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Continuing our Review of 2016, here’s some of the stories we brought you in November…
Stephen Stack.
• STEPHEN Stack has announced he is stepping down as Austin Stacks boss.
The Listowel native was in charge of the Rockies senior team for four years and brought them their first county championship in 20 years and led them to Munster Club Championship glory in that memorable 2014 season.
During his tenure, the senior team reached 13 competition finals, winning nine of them.
Pat Flanagan was announced as his successor later in December.
• GLENDUFF House reopened under a new name and the owner has big plans for another venture in Kerry next year.
Glenduff House, a Victorian hunting lodge, was recently purchased by Dingle native Michael O’Malley for €465,000. He announced work will begin in early 2017 on a new five star hotel located at the site of Bridge House, John Street, Dingle.
• IT was revealed that this year has been the worst year for patients waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Kerry since the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation began keeping records back in 2006.
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And this November was also by far the worst on record with 208 patients waiting, compared to 92 in the same month last year. Up to November, there has been 1,548 patients on trolleys up from 1,322 last year.
Ultan Dillane with Mary Carroll, SInead Kelleher and Susan McElligott, the authors of ‘Behind The Face’ at the launch of the book at Siamsa Tire. Photo by Dermot Crean
• IRISH Rugby International Ultan Dillane was in his hometown to launch a new book on international people living in Kerry.
‘Behind The Face’ is the remarkable and inspiring true life stories of 15 international people who have made Kerry their home.
The Tralee rugby star was on a break from training and returned home to launch the book at Siamsa Tire in Tralee.
• KERRY County Board announced the resignation of Ciarán Carey as manager of the Kerry Senior Hurling team in early December.
Two weeks later Fintan O’Connor was announced as his successor.
• KIERAN Donaghy’s ‘What Do You Think Of That’ won the Eir Sports Book Of The Year award.
Donaghy beat off competition from the likes of Paul O’Connell and Rob Heffernan to win the award which was announced in Dublin. The winner receives a €1,500 cash prize, a specially commissioned trophy and €10,000 worth of TV advertising on eir Sport.
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• THERE was a slight drop in the number of people signing on at the Tralee social welfare office in November according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Tralee’s Live Register figure for November fell by six to 4,439 which is a 12% drop on the same month in 2015. Countywide, the November figure was 10,172 people down 13% on the same time last year – a drop of 1,521.
• TRALEE Warriors secured a new sponsor to help them in their quest for success in top flight basketball.
The Club has enjoyed a most successful run to date in their first season in the National Men’s Superleague and Garveys Group were announced as the main sponsor for the rest of the season after Irish TV had to pull out.
Audrey Rigney, Julie Deenihan, Damien Kissane and Sandra O’Riordan at the Santa 5k Fun Run. Photo by Dermot Crean
• THE fourth Tralee 5km Santa Fun Run drew a massive crowd of runners in perfect conditions.
There was glorious sunshine at the start of the run at the Tralee Bay Wetlands where around 800 people registered, thus raising vital funds for the Barretstown charity.
• IT was revealed that Kerry GAA star Aidan O’Mahony will swap the football boots for dancing shoes next month as he has been announced as one of the participants in RTE’s Dancing With The Stars.
Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne will present the first series of the show, which will air on RTÉ One for 12 weeks from 6.30pm on Sunday, January 8.
Marion Galvin (centre) receives the new Nissan Pulsar from Manager of Tralee Credit Union, Fintan Ryan. Also included is, from left; Marcella Herlihy of Tralee Credit Union, Catriona, Rachel, Trevor and Luke Galvin, Denis Galvin and David Randles of Randles Brothers Nissan dealers. Photo by Dermot Crean
• CHRISTMAS came early to 40 members of Tralee Credit Union through their Members Car Draw.
Marion Galvin from Balloonagh Estate in Tralee won a brand new 171 Nissan Pulsar and 39 other members won a total of €23,500 between them in cash prizes.
• THE ladies from Tralee Failte Probus Club teamed up with the crew from StoryStock, a company based in the Kerry Technology Park, for a bit of fun recently.
Celine Slattery, Phil Daly, Mary O’Donnell and Marian Dillon faced the cameras to lip sync to Miley Cyrus’ hit ‘Wrecking Ball’ (below) and they made a damn fine job of it too.
• A FORMER Tralee Dynamos player, Shane Lowth signed for Cobh Ramblers. The League of Ireland Airtricity First Division side made the announcement on their website.
The Tralee man – son of Paul Lowth of The Huddle Bar and wife Linda – joined the Cork club from Limerick FC.
• THERE was damage caused to the Crib in the Square, for the second time in a month.
There was broken perspex, cut light cables and statues knocked over. Earlier that month there was damage caused to the lights under the Christmas tree.
That was cold!…Participants at the Christmas Swim in Fenit. Photo by Dermot Crean
• THE wind howled and the rain fell, but that didn’t deter the hundreds of dippers in Fenit and Banna on Christmas Day.
There was a huge crowd at the beach in Fenit, despite the bad weather and spirits were high as they sang ‘Jingle Bells’ just prior to the dash. And dash they did to the ocean, three times to keep up the tradition.
