Continuing our Review of 2015, here’s some of the news we brought you from September…

• It was announced that the Balloonagh convent would close its doors by the end of September.

The convent had operated since 1858 and resident nuns at the convent moved to other accommodation. (click here)

• A Tralee woman decided to start a petition pushing for a bypass of Macroom which she hoped to present to the Minister for Transport.

Siobhan O’Brien, from Alderwood Road, had been making trips with an ill relative three times a week to Cork University Hospital for treatment.  The journey had become arduous for her and concerning for the health of her ill passenger. (click here)

Continued below…

• The new Dublin Coach Kerry express route came into effect with the creation of 30 full time jobs.

The luxury transport provider saw the launch of a new express service departing from both Tralee and Killarney on a daily basis to Limerick and Dublin. (click here)

• Planning permission has been approved for a Mosque in Killerisk, but there will be no public address system that will carry the Muslim call to prayer.

The decision to build the new mosque in Killerisk Business Park had been stalled over the issue that a public address system on the proposed 23 mitre tall minaret would be installed. (click here)

Continued below…

• There were great celebrations around town on a Wednesday September morning as the Junior Cert results were handed out to excited students.

One young lady who had a special reason to celebrate was Róisín Ní Churraí, a student at Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí who got 11 A grades in the exams but many student around town also excelled. (click here)

• Kerry took an awful battering in mid September with torrential rain hitting the county.

There was severe flooding in parts of the county and Templenoe looked like it was particularly badly hit, judging by a photo posted on the GAA club’s Facebook page. (click here)

• It was revealed that Star Wars actor Mark Hamill had to be rescued from a near-fatal fall on the set of Skellig Michael when he was filming on the island last year for the latest film in the Star Wars saga it has emerged.

Hamill, famous for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker, reportedly slipped while climbing steps on the island and had to be caught and rescued by a member of the Office of Public Works. (click here)

• Two working days was all it took for the business community in Tralee to achieve their target contribution figure within the overall one million euro fund to develop Austin Stack Park Tralee.

A five year All-Ireland Final ticket-scheme, costing €1,000 a year for five years, was created to encourage businesses in Tralee and the north Kerry area to help bring Austin Stack Park into the 21st century. (click here)

• A Tralee man found himself poised to win a small fortune if Kerry beat Dublin in the All-Ireland.

Ballybeggan’s David Culloty placed the the €100 accumalator bet close to 10 months previous and would have won €9,800 if Kerry won in Croke Park. However…(click here)

• Kerry’s dream of a 38th All-Ireland title died in Croke Park as a well drilled Dublin side beat a Kingdom team who just never got going.

Kerry fans left the stadium wet and miserable but there’s always next year.

• There were massive Kerry celebrations in Shelbourne Park in September as the Liam Dowling trained Ballymac Matt won the Irish Derby worth €125,000.

It was a case of third time lucky for Ballymac-based Liam, who has seen two of his dogs lose in the big race in the past two years. (click here)

• A group of Tralee aspiring rappers saw their hard work and graft recognised  after they were asked to perform as part of the opening act for NWA music legend DJ Yella at a Dublin gig in September.

Zach Buggy, Andrew (Drew) Dineen and Frank McCarthy form the hip hop group ‘TheEmpty7’, who had the privilege of opening for the famous DJ and producer in the Voodoo Lounge in Dublin. (click here)

• There was great news as Tralee retained its Gold Medal status in the national Tidy Towns Competition and has increased its points total on last year.

Tralee was one of four Kerry towns to achieve gold status along with Listowel, Killarney and Kenmare as the results were announced at a ceremony in Dublin. (click here)

• Kilmoyley gathered their 23rd Kerry senior hurling title with an emphatic victory over St Brendan’s Ardfert by 3-15 to 1-13 in Abbeydorney.

Captain of Kilmoyley Sean Maunsell saluted the crowd after receiving the Neilus Flynn Cup from Chairman of the Kerry County Board, Pat O’Sullivan. (click here)

• A Tralee man collected his prize of €500,000 in the EuroMillions Plus, after he bought his his lucky €12 Quick Pick ticket in Centra, Ballyduff, on Wednesday, September 16.

He won it in the draw which took place on Tuesday, September 22 and collected his prize at National Lottery offices. (click here)