SUPER-STYLISH ladies from all over the county came to Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday for the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show in aid of the Recovery Haven.
The event was organised by Margaret Brick of Connexions Marketing, in support of Recovery Haven Cancer Support House in Tralee and was hosted by Orlagh Winters.
“It was a fantastic day,” said Margaret Brick. “We had a champagne reception followed by a four-course lunch and a fashion show featuring clothes from Kerry’s top boutiques,” continued Margaret, who said over 140 people attended.
The fashion show was put on by Upfront PR & Model Management and Ray Stack Productions, while there were goodie bags for every guest and an after-party until late.
A prize of a Christmas tree from Winters Display worth €1,000 was was won by Gillian Maher.
Ballyheigue lady, Magdalen Gentlemen, took home the prize for Best Dressed Lady (judged by Olivia Wall and Claire Murphy) while Michelle O’Hara won Best Hair.
“The whole event was well supported and the hotel put on a great show too,” said Margaret.
Scroll Down For Photos From The Event
Patricia O’Grady, Helen Costello and Alison Moran, Tralee at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Sarah Corridon, Caroline Corridon and Eileen Stack, Ballyheigue at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Fiona Barry, Diane Jeffers and Maria Guthrie, Tralee at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Kay Keane, Elaine Casey, Betty Healy and Mary Diggin at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Grace O’Connor, In Style Boutique, Castleisland and Mary Shanahan, La Femme, Castleisland at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Breda Nolan, Denise Crean and Kay Crean, Tralee, at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Rosa O’Shea, Kenmare and Sandra Kearney, Tralee, at the Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Afternoon in aid of the Recovery Haven at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Bang! We are back! The Dingle Way Challenge 2014 will take place on Sunday 1st June. This year we will bus you back to thevillage of Cloghane on the foothills of the famous Mount Brandon. From there you will walk 55km along some of the most stunning scenery in the world through Castlegregory and around the famous Maherees Peninsula back to Blennerville where we will have a big party. This challenge is very different to last year in that much of it is on stunning beaches.
You will walk on Ireland’s longest beach which will take your breath away. Registration this year will be online and you can do so by logging onto to the Dingle Way Challenge page on www.stpatsblennerville.com. Coiste na nOg is busy organising the family section of the Dingle Way Challenge. June 1st is fast approaching and any help would be greatly appreciated. For further details, please contact Mary Wallace.
Juvenile Academy:
We had another great turnout last Sunday morning in the juvenile academy. In the u6’s we saw Robert O’Shea, Leah Kelliher and Keelin Reidy putting in a great effort in the warm ups and drills. In the u8’s, Diarmuid Wuagh, Grainne Breen and Kayla O’ Connor showed some great skill and determination.
While in the u10’s Roisin Griffin, Ali Lynch and Jake Foley gave it 100% showing superb ball skills and accuracy. Juvenile training continues next week at 10.30am. U10’s have a blitz at home starting at 11 o’clock and to be at the field at the usual time of 10.30. On Sunday 4th of May the u8’s have a blitz at home.
Under 12’s:
Our u12’s displayed another great game of football last Sunday evening away to Knocknagoshel. Unfortunately we didn’t come away with a win but we saw some fantastic football played with every player giving their best throughout the field. Daniel Moriarty making some great saves in goals and our backs Michael Doody, Mikee Healy, Danny Greaney, Matthew Quilter and Jack Walsh were well on top of their game and cleared several balls.
Midfield Niall McCarthy and Tomas O’ Sullivan secured alot of possession and left the ball into forwards Jade Harkins, Liam O’ Sullivan, Martin Laucher, Cormac Lynch, Oisin Tobin and Dylan Griffin who took their scores well.
We saw some very fancy and stylish goals by Matthew Quilter, Cormac Lynch, Danny Greaney, Martin Laucher and Tomas O’ Sullivan and some lovely points by Niall McCarthy, Jade Harkin, Tomas O’ Sullivan, Danny Greaney and Martin Laucher. U12’s have a bye in the next round. We are scheduled to play Asdee/ Ballylongford at home on Sunday 11th of May at 6 o’clock.
Under 16’s
Our U16’s were beaten by a very strong Churchill side last Monday night at home. Short of numbers and alot of players injured at the moment we were unable to show our full potential.
But best for St Pats on the night had to be Brian Murphy and Joe O’Connor who gave it 100% from start to finish. Also, get well soon to Kieran Dwyer who dislocated his shoulder during the game. The semi final is due to be played away from home next Thursday. Details to follow.
Senior Team
After a weekend off, our senior team are back in county league action this Saturday evening where they travel to Killarney to take on Spa. Throw in is at 7pm.
The fixture was originally scheduled for the following weekend but it has been brought forward to this weekend due to a change in date of Spa’s intermediate championship fixture. We currently lie at the foot of the table and badly need to pick up two points so we ask as many members as possible to travel and support the team.
St Brendan’s N.S. Blennerville:
The school is raising money in a bid to purchase 30 lap-top computers, so that each child in the school will have access to I.T. The Parent’s Association have organised a novel idea, having gotten the idea from Principal Terry O’Sullivan.
Two thousand envelopes are sealed with a number from 0001 (1c)- to 2000 (€20) hidden inside. Before opening an envelope, those donating must agree to commit to paying whatever amount is inside, be it little or large in the knowledge it will not surpass €20.
The donor is asked to pay the number equivalent in cent, so 1345 would mean a €13.45 commitment. We realise we are asking a lot of people but it is a ‘once off’, big effort, that we hope the school families and community will back, as it is a huge investment in the children’s education.
These computers will move with us to the new school building in September 2015, where we will have designated computer areas.
There is an incentive for those donating, in that, everyone who contributes, has their name entered into a draw for €1,000 cash. We hope to have all envelopes sold by the start of May, so if you are offered one, please consider helping us.
Finally, the Bag2School collection date of second hand clothes, towels, blankets, soft toys, shoes, belts will be on 27th May 2014 between 1:30-2:30pm. All clothes are very welcome, once they are brought to us in large plastic bags.
Lotto:
There was no winner of last week’s jackpot of €10,300. The numbers drawn were 05, 12, 14 & 26. The five €30 consolation prizes went to Mary Morgan, Derryquay; Mary O’Donoghue, Deelis, Camp; Elsie Healy c/o Tony Casey; Luke McNamee, Cloghers & Mary O’Brien, Curagraigue.
Next week’s jackpot will be €10,400 and the draw will take place next Sunday night May 4th at 10pm in O’Dwyer’s Bar.Tickets available from usual outlets or any committee member. If you’re not in, you cannot win!!!
Blennerville/Ballyard Community Games:
A date for your calendar, Blennerville/Ballyard community games Athletics competition will take place in St. Pat’s GAA pitch, Blennerville, on Thursday evening May 22nd at 6.30. Check out our Facebook page for further updates and information on www.facebook.com/Blennervilleballyardcg.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Jim Enright and Denise Moynihan who have recently announced their engagement. Congrats also to our neighbours Churchill whose Quiz team were crowned All-Ireland Quiz Champions on Saturday last in All Ireland Scor held in Castlebar.
Music Group
Our music group are practicing regularly. New members are very welcome. For more info, please contact Mary Wallace.
Sympathy
The club would also like to extend its sympathy to the families and relatives of Tom Naughton, St Brendan’s Park. May he Rest In Peace.
HUNDREDS of music lovers enjoyed the best of entertainment from young performers at the weekend when Oliver Hurley’s School of Musical Theatre staged ‘Time For The Music’ in Siamsa Tire.
The production was months in the making and featured children of all ages.
There were three shows – one on Saturday night, a matinee show on Sunday and an evening performance. Overall 150 performers took part.
Oliver Hurley said the show’s were received “very well” and they got “a standing ovation each night”.
He added the nights were “a great opportunity for the kids to perform at Siamsa”. Over the three nights they showcased pieces from world renowned musicals such as ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘The Wiz’ and ‘Frozen’.
Oliver said the shows enjoyed “80% occupancy”.
As this was the end of their term, the next show will be ‘Aladdin’ for the annual Christmas Panto.
Scroll Down For Photos From The Opening Night
Part of the cast of the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanNigel and Mary Crowe with Julianne Coen (front) at the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanPart of the cast of the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanJohn Smith with Nia Kirby (left) and Tara Smith at the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanElaine Boyle and Caroline Kelly, Tralee at the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanHelping out with the programmes at the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night were Aileen Riordan, Grace Stack, Darina Stack and (in front) Laura Riordan. Photo by Dermot CreanKay O’Connor, Old Golf Links, Aoibhinn Sookarry and Sinead O’Connor, Tralee at the Oliver Hurley School of Musical Theatre’s ‘Time For The Music’ at Siamsa Tire on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
DESPITE the bad weather on Saturday, volunteers came together on three of Kerry’s beaches to join in on the ‘Beach Blitz’ and help clean up Banna Beach, Maherabeg Cut and Blennerville.
A fantastic effort was made by all those who braved the elements. A total of 24 people turned up and gave just one hour of their time and removed over 43 bags of litter from the three locations.
On Banna, the storms threw up vast amounts of small pieces of plastic entangled in dead grass into the dunes. Although 25 bags of litter, almost entirely made up of plastics, were collected off the dunes, there is still a huge amount to be removed!
In Blennerville, eight volunteers filled eight full bags, plus a tonne bag with scrap metal, carpets etc. plus the remnants of a fire heap. Sadly, the majority of the litter was from illegal dumping rather than marine litter, ranging from household rubbish to electrical appliances and an old garden bench.
Some of the volunteers taking part in the clean-up of beaches over the weekend.
