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PHOTOS: Martin Ferris Launches Billy’s Book At The Grand

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Martin Ferris and Billy Ryle at the launch of Billy’s book, ‘From Fenit Bathing Slip To The High Court’ at the Grand Hotel on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

FORMER members of Tralee Swimming Club joined friends and family of Billy Ryle at the launch of his new book at the Grand Hotel on Monday evening.

Deputy Martin Ferris T.D. did the honours to launch ‘From Fenit Bathing Slip To The High Court’, a book telling the story of how the bathing slip in Fenit was saved from demolition 13 years ago and of the history of Tralee Swimming Club.

Billy Ryle – a Rock Street native who has been living in Fenit for 25 years – thanked all those who attended and said he had to hold the launch in the Grand Hotel, as it hosted Tralee Swimming Club meetings and social events down the years.

Continued below…

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The book – which Billy started in 2014 and finished last Christmas – explores the history of Tralee Swimming Club and the characters involved, then a campaign and court case to save the bathing slip in Fenit from demolition by the Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources in 2004.

Paudie Commane, Mike Moriarty and Eamon O’Reilly at the launch of Billy Ryle’s book, ‘From Fenit Bathing Slip To The High Court’ at the Grand Hotel on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean

The bathing slip would have been irrevocably lost to the swimming community of Kerry and the thousands of visitors who holiday in the region annually without the proactive support of Kerry’s national and local public representatives.

The author explains why the State was determined to demolish the bathing slip in Fenit and how a public campaign was organised to save a priceless leisure facility in the picturesque village.

Any net profit earned by the book in 2017 will be divided equally between Spa/Fenit Youth Club at Fenit Parish Centre, Fenit, Tralee, in which area the author lives and Austin Stacks Juvenile GAA Club in his native Rock, Tralee. Scroll down for photos…

Michaela and John Edwards and Connie Turner at the launch of Billy Ryle’s book, ‘From Fenit Bathing Slip To The High Court’ at the Grand Hotel on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Mary Glancy, Michael Slattery, Nora and Tom O’Regan at the launch of Billy Ryle’s book, ‘From Fenit Bathing Slip To The High Court’ at the Grand Hotel on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Anne Marie Ryle, Kevin Ryle, John Joe Sheehy and Erris O’Carroll at the launch of Billy Ryle’s book, ‘From Fenit Bathing Slip To The High Court’ at the Grand Hotel on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean