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Continuing our review of 2017, here’s some of the news we brought you in March…
• IT was the end of an era at Strand Street as after 45 years Walsh & O’Brien Shop next to the Bon Secours Hospital, closed its doors.
Mary Walsh and her cousin Dominic O’Brien, who sadly passed away a few years ago, bought the shop from Michael and Maggie Maye 45 years ago.
Mary said she was heartbroken, but had to close the shop for health reasons.
• THE staff at Garvey’s Supervalu in Rock Street were celebrating after they won Best Medium Store in Ireland 2017 at the Supervalu Awards.
The store saw a €2m revamp in 2016 and celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.
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• Shoppers and workers were greeted with a different looking Mall on the morning of March 2 as the 13 trees which adorned the area were cut down.
The trees were to be removed by the Council in anticipation of the works on The Mall which were to start later in the year. Many traders were disappointed with the decision.
• THE Bon Secours Hospital Tralee became the first hospital within the group to introduce a smoke free campus.
In an effort to promote a healthier lifestyle for patients and staff, smoking became prohibited on the hospital grounds, the smoking shelters was removed and it was no longer acceptable to smoke at the entrances to the hospital, footpaths or the carpark.
• THERE was sadness in town at news of the death of Donie Houlihan.
Donie, of Connolly Park and formerly of O’Rahillys Villas, was well known and loved throughout Tralee and beyond as a former publican, sportsman, raconteur and rogue, but above all a gentleman. He passed away after a brave battle with illness.
• THE rain and wind came but hundreds still braved to elements for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Tralee.
The hundreds of participants were led by Grand Marshall, Rick Leonard, who arrived in Mayor Terry O’Brien’s vehicle and took his place in the shelter of the stand.
There was a change this year as the parade finished on Ashe Street, due to the roadworks on Denny Street.
• AN epic battle in Austin Stack Park saw Kerry and Dublin play out a fascinating draw, 0-13 apiece in the Allianz National League game.
It was a passionate, at times ill-tempered affair but those Dubs are incredibly resilient and in the end they came back from a four point deficit to level it with time almost up to equal Kerry’s 34 game unbeaten record stretching back to the 1930s.
Tralee saw a boom weekend as hundred of Dubs fans filled the town’s hotels, B&Bs and bars.
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• IT was announced that The Mall would close to traffic from April 24 and would not reopen to vehicles until November when the transformation of the area is complete.
In a press briefing, Kerry County Senior Engineer, Eamon Scanlan, said the contractors were on schedule to complete works to make Denny Street a two-way by the start of May, however, works at the junction of the two streets will necessitate the closure of the Mall to traffic from April 24.
• FORMER government minister and North Kerry TD, Jimmy Deenihan, confirmed he would not run in the next general election and had retired from politics.
He made the announcement on Radio Kerry’s ‘Kerry Today’ programme where he told host Jerry O’Sullivan; “It was a considered decision. I look back over my career with a lot of pride and sense of achievement.”
• THERE was great sadness in town at the news of the closure of Barry’s Bakery on Rock Street.
Barry’s sliced pan, the pan loaf and the vanilla slices in particular, were synonymous with growing up in the town and the news about the loss of 20 jobs was especially devastating.
A statement from Barry’s Bakery – in which they thanked their hardworking staff, family, suppliers and loyal customers – attributed the closure to falling sales.
• HUNDREDS of white-clad figures gathered in Mercy Mounthawk gym aiming to break the record of having the most number of ‘ghosts’ in one location and raise funds for the Kerry Branch of Arthritis Ireland.
Some 560 participants were dressed from head to toe in a one-piece white bed sheet with two cut out eye pieces and gathered together in the gym by just before 4pm to stand for five minutes to break the record. They found out in November that they had achieved their goal.
• GARDAI in Cork launched a murder investigation after the body of Tralee woman, 38 year old Nicola Collins, was discovered at a house in Pophams Road, Faranree, Cork. The mother of three had been living in Togher in Cork City, but was originally from Tralee.
• THE Kerry Under 21s beat Cork on Rebel soil for the first time in 20 years. Jack O’Connor’s charges did it in style too at Pairc Uí Rinn racking up 2-16 in a 16 point win over the home side.
Na Gaeil’s Andrew Barry won the man of the match award, but Kerry had impressive players all over the pitch.