In the Maharees, four volunteers collected 10 bags from Maherabeg Cut (the Dumps). However, this is only part of the story as there has been more clean ups than you can shake a stick at over the last few weeks. Groups have been cleaning up around Spillanes, Stoney Gap, Kilshannig and the Warren. According to Peter Green there is ‘still much to do, but overall there has been a huge response from locals’.
Rachel Boyle of Banna Coastcare added: “The litter we remove from the coast is not representative of the full load of marine litter in the environment. In fact, some say it only represents approximately 15% the remainder is on the seabed and floating in the water column.”
“It’s always disappointing to see litter washed up on to our beautiful beaches but it’s fantastic when you see people coming together, young and old, and giving up their time to care for our coastline,” said Rachel.
The clean-ups were organised by Rachel Boyle (Banna Coastcare) Peter Green and Rose Spillane (Maharees Coast Care) David McCormick (Tralee Bay Wetlands Coastcare) and Niall Harkin (Blennerville Bay Clean).
Kerry County Council supported the event by removing all the bags collected. The ‘Beach Blitz’ is an annual event organised in conjunction with Kerry County Council.
The ‘Beach Blitz’ offered a chance to highlight Clean Coasts Week which will run from the 9th to the 18th of May. For further information go to www.cleancoastsweek.ie or phone 014002210.
Volunteers involved in the clean-up at the weekend.
U6/8/10 Training for this age group continues in Healy Park on Saturdays at 11am.
U8/10 Girls Our U8/10 girls trained as usual on Saturday last. These girls are a joy to watch as their skill level continues to improve every week and they are in preparation for the many blitzes they are due to play in shortly.
U12s U12s train in Healy Park Ballyrickard on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4pm. Gum shields have to be worn by each player.
U14s U14 had their Gaeltacht game postponed. New fixtures will be posted on Facebook.
U16s U16s played Dingle on Monday evening last in Strand Road in their last round game in the Central League. They had a convincing win and go on to play Laune Rangers in the Semi-Final in Strand Road. Report next week.
Senior Football
Credit Union Co League Rd 1 Back Game Kerins O Rahillys 3-12 Currow 0-10
Played at the Currow pitch last Saturday evening this was a back game for both clubs. Conditions were tough for both teams with a constant downpour of rain leading to greasy conditions with a lot of players sliding throughout the game.
Though Currow were the first to score with a point, Strand Road dominated the middle with David Moran and John C O’Connor getting good possession and setting up the attacks. We had our first point from Jack Savage followed by a well taken goal by Barry John Keane.
Points by Keane and the impressive Declan Quill had us ahead by 1-03 to Currow 0-01 at the tenth minute. A great run by David Moran through the middle who set up Declan Quill who put a low ground shot to the net increasing our lead.
A third goal by John Ferguson who cut in and a pile driver to the net left us ahead by 3-03 to Currow 0-04 at the 23rd minute. Two excellent points by Barry John Keane and Declan Quill left us ahead at half time by 3-06 to Currow 0-06.
We had the first point in the second half when Declan Quill put over the bar. Though Currow rallied great defending by Tommy Begley, Shane Brosnan, Ross O’Callaghan, Giles O’Grady and Martin Tierney kept scores at a minimum.
Further points by Declan Quill , Barry John Keane and the hardworking Kevin Walshe who had a great game throughout extended our lead by 3-11 to Currow 0-09 at the 55th minute. Two great saves by Garry Kissane when he stopped two certain goals and a final point by Jack Savage ensured a comfortable win.
Other players to impress were Andrew Thompson Kieran O’Mahoney, Cormac Coffey, Ronan Quill, Greg O’Connell and Kevin Mc Carthy.
Their next game is on Saturday next May 3rd in the Senior Club Championship against Legion in Killarney at7pm.
Minor Football
Minors played Dr Crokes in the Co League Semi-Final on Friday last in what were appalling conditions for both teams and supporters. Dr Crokes were convincing winners. Final score Kerins O’Rahillys 0-04 Dr Crokes 3-11.
Mouth-Guards: As you may be aware it will be compulsory for all players senior right down to juvenile to wear mouth-guards at training sessions and when playing games. This comes into effect for seniors from 1stJanuary 2014 and has been in effect for all others since last January.
If players fail to wear mouth guards they will not be permitted to participate in football training or matches. No mouthguard No game! Further information on this rule can be found online at http://www.gaa.ie.
Club Membership
Senior Committee will be in contact with you shortly about your 2014 membership. We will be asking that you consider putting your membership on direct debit to help cut down on administration. Please contact any committee member for details.
Ladies Football
Junior Ladies
Junior ladies played Austin Stacks on Sunday last and Austin Stacks were first off the mark when they scored a point after 5 minutes.
Kerins O’Rahillys/Abbeydorney followed quickly with a well taken free from Aoife Fitz which was followed by a Rachel O’Connor goal after a pass from Aoife. Another O’Connor goal was to come following a very intelligent pass from Catherine Sexton. A point from an Aoife Fitz free had us up 2-02 to 0-04 half way into the half.
Our mid field of Shauna Hanafin and Laura Collins were winning vital ball with great support from Naomi Reidy and Emma McCarthy. However Austin Stacks did not sit back and scored 3 unanswered goals to leave the score Kerins O’Rahillys/Abbeydorney 2-02 Austin Stacks 3-04 with only minutes left in the half.
Our girls didn’t give up and a great save by Nicola Horan and a well worked ball up the field to Rachel O’Connor resulted in her third goal of the day to leave the half time score Kerins O’Rahillys/Abbeydorney 3-02 to Austin Stacks 3-04.
Changes in the second half had Shannon McInerney come on for Natasha Regan and Oonagh O’Sullivan for Mckenzie Keane. Catherine Sexton took up an out field position. The half was a point for point affair our first coming from an Emma McCarthy free. Our backs Norma O’Connor, Ciara Neanan and Trease Moran were excellent but it was Naomi Reidy for her direction and Oonagh O’Sullivan for her solid full back performance kept us in the game.
Nicola Horan too pulled off some more great saves in the second half. Shauna Hanafin scored 2 points, Emma McCarthy 1 to leave the score Kerins O’Rahillys/Abbeydorney 3-06 to Austin Stacks 3-08 with 5 minutes to go. Chances were missed on both sides but a fine run and great passing led to a cracking goal by Laura Collins to put us a point up with only minutes left.
Austin Stacks equalised but we got the ball back up the field to Rachel O’Connor who scored a fine point. Score was 4-07 to 3-09 and we thought the game was ours but Austin Stacks put in one last effort with only seconds left and drew the game.
Final score was Kerins O’Rahillys/Abbeydorney 4-07 Austin Stacks 3-10.
U14/U16 Girls train in Healy Park Ballyrickard every Tuesday at 6.15.
U12 Girls U12 girls finished their Co League Phase 1 campaign with a home game on Tuesday last. They were defeated by Austin Stacks.
The girls showed great teamwork throughout the competition and it was great to see the improvement in players. Emma Sweeney showed grit and determination in Tuesday nights game that we knew lurked under the bubbly exterior.
Well done Emma. They now have a week off and then go back to finish off the North Kerry competition started before the County one.
Lotto
The Lotto takes place in Charlie’s Bar every Monday. The Lotto results for Monday the 21st of April were 16, 18, 19 and 24.
There was no jackpot winner; the next jackpot will be €4,800. There were 3 match 3 winners. They were: Cora Walsh DD, Peter Ronan DD and Martin Fitzpatrick c/o Ann. Five entrants for December draw were Mary Kerins c/o Dolly, Trevor Thomas c/o Fred, Peggy Carmody c/o Mrs O’Brien, Ray Walsh DD and Denis Murphy DD. To play the Kerins O’Rahillys Lotto, four numbers are selected from 1 to 28.
If anybody matches the four numbers selected on the night he/she wins the Jackpot. Match three numbers to win €25. Tickets cost €2 each.
The Kerins O’Rahillys Lotto can also be played online at www.korgaa.com
Lotto SellersThe club needs lotto ticket sellers. It can be worth your while. If you are interested contact any member of the Senior Committee.
Happy Birthday
Birthday wishes this week go to April O’Mahoney U10 girls, Gavin Burrows U12 Boys, Josh Hoare U10 Boys and Conall Foley U10 boys.
Charlie’s Bar
Club Lotto on takes place in the bar every Monday night with a special in house raffle if you are present so why not pop along.
Why not treat yourself to lunch in Charlie’s. There’s something to please everyone. Weightwatchers takes place in the Healy Room every Thursday and have now changed to “winter” times. Classes now take place at 9.30am, 12.30 and 5.30pm.
The Active Retired Coffee Morning Group meets everyTuesday morning in Charlie’s. Come along and keep in touch with old friends and make new friends.
All welcome. “Dance for Fun” is back! It takes place in the Bistro from 8-9.30pm every Wednesday. All welcome. We have many different size function rooms and cater to all types of function. Contact Tom or Eileen or any member of staff at 7124956 if you have any queries.
Card Drive
Attention card players there will be a “Whist drive” on Thursday the 1st in the club and the “45” card drive in club house on Friday the 2nd. Tables of 6. Bring a friend. All welcome.
Sympathies
Sincere Sympathy is expressed to the family of Paddy (Brock) Brophy (Paddy played for Kerins O’Rahillys and was always a Member and staunch supporter of the Club and was the proud holder of a 1957 Championship medal) O’Rahillys Villas Tralee, Tom Naughton St Brendan’s Park Tralee, Trevor Barrett Clogherbrien Tralee and Bríd Brosnan Milkmarket Lane Tralee. May they rest in Peace.
