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Continuing our Review Of 2015, here’s the news we brought you in February…
Tommy Walsh, fetches a ball high in the sky against Mayo in the National League back in February. Photo by Dermot Crean.
• The first day of February saw Kerry senior footballers begin their Allianz National League campaign with a lacklustre performance against Mayo at Fitzgerald Stadium , losing 0-10 to 2-11 to the westerners.
Barry John Keane had a good day with 0-4 but Mayo were fitter and brighter on the day. (click here)
• We reported on how the Solas Digital Skills Training Centre in Monavalley played an important part in the making of a documentary, which prompted German prosecutors to open an investigation into a 93 year old woman suspected of being a former Nazi SS Guard.
The training centre supplied vital equipment and a trainee, Dylan Knapp, who proved very useful to the producers of ‘Close To Evil’. (click here)
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• The month saw Kerry once again come to global attention after featuring in an 11-page spread in the February/March 2015 issue of the of ‘National Geographic Traveler’.
As one of the most recognizable magazines worldwide, it was another big win for Kerry tourism to have ‘Ross Castle’ in Killarney featured as the cover. (click here)
Brenda Doody who planned to run 12 marathons in eight months to raise funds for hospital.
• We told you about a Tralee woman who was set to run 12 marathons in eight months to raise funds for those who helped her husband through his cancer ordeal.
In summer 2014, Brenda Doody got the devastating news that her husband, Pat, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. To give back to the people who helped him, she vowed to raise funds for Mercy Hospital, Cork, by running 12 marathons in 8 months. (click here)
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Sisters Linda Dennehy Patterson and Sharon Browne who did a good deed.
• We brought you the good news story about a Ballyduff man who wanted to thank two Tralee ladies for doing a good deed in town.
Murt O’Sullivan left €500 cash hanging out of an AIB ATM machine and was chased by two ladies who returned the cash to him.
The two ladies were sisters Linda Dennehy Patterson from Ashgrove and Sharon Browne from Ogham Rian. Murt thanked them by sending them a voucher for a meal for two in the Grand Hotel. (click here)
• We reported on a straight-talking 90 year old mart employee, Eugene (Eugie) O’Sullivan, who is a legend in Kenmare.
A surprise 90th birthday party was thrown for the local character in Kenmare Mart where the Irish Examiner recorded fantastic a video of Eugie speaking about his life. (click here)
Jackie O’Brien, Tracey Hurley and Deirdre McAuliffe at the St Brendan’s Park Reunion Night in the Austin Stack Clubhouse back in February. Photo by Dermot Crean
• We were at the Austin Stack Clubhouse for a reunion of St Brendan’s Park residents which saw hundreds attend.
It took months of organising, but it as worth the effort for a night of music, song and reminiscing about growing up in the old estate. (click here)
• It was announced that Tralee is to get a major boost with an estimated €20m investment in a new advanced manufacturing facility at the Kerry Technology Park.
The plans were announced at a press conference in Dublin of the Government’s €250m Regional Action Plan For Jobs.
A new 25,000 sq ft property will be built at the Kerry Technology Park to attract a major industry, according to Minister Jimmy Deenihan. (click here)
A disappointed Kieran Donaghy after the Slaughtneil game. Photo by Dermot Crean
• There was heartbreak for Austin Stacks as their amazing run in the All-Ireland Club Championship came to an end.
Austin Stacks lost by a solitary point on a rainy Sunday in Portlaoise to Slaughtneil in the semi-final, but they gave it one hell of an effort.
Kieran Donaghy and the rest of the Stacks team were disconsolate, but the hundreds of Rockie fans who travelled up showed their appreciation after the game. (click here)
• It was reported that a three-year-old Kerry child would receive an interim payment of over €2.5m after the HSE settled a High Court action in Dublin.
Skye Worthington from Cloghane was brain-damaged during her birth in Kerry General Hospital in April 2011.
She now has cerebral palsy, can only sit for a while has to be fed through a tube and can only communicate with her eyes. (click here)
• It was a terrible month on Kerry roads as two men died in accidents in north Kerry. Michael O’Sullivan from Ballyduff died on February 19 in a road accident on the Tralee-Abbeydorney road.
Six days earlier, Maurice O’Donoghue (24) from Mountcoal in Listowel died after being involved in a single vehicle crash near Kilflynn. (click here)
• There was celebrations at the Aqua Dome as they welcomed their 4,000,000th visitor through their doors.
‘Lady Luck’ was with Kate and Cian McCarthy from Milltown who got through the door at the right time to be awarded a ‘One Year Family Pass’ for two adults and three children. (click here)
