilities around us here.”
When he’s not on the canvass he spends as much time as possible with his wife Carmel and three children Daniel, Sinead and Ciara and snatching a glance at the sport on TV when he can.
The former John Mitchels player only plays golf occasionally now but still enjoys it.
So finally, does that Spring name bring advantages to the campaign and does he feel pressure because of it?
“It can help. I’ve been out canvassing with Dick and he’s so well known having helped so many people in the past. Is there pressure to succeed? Well trying to emulate their success brings great challenges and that comes from hard work. Being involved down the years I knew what was in store for me.”