P.R.O Contact
If you have any thing you feel is of interest for the Kerins O’Rahillys notes please get in touch. You can contact me at pro.kerinsorahillys.kerry@gaa.ie. Why not join our Facebook group to keep up to date with all fixtures and what is going on in the club. Just follow the following link https://www.facebook.com/groups/Narries/
Kieran Donaghy could spend extended time on the sideline due to a suspected dislocated shoulder injury sustained during Austin Stacks first round Championship match against Milltown/Castlemaine yesterday.
The player was admitted to Tralee General hospital where he underwent a scan, the results of which should be known today.
This is yet another set back for the player who has spent time on the sidelines already this year due to a groin injury.
Donaghy came back last week from warm weather training with the Kerry team and it looks like he will now miss the entire Munster Championship campaign along with Club and County Championship matches with Austin Stacks.
General Information: Kerry School of Music head office in High St, Tralee is open six days a week- Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am-1pm. We can also can be contacted at 066 7125690, by email at kerrymusicschool@eircom.ie , on Facebook or by visiting our website at www.kerryschoolofmusic.com where regular updates and news on forthcoming events are provided. Please also check out KSM Dance Academy and Kerry ChamberChoir on Facebook.
Congratulations to Kerry School of Music Senior Orchestra who played ‘out of their socks’ before a packed St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Killarney on Wednesday last in a joint concert with an American High School String Orchestra. Such was the interest in the concert that the St. Mary’s staff had to close and secure the front door of the church and turn away up to a hundred patrons.
Easter Music Camp:
The Second Annual Easter Music Camp itook place duringthe second week of Easte with eighty five children taking part. The camp ran daily from Tuesday to Saturday, April 22nd to 26th. Through a range of activities centred on a familiar fairy tale, children from 4-12 were introduced to the entire family of instruments. They bowed, plucked, struck and banged their way through all instrument groups forming a ‘crash orchestra’ which accompanied the dramatisation of the tale of the Princess and the Frog. Song and dance and creative movement are also included.
Easter Concert- Music for Passiontide
St Mary’s Cathedral Choir and the Kerry Chamber Choir and Orchestra joined forces once again for a very special Easter concert in a packed St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Killarney on Saturday last, April 26th when they are joined by Soloists Grainne O’ Carrol, Soprano and Amanda Neri, Contralto in a performance of three of the most beautiful sacred choral works associated with Easter – Vivaldi Gloria, Pergolesi Stabat Mater and Vivaldi Stabat Mater.
This is the second joint venture for the two choirs who first collaborated last November in a choral evening to raise funds for Palliative Care.
The Chamber Choir will now turn its attention to a recording project. In late June they will record fourteen original sacred choral pieces by director Aidan O’ Carroll ranging from functional psalm settings to one complete mass setting and settings of the Ave Maria, Our Father and the Magnificat. The recording will be launched on the KSM label at a concert in September.
Best wishes to former KSM Musician of the Year and Killarney Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year, Doireann O’ Carroll who’s off to Great Britain this weekend to compete in the Rotary of Great Britain and Ireland Music Competition. She will be accompanied by Tralee Soprano Charlotte O’ Halloran who came third in this year’s competition.
May concerts:
Glorach, Abbeyfeale, Friday, May 9th, 8pm: Students from Castleisland, Abbeyfeale, Duagh and Brosna go through their paces and are joined by the KSM Senior Orchestra and Wind Band.
Flischmann Sturio, Kerry School of Music, Saturday, May 9tt, 7.30pm: International prize-winning pianist and KSM teacher Mantautas Katinas in concert on the Kerry County Steinway piano.
St. John’s Church of Ireland, Ashe St, Tralee, 8pm: Kerry School of Music Senior Orchestra goes Pop. An evening of pop classics ranging from the Beatles to Abba, Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson.
Dingle (venue to be announced): Dingle Centre music and ballet students perform with guests the KSM Senior Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.
Fleischmann Studio, Saturday, May 24th, 7.30pm: Multi-award winning Soprano Aisling O’ Carroll and guests in An Evening of Song.
Enrollment and exam month
May is enrollment and examination month at the School of Music. Individual students and families are asked to bring us up to date with their requirements for September by re-registering. Year-end examinations also commence with two weeks of Royal Irish Academy, Royal Academy of Dance and Leinster School of Speech and Drama examinations. The School’s four Guitar teachers have decided to organise the London College of Music/Registry of Guitar Teachers exams in October due to difficulties in acquiring texts.
Monster Bar-B-Q
Saturday, May 31st is the date set for the KSM Monster Bar-B-Q which is aiming to raise the matching funds to enable the School to draw down a €10,000 grant from the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht that will enable a complete replacement of the windows in the Fleischmann Studio wing of the School. Tickets go on sale on Monday, April 29th. A great day is promised with live music acts, children’s games, spot prizes and much more fun promised.
27th Annual Summer School
The Summer School takes place over two weeks in July and, likethe Easter Camp, introduces young people to the entire range of musical instruments through the medium of sing, dance, story-telling. visual art and drama. The Kerry School of Music Summer School has the distinction of being the longest established summer school in the county and has introduced thousands of children to the entire family of instruments.
The Lotto was held in Ballygarry House on Monday 21st April 2014. The jackpot was €11,700 and the numbers drawn were 10, 19,21,28. There was no winner.
Lucky Dip
1. Moss Crowe, Chutehall
2. Paudie Heffernan, Kielduff
3. Denis O Shea, Lisbeg, Tralee
4. Marie Shanahan, Kielduff
5. Tom Landers, c/o Tony Marshall
Sellers Prize : Maurice Leen
Lotto now stands at €11,800 and can be played on line at www.ballymacgaa.com
SENIORS
Our Senior team resume their Co. League campaign this weekend with a home game versus Lispole. Please check Facebook and Website for confirmation of time and date.
MINORS
Division 4 Co. League semi final Ballymac 1 – 7 – Moyvane/Tarbert 0 – 12. This game was played in Ballymacon Friday last in terrible weather conditions. The visitors played with the breeze in the first half and had six points on the board before Ballymac registered a score. All the visitors scores were from play. Ballymac score game in the 11th minute with a point from a free from Christy Leen. Moyvane/Tarbert scored three more points before the interval. Ballymac added three more points from Micheal Reidy, Thomas O Connor and a free from Christy Leen leaving the half time score Ballymac 0 – 4 Moyvane/Tarbert 0 – 9.
The visitors started the second half with a point in the first minute and followed this with another in the third minute. This left the margin at 7 points. A goal from Vincent Horan in the 6th minute followed by a point by the same player reduced the deficit. Two more points by Gerard Browne and Christy Leen left the minimum between the teams with 8 minutes to go. Moyvane/Tarbert kicked the last score of the game to give them a two point victory. It was a great achievement by our lads to finish second in this group and with a bit of luck on the night could have qualified for the final.
Team : P O Connor, M Quirke, A Dunne, E Lyons, S Savage, S Doyle, T O Connor, G Browne, C Lonergan, M Reidy, C Leen, V Horan, N O Sullivan, S Birmingham, C Brosnan, Subs: R O Dowd, D Long.
This team play Na Gaeil in the Shield Final of Coiste Tra Li on this Friday evening. Check Facebook and website for further details.
FAOI 16: Ballymac 2-16 Annascaul/Lispole 0-12.Played Easter Monday our boys played some superb football on the night and came away with a great win. Ballymac 2-04 Castleisland Desmonds 2-04: Last Sunday morning our U16’s played their last game in Central Region and with a hard fought draw on the day they have qualified for the semi final. This was a tough game of football and great credit must be given to the lads for the huge effort they put in. As all games in Divison 2 of the Central Region have not been finished yet, we are still not sure who we are playing in the semi finals this coming weekend. Check web-site for more details
FAOI 14:ST SENANS 4-3 BALLYMAC 1-3
We travelled to Mountcoal last Wednesday evening to play St Senans in our fourth County League game. It was an unusually low scoring first half, the first point coming from Senans after ten minutes. We found it very difficult to move the ball beyond midfield and so our defence,( in which Cian Godley, Tadhg Brick and Darragh Leen were in fine form) were under constant pressure. Senans goaled just before half time and we were five points down at the break.
Diarmuid Lynch gave us hope early in the second half with a well taken goal. The next ten minutes belonged to the opposition with Senans scoring another 2-1. Josh , David Nolan and Cathal were driving forward but scores were hard to come by. Points were scored by Daire Keane (2) and Diarmuid (1) but Senans went up field and again goaled to seal victory. It was great to see so many people travel to support us and hopefully when we have everyone injury free we will have more to cheer about. Our final County League game is at home to Kenmare this Wednesday evening.
TEAM & SCORERS: K Lenihan, C Godley, T Brick, D Leen, C Nolan, C Dunne, C Gallagher, J O’Keeffe, D Nolan, J Carmody, D Keane,(0-2) D Lynch, D McHugh, B Lonergan, D Lynch (1-1).
FAOI 12: U12 Gold Team Ballymac 5-07 Glenflesk 3-06
Played last Sunday evening at home in wonderful sunshine the boys put in a great performance and came out on top in a well deserved victory. We are away to Currow in Rd. 4 next Sunday at 6pm.
ACADEMY: U10 :Week one of the U10’s Go Games Castleisland District Board blitz takes place this Fridaynight at 7pm and will be hosted by Castleisland Desmonds. All players please be at Castleisland pitch for6.45pm. The U10 girls displayed some great skill at training on Sunday morning. Well done to Lorna Daly, Emma Leen, Ciara Palmer and Grainne Galvin.
U10 Boys: Our under 10 boys continue to improve their skills every week. Those to impress last weekend were Aidan Horgan, Diarmuid Galvin, Michael Prendergast, Luke O Connell, Jared O Brien and Mark O Connor.
U8 Boys: Those to impress with the U8’s with their skills were Thomas Leen, Micheal Savage, Tom Long and Jamie Burke.
