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Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2018, here’s the news from August…
• THE month began with an appeal from the CEO of the Rose of Tralee International Festival that businesses in the town contribute more for the street entertainment programme.
“As it stands financial support to the Festival from business people outside the town and county is over four times more than the local contribution. That imbalance is not healthy and we would hope that this appeal will help to create an awareness of the importance of supporting an event that highlights so much that is positive about Tralee,” said Anthony O’Gara.
• FIANNA Fáil’s National Constituencies Committee confirmed the addition of Cllr. Norma Moriarty to the party ticket in the Kerry constituency for the next general election.
She joined sitting TD and Spokesperson on Primary Care and Community Health, John Brassil. Cllr. Moriarty is a native of Waterville, and stood in the 2016 General Election where she polled over 4400 first preference votes.
• A MUCH-LOVED John Mitchels stalwart was remembered in early August and over €12,000 was raised for the Palliative Care Unit.
The Robert O’Dowd Memorial Walk/Run drew a crowd of 650 people and there were some high profile participants among them, including Liverpool FC legend Alan Kennedy, rugby’s Mick Galwey, John Leahy of Tipp hurling fame and Aidan O’Mahony.
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• KERRY exited the All-Ireland championship in the first weekend of August despite beating Kildare convincingly in Killarney.
A huge crowd turned up but went home disappointed after news came through that Monaghan won easily against Galway, thus dumping us out for another year.
• FIFTY new jobs were announced for Tralee by a major recruitment company.
Sigmar, Recruitment said the positons were for international recruiters to work in the company’s European Talent Hub, which opened in Tralee at Liber House, Monavalley.
Shaun O’Shea, Sigmar Head of European Recruitment says: “As a Tralee native, I am truly delighted to help bring such a positive jobs announcement to the region. One of our deciding factors was the research into the area which highlighted the huge talent pool of ambitious individuals who we believe we can nurture with our experience and skills to help build new exciting career paths.”
• A STONE monument was erected at Neil Armstrong Way near Siamsa Tire, with new information panels giving details about the first man to walk on the moon and his connection to Tralee.
Neil Armstrong visited the town in 1997 and received a great welcome from the people of the Tralee. When Armstrong died in 2012, the then Chairman of Tralee Town Council, Johnnie Wall, proposed they name the walkway after him to remember that famous visit and his achievements.
In a collaboration between Tralee Chamber Alliance and Kerry County Council, a stone monument, made by Billy Leen, which previously stood in an area outside of Tralee, was moved to the walkway, with a few embellishments.
• KIRSTEN Mate Maher from Waterford was crowned the new Rose of Tralee. It’s the third time a Waterford Rose has won. Orla Burke won in 1977 and Brenda Hyland in 1983.
There were emotional scenes as the 21 years old woman from the Deise heard her name called out by Daithi O Se in the Dome. Kirsten is the first African-Irish contestant to win as her mother is Irish and father is from Zambia originally.
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• BALLYMACELLIGOTT and Kilflynn Post Offices were among 12 rural offices that An Post announced would close as part of An Post’s rationalisation plan.
An Post published the locations of 159 Post Offices nationally where the serving postmaster has opted to retire under an agreement between An Post and the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU).
The 12 Kerry post offices to close were Asdee, Ballinskelligs, Ballylongford, Ballmacelligott, Banemore Cross, Currow, Duagh, Gneeveguilla, Kilflynn, Knocknagoshel, Mastergeehy, and Moyvane.
• GARDAI in Kilkenny were investigating after allegations of a racist verbal attack on the new Rose of Tralee, Kirsten Mate Maher.
It was alleged Ms Maher and her boyfriend were abused by two male customers in a fast food takeaway on John Street, Kilkenny. One man was alleged to have racially abused her before her boyfriend intervened asking him to cease, but a second man then became involved. Gardai took statements from those present.
• LIXNAW were county champions again after a dramatic end to the Kerry SHC final in Austin Stack Park when they beat Kilmoyley by 1-16 to 2-11.
A saved penalty by Martin Stackpoole denied them victory with the final puck of the game and the referee called time before Maurice O’Connor shot to the net from the rebound, but it did not count.