U6 Boys: Paddy Lucid, Sam Boyle, Cian Gilroy, Conor Lynch, Daniel Creagh and Sean Martin impressed with their skills.
Quote of the Week: ‘Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t’
Wedding Bells
The Club would like to congratulate Keith Roche and his Bride Audrey O Connell on their wedding last weekend and wish them health & happiness in their future.
Clothes Recycling Days
Ballymacelligott GAA club is organising a clothing recycling drive on Sunday May 4th, Sunday 11th May and Saturday 17th May from 11.00pm to 12.30pm in Ballymacelligott GAA Ground.
The Club would be very grateful if you could support this fundraiser. The funds generated will be used to upgrade our Juvenile pitch & towards the upkeep of all our facilities in Ballymac GAA.
all your clean unwanted clothes, bedlinen, towels and textiles
including shoes, bags and belts and soft toys
mobile phones are accepted -but please keep separate from clothes & textiles
books are accepted but no school books (text or copy),
no magazines or diaries.
no household bric-a-brac
unfortunately we cannot accept • dirty or wet clothing • mats • carpets • duvets . Thank you for your support.
Parish Entertainment Night
Kielduff Community was packed to capacity on Sunday evening last for a superb nights entertainment provided by very talented people from the Parish. Singers, dancers, story tellers, musicians and comedians were amongst the many performers which kept the crowd enthralled for over two hours. Huge credit is due to all who performed along with the organisers for the staging of this highly successful event.
Action From The Austin Stacks v Milltown/Castlemaine Championship match in Connolly Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Austin Stacks 0-11
Milltown/Castemaine 1-08
By Gavin O’Connor
EXTRA TIME was needed but it still couldn’t decide a winner between Austin Stacks and Milltown/Castemaine in this scrappy and sometimes ill-tempered Championship encounter.
Connolly Park was bathed in sunshine for the 2.30 throw-in, the ground was hard allowing for perfect conditions.
The opening exchanges set the tone for the game with both sides giving up possession to one another at a frantic pace.
The first chance of the game fell to Milltown/Castemaine midfielder Brendan Delaney who found himself inside the Stacks square with just the keeper to beat. The goal was on, but he scuffed his shot and the ball trickled wide.
The first score came in the 10th minute when Daniel Bohan showed terrific leadership to make a surging run down the left and play the ball to David Mannix who without hesitation kicked the ball off his right boot and over the bar.
The game at this point was marked by quite a few blocks from either side. The club championship buzz was in the air, neither team wanted to lose this.
On 15 minutes Stacks had a very promising goal chance, Shane O’Callaghan getting on the end of a pass from a driving run by Greg Horan from midfield, but O’Callaghan’s tame effort was snuffed out and Milltown/Castemaine breathed a sigh of relief.
Horan orchestrated the next score for Stacks, Denis McElligott this time capitalizing on the wing forward’s good play and making it count for The Rock.
Though the game was low scoring it was fiercely competitive, a standout performer for Milltown/Castemaine was Pa Wren who made some fantastic surges up the field from wing back.
It wasn’t long before Stacks got another; Fiachna Mangan this time taking on the Milltown/Castlemaine defence which resulted in him being hauled down 15 meters in front of goal. A free was awarded which Shane Carroll slotted over.
The score was now 0-3 to no score after 20 minutes, Milltown/Castemaine still to register.
The first half was highlighted by numerous missed chances and wasted possession by Milltown/Castlemaine, but they finally got themselves on the scoreboard in the 26th minute when Derek Twiss pointed nicely from a free 30 yards out on the right-hand side.
Twiss was the only Milltown/Castlemaine forward who looked like scoring and it was him who pulled the Mid Kerry men to within a point of Stacks when he swept over another score from the same side though this time from play.
Stacks then replied with a point by Shane O’Callaghan, but Twiss was back at them again this time curling over one of the points of the game, a high shot 40 yards out which bounced off the crossbar and over.
That was the last score of the half which finished 0-4 to 0-3 to Stacks.
The second half started with the sides exchanging points both from frees. Shane O’Callaghan striking over first for Stacks and for Milltown/Castlemain Derek Twiss who was still their only scorer.
The game was beginning to boil over, The Rockies were not enjoying being put off their stride by a determined Milltown/Castlemaine.
Niall Colgan for Milltown Castlemaine and Willliam Kirby for Stacks who replaced Wayne Guthrie in midfield both saw yellow for their troubles.
With the scores 0-5 to 0-4 to Stacks with 20 minutes remaining, Milltown/Castlemaine upped the intrigue of this game when they struck for a goal and it was that man again, Derek Twiss, who was Stacks’ tormentor.
Twiss got onto a dropped catch by Stacks goalkeeper Jonathon Conway and made no mistake in prodding the ball to the net.
Milltown/Castlemaine were in front for the first time in the match which heralded a few nervous glances from the Rockie faithful in Connnolly Park.
Directly after the goal, Kieran Donaghy entered the fray, the Inter County man just fresh from warm weather training with the Kerry team in Portugal.
Stacks responded well, their midfielder and captain Barry Shanahan scored from the next attack to bring them within two points.
The game now at a frantic pace with both teams’ benches failing to keep themselves outside the touchline, Pa Wren got an excellent point for the mid-Kerry side, the defender storming through midfield to restore his sides three point advantage.
But Milltown/Castlemaine were beginning to lose their discipline slightly, in the 48th minute centre-half back Shane Murphy gave away a silly free in front of goal which Shane Carroll duly slotted over. A minute later it was the full-forward Carroll again who knocked over a sweet effort on the left side to pull the Stacks to within a point.
Milltown/Castlemaine responded from the boot of Twiss who put his side in front yet again, the score now 0-8 to 1-6 with 10 minutes remaining.
A big blow then came for Stacks. With nine minutes to go, Donaghy was forced to come off, he left the pitch in some discomfort clutching his right arm. The former player of the year only seeing a mere eight minutes of action.
William Kirby was now beginning to impose himself on the game. He intercepted a Milltown/Castlemaine free that set up the equalizing score which was put over by substitute Mickey Collins with three minutes to go.
Both sides mounted attempts to grasp the winner but at full-time it finished all square. Extra time loomed with both teams feeling the effects of a bruising encounter.
Stacks flew out of the traps right at the start of the first period of extra time, first Shane Carroll pointing and then a minute later Shane O’Callahan notched his third score of the day to put his side two ahead.
You felt at this point that Stacks bigger squad would give them a great platform to push on, but Milltown/Castemaine were unbowed and fought exceptionally hard to win two frees which Twiss put over to square things up once again.
Right at the end of the half, Stacks were awarded a penalty, if they scored it could have put it beyond Milltown/Castlemaine.
Wing back Pa McCarthy stepped up, but his powerful shot hit the butt of the post and the sides finished the first period level.
A great opportunity to win the game missed.
The second period of extra time began with the scores 0-11 to 1-08 and that’s how it finished, but the half was not without incident.
With three minutes remaining, O’Callaghan kicked in a long dangerous ball into the Milltown/Castemaine square. Under huge pressure, goalkeeper Joe Daly caught the ball impressively just about keeping the ball in front of the line.
The referee blew the final whistle as soon as the allocated time was up. He could have allowed a couple of minutes of added time at least, but a draw was a fair result.
The game, although low scoring, was tense and tenacious throughout, both sides will be feeling the effects of extra time. After 80 minutes of football they’ll have to do it all again.
Teams: Austin Stacks: Jonathon Conway, Ronan Shanahan, Ferghal McNamara, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy, Daniel Bohan, Conor Jordon, Barry Shanahan, Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan, Denis McElligott, Fiachna Mangan, David Mannix, Shane Carroll, Shane O’Callaghan.
Scorers: Shane Carroll (0-4) Shane O’Callaghan (0-3) Mickey Collins (0-1) Barry Shanahan (0-1) Denis McElligott (0-1) David Mannix (0-1)
Subs: Barry Galvin, Ciaran O’Connell, Brian Mangan, Darragh O’Brian, Eoin McKivergan, Mikey Collins, Alan Duggen, Joe O’Kelly, Seamus Bastible, William Kirby, Barry Walsh, Alan Crean, David O’Sullivan, Paul Galvin, Tom McLoughlin, Nicholas Gogarty, Darren Tiernan, Dale Counihan, Theo Diggin, Eoin Colgan, Shane Crowley, Padraig Lynch, Ciaran Flanagan, Eamonn McAllen, Paul Barrett, Michael O’Donnell, Darragh Long
Milltown/Castlemaine: Joe Daly, Niall Colgan, Damian Murphy, John Blennerhassett, Pa Wren, Shane Murphy, Mike Quirke, Mike Burke Brendan Delaney, Jonathon O’Sullivan, Marcus Mangan, Cathal Moriarty, Derek Twiss, Donal Kelliher, Paul Carroll
SUBS: Kevin Tangney, Jerimiah Hayes, David Roche, Mark Wrenn, Stephen Roche, Jack McCarthy, Alan Hickey, Donal Dennehy, Jonathon O’Connor, Nigel Wrenn, Colin McKenna
Mary O’Donnell and Olivia Wall who were judges at the Herbs And Roses Event last Thursday evening.
Olivia Wall and myself were invited to judges the Best Dressed Lady at the Herbs and Roses launch of the Elemis Brand at the Fels Point Hotel last Thursday. Given the number of beautifully turned out ladies it was a very tough decision. However Marguerite Trant was our choice and as manager of Oasis in Debenhams she clearly has an eye for style! (see more photos below)
Self Tanning is Safe Tanning
With the sun making a very welcome return at the weekend and the promise of more to follow more flesh is being exposed so it’s important to look after your skin… you can still have a healthy glow without damaging your skin. So here’s some information and advice on Tanning..
Ireland is now the biggest consumer of fake tan per capita on the planet.
Other countries have taco Thursday but we have tan Thursday, the day all of us milk bottles lock ourselves in the bathroom and emerge a bronze goddess for the weekend.
Seriously, Thursday is known as Tan Thursday in Ireland and the cosmetic companies love us for it.
Programmes like Tallafornia and TOWIE are adding to an epidemic here, which has us reduced to a Satsuma nation.
Teenagers voted fake tan the fifth greatest invention of the past 25 years. Those of us of a “certain age” as teenagers basted ourselves with oil and foil, like prize turkeys, so maybe today’s teenagers have it sussed.
Many photographers have a note on their website about some tans giving brides an orange hue in photos and there’s a lesson in that – in short go easy on the tan.
Most of us have Fitzpatrick skin type 1, which means we have light, pale white skin that always burns and never tans and maybe it is there that lies the problem – we want something we cannot have.
Pale and interesting does not seem to cut it for us, even with ambassadors among some of the world’s most beautiful women, such as Nicole Kidman, Katy Perry and Dita Von Tesse.
So what is it about the tan that attracts us? Firstly, tans are great for camouflage – from stretch marks to cellulite.
We feel more confident and apparently look slimmer with a tan, so we just need a few tips to get it right and not end up looking like an extra from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Preparation is key – patchy dry skin won’t respond to tan.
Moisturise every day when you step out of the shower or before you hit the sack. If you are looking for a good body moisturiser, I love products of Limerick company Nia meaning radiance.
Siog is the intensive range with rose, neroli, jasmine, and frankincense. If your skin needs some TLC after the winter this is the one for you at €14.95 and it will last for ages.
Exfoliate a few days before you apply your tan. Soap and Glory do ‘Some Like it Hot’, which heats up when you apply it and leaves the skin amazingly soft.
Also the Body Shop does a great mango scrub and the Dermalogica scrub smells especially nice. Karora has smooth operator micro-peel €14.99 and it gives a really great peel. A back brush is great for those hard to reach places.
If you shave your legs, try to do so a day before applying tan as your skin won’t be too sensitised or receptive to the tanning formula- tion.
Only moisturise the hands, feet, knees and other dry areas on the body, as moisturisers can’t act as barriers and don’t allow the DHA in the self -tans to develop properly.
Wear latex gloves and use a mitt to apply your tan, Slowly work from the top of your body to your feet, for face and hands, mix the product with moisturiser to thin it out and give a lighter application.
For a light tan, wash off after 4-5 hours, for a deeper colour leave it on for 8-10 hours.
Wear loose clothing when you are finished and moisturise your tan daily to lock in hydration and help the tan to fade naturally. After you shower, pat your skin dry as vigorous drying will scrub off the tan.
‘Man tan’ has always been around – remember the actor George Hamilton? But male celebrities have been looking more tanned than ever in the past few months.
Jersey shore guys call it GTL-gym, tanning and laundry. Bradley Cooper got some media coverage for his half done orange face at the premiere of his movie Valentine’s Day. He is not alone – Peter Andre, Simon Cowell and Gordon Ramsay have been piling on the products so it’s hardly surprising that, last year, the Fake Bake tanning company saw a 42% increase in fellas going for spray tans.
There are lots of tans out there, but here are my favourites. Irish brand, Tan Organic, it won’t turn you orange, it’s about the only tan in the world that is completely organic. It was made for the pale skinned Irish.
Rockstar tan is a multi award winning self tanning and retail brand with a realistic colour and long lasting results. It is the brainchild of former Fair City actress Rachel Kavanagh.
Decadence tan was launched in 2012. No animal testing, no parbens, no sulphates and no mineral oils. What it does have is, seeweed, aloe vera, vitamin E, sandalwood and a good price.
Cocoa Brown 1-hour tan by Marissa Carter at €7.99 is very purse friendly.
Karora is a great Irish botanical tan – with a huge range from instant to gradual and self tan mist. Ireland’s top models love it because it suits our skin tone. They also have a SPF of 15 in their gradual tan.
If you are looking for a long lasting tan try Vita Liberata, who have a three week tan called Phenomenal, which can last up to four weeks longer than a normal tan.
When your tan is all done and you are ready for sun, don’t forget your SPF as most tans don’t incorporate them. If you are lucky enough to be heading abroad with your tan, beware of the pool as you will turn back to your former white self.
But if all this tanning business sounds too much like hard work and pale and interesting is more up your street, think of what Coco Chanel, the woman who started all this, once said: In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.
Next week: Hair Confessions. If you have a query email info@maryodonnellbeauty.co
Eliza, Alana and Rachel all Listowel, at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.Dervala Murphy, Castleisland and Kayleigh Donegan, Duagh, at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.Sarah Hobbert, Tralee and Kayleigh Quirke, Tralee at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.
The staff of the Herbs and Roses Spa at the Fels Point Hotel, Aisling O’Connor, Aideen Donaghy, Mary Lynch, Louise Clifford (Manager), Aisling McKenna and Rosemary Herlihy.
“Politics is a personal journey, you either believe in something or you don’t. You’re in a party but you make certain personal decisions. If I lost that approach I would leave politics without hesitation.”
By Dermot Crean
LOOK around Tralee and chances are you’ll see a bit of Jim Finucane in a lot of things. He’s out in the Windmill in Blennerville and at the Museum in Ashe Street.
That absence of a stench on the Dingle road for the past 25 years? He was pivotal in removing that too.
So for a man who has contributed so much to the town, what keeps him coming back for more as he runs again as a Fine Gael candidate in the local elections.
I met him at his house on the Oakpark Road and found out more about the north Kerry man.
Born, reared and educated in Tarbert, the Finucane family were dealt a blow when the father died when Jim was just 13. He got offered the position to train as a draughtsman in Dublin upon leaving Tarbert Comprehensive back in 1975 and would spend the next nine years in Dublin, a move which would shape his social and political leanings.
Dublin, as it is for any young man from the country, was a completely new experience for Jim. He got involved with the Catholic Youth Council who ran a centre in Sheriff Street among other places.
“At the time, Sheriff Street was the old Dublin tenements and known as a very tough part of Dublin. I helped run a disco two or three nights a week just to keep kids in off the street.”
He saw some things there that had a profound effect on him.
“I saw my first eviction there, guys with helmets going in,” he recalled. “Being from Tarbert I wouldn’t have been aware of social ranks or differences but in Sheriff Street unemployment was rife and there were nutrition issues with children. Basically kids had to grow up quickly. It was a no-no of an area in terms of giving it as your address when going for a job. That situation made me get involved in politics.”
He wrote a “hard” letter to Garrett Fitzgerald at the time and the Fine Gael leader asked him to get involved in Young Fine Gael which was starting around that time (late 70s).
He got elected to the Executive and was later National Chairman for two years He also was director of elections in Dublin North Central (“I found city politics demanding but I liked it.”)
He describes himself as “very much left of centre” in the party; “Social justice has been my principle then, right through to now.”
He came back to Kerry in the mid 1980s when he got a position as an inspector with an insurance company in Tralee. He ran for Tralee Town Council in 1986 and was elected and would spend the next 14 years in the local authority, the only Fine Gael councillor.
“It was in the aftermath of the closure of the Tubes factory which devastated the town. Some would say it’s challenging enough now but it was similar back then.”
Jim got involved in projects which would make Tralee the tourist town it is today. He praised the recently deceased former town clerk, Sean Crispie (“an extraordinary man and a great town servant”) for his work around that time, as well as John Griffin.
“The Blennerville Windmill, Steam Train and County Museum projects stimulated economic activity and gave confidence to the local economy. Before that there was very little, apart from Siamsa Tire, to keep tourists in Tralee,” he said.
He also started the process of closing the dump on the Dingle road, of which we can all be thankful for!
“I began the process of telling the County Council that we’d [the Town Council] close it and they could make their own arrangements. I was Chairman when we put the locks on the gate of the dump.”
He was also instrumental in instigating the sewage treatment plant out in Lohercannon (“it dramatically altered the quality of the water in Tralee Bay.”)
Jim took a break from politics for much of the Noughties but returned in 2009 when he was asked to run in for the County Council and he was elected.
This time around Jim says there is a lot of fatigue amongst the voters on the doorstep.
“People are paying all their commitments and its a struggle. It’s gone on for six years now and there’s a tiredness there. I can understand it, it’s hard for people to take,” he said. “I think the people that should be spared from this hardship are the young and the old. As the economy begins to turn we need to redress this,” he stressed.
For the future of Tralee, it’s all about jobs and improving infrastructure as he explains here (see video, apologies for audio quality)
He feels strongly that Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte needs to step up in the Shannon LNG issue where there is huge scope for jobs all over North Kerry and Tralee.
“The situation is unacceptable at the moment and I’m not giving up on this,” he said.
Other pressing issues facing the town, he says are getting technological university status for Tralee will “be of huge benefit to the town in terms of attracting companies to the campus”, the maintenance of the airport and the road infrastructure to Cork and Limerick.
Away from politics and public service, Jim has a great interest in history, especially related to those who emigrated to the US back in the mid-nineteenth century (he attended the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia in 2012).
Married to Sheila Sheehy, sister of Kerry legend Mikey, he, naturally, is an honorary Rockie and travels to Kerry games. He is also very proud of his three children, James, Jill and Orla.
After all these years in public life Jim hasn’t lost his enthusiasm and conviction.
“I believe I have a contribution to make. Nothing is more tedious than public life if you’re not interested in doing something different. I’m not in it for longevity. Unfortunately there’s too many people in public life in it for that.”
PRESENTATION Primary School got the Tim Landers treatment on Saturday with his school’s production of Hairspray.
“It was a fantastic day and both shows, the afternoon and evening, were great. It was the best show I directed and I’ll be bringing it back again,” said Tim after the evening show.
Cast members about to go on stage for Tim Landers Stage School’s production of ‘Hairspray’ at Presentation Primary School on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
The show which was directed by Tim, choreographed by Tara Dore, with choral singing by Maeve Burke proved a hit with audiences too and Tim hopes more come the next time it’s staged.
Months of work went into the production and it showed on the night in the professional approach by the cast from the Tim Landers Stage School.
Well done to all.
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Some of the cast in character for Tim Landers Stage School’s production of ‘Hairspray’ at Presentation Primary School on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanAttending Tim Landers Stage School’s production of ‘Hairspray’ at Presentation Primary School on Saturday night were Jessica Fitzell, Kilmoyley, Aoife O’Carroll, Causeway, Marianne Nolan, Kilmoyley and Kristen Curran, Kilmoyley. Photo by Dermot CreanClaire and Rosaleen Godley, Ballyheigue, at the Tim Landers Stage School’s production of ‘Hairspray’ at Presentation Primary School on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanMaureen, Sophie, Oisin and Finbarr Dowling at the Tim Landers Stage School’s production of ‘Hairspray’ at Presentation Primary School on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot CreanAttending the Tim Landers Stage School’s production of ‘Hairspray’ at Presentation Primary School on Saturday night were Breda and Chloe Fitzpatrick. Photo by Dermot Crean
NA Gaeil will regret not capitalizing on their first half dominance as Dromid Pearses killed off this second round Junior Championship contest with a two goal blitz midway through second half.
A wet and blustery Killeen was the venue on Saturday evening for this game played in conditions which, at points saw torrential downpours, but the surface held up very well.
Mark Griffin got Na Gaeil off to a good start, the midfielder kicking the first score of the game after three minutes. Diarmuid Herlihy added a second minutes later in the opening exchanges which saw a lot of Na Gaeil possession.
High-fielding action from the Na Gaeil V Dromid Pearses game on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Thomas Curran got Dromid on the board and kicked another point in the tenth minute to level up matters. It wasn’t long before the south Kerry side were ahead when Gearoid O’Sullivan pointed with a great score, the corner forward moving across the field swiftly and slotting it over with his right boot.
The scoreboard may have read two points to three, but Na Gaeil dominated the midfield battle, David Culloty in particular stamping his authority on the game.
Darragh Carmody also showed very well for the men in green. In the seventeenth minute it was his run through the centre that earned Na Gaeil a free which he slotted over to level up matters.
Darragh Carmody gets past Padraig O’Sullivan during the Na Gaeil V Dromid Pearses Junior Championship tie on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Micheal Griffin then pulled the Tralee side ahead when he got onto a excellent cross field pass from Culloty.Soon after Na Gaeil were dealt a blow when corner forward Diarmud Herlihy fell foul of the new rules and was afforded a black card for a third man tackle offence.
After 25 minutes Dromid’s Gearoid O’Sullivan slotted over to put them ahead; Na Gaeil’s wasted chances and a tendency to over play the ball were starting to take their toll.
On 30 minutes Culloty linked up with Carmody to level matters, but the half ended with a looping ball in by Declan O’Sullivan for Dromid which resulted in a free. The Kingdom star tapped it over putting the south Kerry men ahead by six points to five at the break.
The second half started with a hammer blow for Na Gaeil. The impressive Culloty not making it back out – the centre forward pulled up with an injury towards the end of the first half and had to be substituted.
Darragh Carmody who was having a fine game added another point to keep his side in touch, but Dromid were starting to dominate. Micheal Sheehan soon pointed for them capitalizing on a long ball around the square.
He put it over, but for a moment a goal was on. A sign of things to come.
With 20 minutes to go the score stood at 0-7 to 0-10 and that would be as close as Na Gaeil would get. Declan O’Sullivan was showing his class, hovering around with menace and dictating play.
Na Gaeil’s Diarmaid Herlihy attempts to pass Dromid Pearses’ Cian O’Shea during the Junior Championship game at Killeen on Saturday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
The death knell for Na Gaeil came with 15 minutes to go when Dromid struck two goals in quick succession. The first came from a long punt into the square by Declan O’Sullivan which rebounded inside and was eventually turned in by left-half forward, Denis O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan was again the architect for the second, the inter-county star making off on a penetrating run through the centre, his ball ended up with Chris Farley who slotted it home making any chance of a Na Gaeil comeback very difficult the scores now 2-13 to 0-9 with 12 minutes to play.
Na Gaeil did not go quietly though, they tried to mount a fight back and almost orchestrated an oh-so-vital goal on a couple of occasion. Kerry u21 Jack Barry showed well in this period.
In the closing exchanges Dromid tagged on three more scores one of which being an excellent solo run by Dylan Donoghue.
Overall, Na Gaeil will feel those missed chances in the first half cost them the match or at least a decent chance of mounting a serious challenge for the full 60 minutes.
TEAMS: (starting 15) Na Gaeil; Timmy Culloty, Ross Culloty, Kieran Dinneen, Darragh Sheehy, Dylan Brassil (C), Jack Barry, Eoin Doody, Michael Griffin, Dan O’Connor, Kieran O’Donovan, David Culloty, Shamie O’Neil, Darragh Carmody, Jamie Loham, Diarmuid Herlihy.
Dromid Pearses:(starting 15) Daniel Curran, Donal O’Sullivan, Dominic O’Sullivan, Cian O’Shea, Kevin O’Shea, Padraig O’Sullivan, Paul Fitzgerald, Thomas Curran, Aidan O’Sullivan, Micheal Sheehan, Declan O’Sullivan, Gearoid O’Sullivan, Christopher Farley, Dylan Donoghue.
Na Gaeil’s Michael Griffin in full flight during the Junior Championship game on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kristina Dumbrovska and Siobhan Ryan from Tralee receive their crepes from Marie Charland Creme De La Crepe of Dingle, at the Taste of Tralee Food Fair at the Manor West Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
By Dermot Crean
SHOPPERS got a taste of what the finest food artisans in Kerry have to offer on Saturday, at the Taste of Tralee Food Fair at the Manor West Retail Park.
Stalls were set up in the main hallway near Tesco where breads, crepes, jams and much more more were on show and the reaction from shoppers was very positive according to traders and the public.
“I love Theresa’s healthy seed and walnut bread,” said Kathleen Caulfield from Glenbeigh, as she bought a loaf off the aforementioned Theresa Foley.
The Boherbee lady (“the best part of town” she says) goes by ‘Say It With Cake By Theresa’, and loves the opportunity to display her goods.
“It’s fantastic, the reception’s been brilliant. People are saying we should be here more often,” said Theresa who delivers her goods to Yummy Cafe Market on Domnick Street.
Melanie Harty of Taste Kerry, which organised the event in conjunction with Manor West Retail Park, said they were getting a great reaction.
“We’d have a variation of people from all over the county; Tralee, Dingle, Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Ballybunion,” said Melanie Harty of Harty’s Jellies. “It’s great, because Derek [Rusk, Manager of Manor West Retail Park] lets us in, we get to show off our wares, we’re local and people realise we’re out there.”
The fair continues tomorrow from 12noon to 6pm and is definitely worth a look.
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Theresa Foley, Boherbee, of ‘Say It With Cake’ with Kathleen Caulfield, Glenbeigh at the Taste of Tralee Food Fair at the Manor West Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot CreanMelanie Harty of Harty’s Jellies at the Taste of Tralee Food Fair at the Manor West Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot CreanJohn Harty of Fab Fudge at the Taste of Tralee Food Fair at the Manor West Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Dermot Crean
Declan Smith (right) with his wife Ann and Richard Bono. Declan and Richard have set off for Toulon to support the Red Army against Toulon on Sunday.
By Gavin O’Connor
MUNSTER-MAD Declan Smith is willing to go one step further for his team. He sported a bright red Mohawk hairstyle for Munster’s Heineken Cup Semi-Final trip to Marseilles to face Toulon in the South of France.
The former Louth native, now of Ashgrove, Tralee, said the overall process took three hours. “It was very traumatic,” he said. “I had to bleach and dye it, I don’t know how women go through this every couple of weeks.”
Declan and his travelling compatriot Richard Bono were in buoyant mood and optimistic of the team’s chances before they set off for the French city on Friday but unfortunately the Munster side were unable to overcome a strong Toulon side.
Richard and Declan get some last minute training in before they departed for Toulon yesterday
MINISTER for State at the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, Alan Kelly TD was in town yesterday to officially open the first phase of the Tralee-Fenit Amenity Trail.
The first phase of the trail which stretches from Rock Street, Tralee, to the Bracker O’Regan Road, and has been a fantastic amenity for the town since it opened last year. The 1.5km trail is the first part of a planned traffic-free off-road cycle and walking route, which runs along the former Tralee-Fenit railway line.
The Minister said he was delighted to be in Kerry and described it as “a place I have great affinity for given my better half is a Kerrywoman. I love spending time here.”
In his speech he also detailed what the Active Travel Plan for Tralee holds in store for the town in the future. Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council are to receive €1.3m in funding for the scheme announced two weeks ago. The Minister detailed what the Plan will do for the town here…
He also touched on the controversial subject of such amenity trails around the country and said that, where there is a dispute, it would be dealt with in a fair manner…(see video)
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Pat Hussey, thanked Minister Kelly for his attendance at the opening. Cllr Hussey stated that offering cycling and walking opportunities for visitors to Tralee greatly enhanced the ability of the county to attract the activity tourism sector.
He stated that local communities have already also greatly benefitted from the Amenity, with students attending Mounthawk Secondary School able to use the trail to journey to and from school.
Both the Mayor and Town Manager, Michael McMahon gave praise to local residents, whose goodwill was crucial in bringing the project to fruition. “I want to personally thank the local community for your vision, commitment, generosity and support in facilitating in the delivery of this route,” he said.
And the Town Manager paid tribute to the staff of Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council for their efforts in moving the project forward and completing it to such a high standard, also thanking Minister Kelly and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport for their funding support.
Mitchels men Derry O’Shea, Labour candidate in the forthcoming local elections Graham Spring and Johnny Kelliher at the opening on Thursday.Michael McMahon of Tralee Town Council, Mayor of Tralee Pat Hussey, Deputy Arthur J Spring, Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Alan Kelly TD and County Manager Tom Curran at the opening of the first phase of the Tralee-Fenit amenity trail on Thursday. Photo by Domnick Walsh
Young Morgan O’Flaherty helps Irish ladies rugby player Siobhan Fleming from Currow and Tralee Rugby Club’s Josh Barnes launch the Kerry Cancer Support Group’s Big Bus BBQ at Ballygarry House Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
By Dermot Crean
FORMER GAA stars, current ladies rugby supremo and well wishers were on hand on Thursday night for the launch of the fourth annual Big Bus Barbecue in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group.
Kerry legends Sean Walsh, Ger Power and Siobhan Fleming of the Irish ladies ladies rugby team helped launch the event at the Ballygarry House Hotel.
The bash will be held on June 1 at the hotel and it promises to be a fantastic night of entertainment.
Guest will arrive at 7pm to the swing sounds of the Jazz Cats with a champagne and strawberries reception before a delicious feast from the barbecue.
Heart and Soul will have guests filling the floor before long, while the night will be rounded off with music from DJ Leo Byrne. There will also be goodie bags supplied by Horan’s Health Stores and an array of spot prizes.
This is all for the relatively meagre sum of €35 and it’s for a great cause.
The event has been a huge success over the years raising €8,000 in 2013 which helped lead to the purchase of a brand new 25 seater Mercedes bus which carries Kerry patients to 1,260 appointments a year at Cork University Hospital.
The bus travels five day a week and is an invaluable service to cancer patients.
The barbecue is one of the Group’s major fundraisers of the year along with the Castlegregory walk which takes place in July.
Tickets can be bought from the Kerry Cancer Support Group on 066-7195560, Sean Prendergast on 087-3117475 or Mary Lynch on 087-1332179.
Morgan O’Flaherty with son Morgan, Sean Walsh, Sandra Breen, Mary Lynch and Dan Horan at the launch of the Kerry Cancer Support Services Big Bus BBQ at the Ballygarry House Hotel on Thursday.A group pictured at the launch of the Kerry Cancer Support Services Big Bus BBQ at the Ballygarry House Hotel on Thursday.
Rebecca Spellman, Tralee, Daniella Goodall, Tralee and Megan Dunne at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean
By Gavin O’Connor
GLAMOUR was to the fore at the Fels Point Hotel last night when their Herbs and Roses Spa hosted a fashion and beauty event which was attended by over 150 ladies looking for beauty, fitness and style tips.
Irish blogger Suzanne Jackson, who runs the very popular So Sue Me blog which has 133,000 likes on Facebook, was the special guest speaker on the night.
The Dubliner reviewed beauty products and spoke favourably about her experience of the Spa where she had a facial, body wrap and a massage.
Other speakers on the night were local beauty expert and Traleetoday.ie beauty columnist Mary O’Donnell who was also a judge (along with Olivia Wall) in the Best Dressed Lady competition, which was won by Marguerite Trant from Curraheen.
Other speakers on the night were Fiona McKenzie from Elemis Skincare and Malachy Kelly from the Fels Point Spa.
At the end of the night, Miss Jackson posed for photos with her fans who formed a long queue to meet the style guru.
For more photos and details of the event see Mary O’Donnell’s column on this website next Monday
Suzanne Jackson aka So Sue Me, (fourth from left), with staff from the Herbs And Roses Spa at the Fels Point Hotel.Isabel Lenihan and Ingrid Klement, Tralee at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.
Marguerite Trant, Curraheen, and Catriona Sayers, Derrymore at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.Leah Dore, Lisa Breen, Helen Fore, Erin Dore and Ciara Dore all from Listowel at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.Shauna Kenny, Tralee, Suzann Rigney, Tralee and Rebecca Hourigan at the So Sue Me beauty event at the Fels Point Hotel on Thursday.
St Pat’s GAA Club members James Costello, Ciaran O’Shea, Eoin Sayers, Derek O’Sullivan, Liam O’Sullivan launching the Dingle Way Challenge.
ST Pat’s GAA Club are organising a walk called the Dingle Way Challange in an effort to raise funds for the club and promote the local area.
Participants will take on a sizeable chunk of the Dingle Peninsula stretching from Cloghane all along beautiful coastline to the finish point at Blennerville Windmill.
Here’s St Pat’s Chairman James Costello to tell you more.
The Dingle Way Challenge takes place Sunday June 1st, registration fee for the event is €35, but any participant who raises €100 or more for St Pat’s GAA Club will earn free registration.
Each participant will receive a hot breakfast at the Maherees, sandwiches and a hot drinks at Camp and a burger and drink on completion in Blennerville.
For more information ring James Costello 086 290-8735
Niall Hobbert of BTS Fitness puts a client through her paces at his gym at Manor Park, Tralee.
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“If I don’t get elected because of my involvement with the international community, LGBT and the Traveller movement, then that’s fine with me. I’d rather have done five years decent work in supporting minority groups than being elected year after year and turning my back on them.”
Dermot Crean meets Labour candidate in the upcoming local elections, Gillian Wharton Slattery.
IF there’s one thing you can say about Gillian Wharton Slattery, it’s that she’s all about equality.
We sit down for a coffee in at the Tralee Wetlands, a brief respite from pounding the pathways of estates all over town on the canvass.
Born into a large family from Ballyseedy, Gillian says she had a great childhood, especially at school in Caherleaheen where her mother attended and later, Gillian’s two sons were educated there.
Now domiciled in Ballyard, her interest in social and political issues began with Amnesty International back in the 1980s, but with two small children to mind (Damien and Colin) she was deterred from seeking any political office.
In the meantime she worked with Slattery’s Travel, Kingdom Travel and later South-West Walks, before being employed at Miriam McGillycuddy’s legal business.
“That’s where my interest in politics gathered legs because Miriam was a Labour councillor at the time,” she recalled. “I would have been a Labour supporter, having canvassed for various supporters over the years. I saw how Miriam was able to get things done as a councillor.”
In 2008 she was asked by Dick Spring to run as a town councillor.
“I am impulsive by nature but it did take a little time to think about that one. I fiercely competitive by nature and I’m a sore loser. So if I say ‘oh it’s alright’ if I lose that’s not the truth. So I was was thinking ‘what if I don’t win? I’ll be mortified!’. But I took up the task and I did manage to win the seat in 2009.”
Of course the mood on the doorstep at the last local elections is different now.
“The tide was with us definitely at the time. We were riding on the crest of a wave,” she continued. “I was a new candidate so I couldn’t be blamed for anything I suppose. This time around there is concerns and debates at the doorstep, which I welcome, because there is no point in handing in the leaflet and walking away. We have to engage with people,” she said.
“But people know I’m a hard worker and I’m getting great goodwill in general. I find in some cases that people are more sad than angry at what’s happened in terms of emigration and the economy. I agree that it is sad, but we’re trying to pull ourselves out of it now.”
Gillian is a huge advocate of getting women in involved in politics.
“It is difficult for women, especially for those with small children. There are four women running in the Tralee Electoral Area and I feel it’s important that there is strong female voices and enough female voices at the table,” she said.
In terms of the issues facing the town, Gillian feels strongly about the housing issue as she explains here…
The issue of mental health is close to her heart having worked with local organisations down the years.
“In Kerry General Hospital I think there should be a division between young and old patients in the psychiatric ward. There should also be more emphasis on mental health awareness in schools.”
Her stance on asylum seekers is something she admits might make her unpopular with some people.
“People give out to me about the asylum seekers but somebody has to speak up for them. I have a huge issue with people being in direct provision. It’s ridiculous that people are in limbo for years in these centres at huge expense to the State. Many children are born into this situation so they are Irish children,” she said.
“I don’t mind people being sent back if they don’t deserve to be here, but don’t keep them in limbo-land because that’s just cruelty.”
She’s also very much involved in women’s rights issues and the International Resource Centre as well as a host of other community groups such as Tidy Towns, Coast Clean Up and the Marine Litter Forum.
“I’m conscious of our conservation duties. We have an opportunity to change that through our work in these organisations,” she said.
She is also involved with the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
“I helped set up the first Kerry Pride festival and it’s taking place again this year. There’s huge issues around that community too, from a mental health perspective as well,” she said.
Away from politics and activism she has a great love for the arts and is a former member of the Zyber Theatre Group. She also loves walking, hiking and photography as well as writing.
Tralee musician, Daithí Kearney, is embarking on a tour of America on Saturday with members of the DkIT Ceol Oirghialla Traditional Music Ensemble.
The Dundalk-based musician (who performed for President Barack Obama in The White House in 2009), along with his colleague, Dr Adèle Commins, will lead the group will depart for New York and Kansas on Saturday, April 26.
Building on the links between DkIT and both Molloy College and Baker University, the busy tour schedule will include performances, lectures and community outreach projects in a variety of schools.
The trip will promote Ireland as a place to pursue opportunities for study and research at third and fourth level and highlight the rich cultural links that exist in music between Ireland and America.
While in New York, the Ensemble will present a Lecture Recital at Molloy College, Long Island, and at the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue.
Flying to Kansas, the group will have the opportunity to observe and learn from students and professors in the Department of Music and Theatre at Baker University.
Well known to audiences in Tralee from his involvement for many years with Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Daithi was involved over Easter in the celebration of Easter services in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Tralee.
Now based in Dundalk, he continues to perform regularly and has featured regularly on television including as a presenter of the popular television series Geantraí.
Previous trips to America have included performances in Forde’s Theatre, Washington D.C. with Siamsa Tíre, participation in the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with the New Ross and District Pipe Band, and a performance for President Obama in the White House in 2009.
Dr Daithí Kearney is an ethnomusicologist, geographer and performer, lecturing in Music at DkIT.
An All-Ireland Champion musician, he has toured regularly as a musician, singer and dancer with a number of groups and performed for President Obama in The White House in 2009.
In 2012 he released an album with Cork accordion player John Cronin entitled Midleton Rare, which is related to a wider research project on the music and musicians of the Sliabh Luachra region.
The Kerry Chamber Choir who will perform in Killarney this Saturday night.
ANY music lovers travelling to Killarney this Saturday could do no better than visiting St Mary’s Church of Ireland for an evening of to remember.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir, Kerry Chamber Choir and Kerry Chamber Orchestra, directed by Aidan O’Carroll and with soloists Grainne O’Carroll (Soprano) and Amanda Neri (Contralto) will perform a choral and musical celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord at the church in Kenmare Place at 8pm.
The concert is open to the public and admission is free. A retiring collection will take place.
The works chosen for the concert are Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, Stabat Mater by Vivaldi and Gloria in Excelsis Deo also by Vivaldi. These are three of the best known works inspired by the story of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. The Pergolesi Stabat Mater and the Vivaldi Stabat Mater are both being performed in Kerry for the first time.
YESTERDAY morning Manchester United supporters awoke to the news their manager David Moyes had been sacked.
Some may have been relieved, but all have been reeling from what has been a disastrous ten months for their club where they have seen rivals overtake them, late goals fly in the other end at Old Trafford and the aura of Ferguson broken.
We spoke to Chairman of the Kerry Manchester United Supporters Club Francis Boyle to gauge the mood of the fans in what is the most troubling juncture in the clubs recent history.
Francis began by telling us what his first thoughts were after the announcement.
When asked what were the root causes of Moyes’s failure Francis said “Ferguson left him a very poor team” and the departure of Ferguson’s “right hand man” and former Chief Executive David Gill left the Scotsman unable to get the players he wanted last summer.
One of the main criticism of Moyes’s tenure was the signing of former Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini. Francis says it wasn’t helped by the Belgian coming to “a bad midfield”.
“I honestly believe Micheal Carrick is not up to being a Man United player,” he said.
Some of the managers mooted for the job have been Jurgen Kloop, Pep Guardiola and the bookies favourite former Ajax, Holland and Barcelona boss Louis Van Gaal.
Francis was passionate speaking about the club’s much maligned current owners. “The Glazers will have to turn around and give the new manager two hundred million. It’s about time the Glazers put their money up. We’re sick of them taking the money out of the club and back to America,” said Francis.
One of the more difficult aspects of the saga for United supporters has been the part played by former manager and club legend Alex Ferguson’s who appointed David Moyes as his successor.
Francis says at the time of the appointment he was “delighted”.
“Ferguson wanted him their for the long haul, that’s why they gave him a six year contract. The club has to take a lot of the blame, everyone knew the team had to be rebuilt,” he said.
The only criticism Francis had of Moyes was the style of play he brought to Old Trafford which was “Defensive” and not “Manchester United football”
“Its going to be a long stage of transition. If United can’t get four or five top class players, then next season its going to be the same again.”
Thankfully Francis kept his cool unlike this United fan outside Old Trafford last month after the Manchester City defeat.
KERRY County Council is advising candidates for the forthcoming European and Local Elections not to erect election posters on road traffic signs or poles carrying road traffic signs.
Additionally, the Council is advising against hanging banners and posters from road overbridges and pedestrian bridges, as they could become loose or be interfered with by third parties and could fall onto fast moving traffic.
Wednesday, April 23rd is the first day that candidates are permitted to erect posters for the forthcoming election. However, Kerry County Council is asking those erecting posters to ensure that they do not obstruct the view of traffic at junctions and interfere with pedestrians on roads and footpaths.
“Traffic and road signs are specifically designed to be clearly read by passing motorists, Acting Director of Roads, Transportation & Safety, Ger MacNamara stated.
“Election posters attached to road signs can obstruct the sign, and can also visually clutter the sign, making it difficult to read. Under Section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, it is an offence to attach any sign or poster to any road traffic sign or pole.”
And he also advised those erecting posters near junctions to ensure that they are not blocking road users sightlines. “We would also advise that posters not cause an obstruction or nuisance to people using footpaths,” he said.
In addition, ESB Networks is warning against the placing of posters on electricity poles/structures during the forthcoming Local and European Elections campaign. Any unauthorised contact or near contact with the electricity network can result in serious injury or fatality to persons using electricity poles for this purpose. Similar risks apply when posters are being removed.
ESB Networks has previously experienced incidents where election posters have caught fire following contact with the electricity network resulting in loss of supply to customers and damaged infrastructure.
Following polling day, May 23rd, candidates have seven days to remove all election posters and signage. “We would appeal to all candidates to remove not only their posters, but also the materials they use to attach the posters, including cable ties,” Ger MacNamara stated.
Councillor Johnnie Wall at work in his home in Ballinorig.
Dermot Crean meets the political veteran who has not lost his enthusiasm for Tralee after over 40 years of community service.
JOHNNIE Wall is a busy man.
The Ballinorig man, with over 40 years service to Fianna Fail, is running as an independent in May’s local elections and he still has a lot of ground to cover on the canvass.
Married to Tina, and father to Johnny, Mary B, Kathleen and Mikey, the genial former Kerry Blue is hard at work at his computer when I visit him at his home.
First of all I asked him how he got involved in politics all those years ago.
“I was in a band and we were good friends with Denis Foley of The Brandon at the time. He asked me to help out with canvassing for Fianna Fail. I was also very much involved here (Ballinorig) in the community games and so on as well. Then in 1985, Councillor Maureen Henry, with six weeks to go, decided not to run in the local elections and I was asked to run.
“It was my first time in the town council and I enjoyed it. I got a feeling for how the town was run and I’ve been re-elected for the past 30 years.”
But a new system came in for this election where there is no more town council and there will be nine seats in the Tralee Electoral Area. Johnnie was very disappointed not to be selected to run for the Fianna Fail party.
“They (Fianna Fail) decided to pick two candidates and maybe add one later. I was there 30 years and Ted Fitzgerald was there 40 years, so I thought they’ll surely let the two of us run. But I got a phone call one Sunday night from the party saying they weren’t going to run me, they were going to run Ted. So I got on my computer and emailed party HQ to tender my resignation.”
Is it different running this time without the party machine behind him?
“I feel it when I’m trying to do everything myself, with the posters and all that. The party weren’t that great for (financial) help. The TDs get big budgets for elections, not the councillors. But they do put up the posters. I had a supporters meeting in the Manor West three weeks ago and 60 people showed up to help which was great and they’ll help me if I need it.”
Johnnie is running this time because he feels he still has a lot to offer the town and he is concerned about the future with this new system of local government. He says the monies collected from rates, housing rents and parking charges will now be going into the county council coffers.
“I’m worried about the Wetlands, the Town Park and the museum…we funded all these things in the town council. Will that money be there now or will councillors from south or north Kerry want it for their areas? I’m worried that unless we have enough local people on the council, Tralee will lose out badly. That’s a big fear.”
So what can he offer in this new Kerry order?
“I’m not a man for making speeches. I’m a great believer that if something needs to be done I’ll go away and do it. We needed a summer festival there a few years ago so I started Feile na mBlath in June which has come on a lot. When the St Patrick’s Day parade was dying a death a few years back I said ‘let’s try change this’ and now its a great community event.
“When the town had a reputation as being dirty and untidy we started the Towards A Better Tralee and the town has won two Gold Medals in the Tidy Towns in the last few years. When I was mayor of Tralee I sent letters to companies in America detailing what the town can offer. The IDA have done nothing for the town.”
Johnnie firmly believes we can’t rely on Government agencies to attract jobs.
“If I was elected, I’d be pushing the Council to set up a group that would travel and try to sell the town abroad. Mark out the companies to target and bring them a package to show them what the town offers. It’s worth it. The IDA will do nothing for us. They go to the Pale first, then the border, midlands and west and then down to Cork. We’re way down the line. It’s tough meeting people at the door whose children have had to emigrate. I can’t promise them jobs but if we can get a group together to go try to entice companies…”
So what are the big issues he’s meeting on the doorstep?
“Most people are giving out about the water charges and the household charge. On the outskirts of the town people are worried about the septic tank issue and they want to be connected up to the main sewer. Housing is another issue. There is no shortage of housing in Tralee, we’ve plenty empty houses.
What we can’t do, in old settled estates, is move in a couple of families where people will be, for instance, playing football in the street late at night, because it disrupts the whole system. There needs to be fresh thinking on it.”
Away from the canvassing how does he relax
“I go for a few drinks on the weekend and sing a few songs at a music session.”
An ardent John Mitchels man, Johnnie is also season ticket holder at Thomond Park and, thanks to his children, a Liverpool supporter. He also helped set up Mitchels Avenue FC in their ground in Hawley Park.
As I leave the Wall home he is on the move again, off to give a neighbour a hand with something, before going back on the road.
