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Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from July…
• THE R556 road between Collins’ Cross near Abbeydorney and Ballinclogher Cross (known as the Rathscannell Road) closed to traffic in July, to facilitate significant roadworks.
However, the council acknowledged the inconvenience for local residents and every effort would be made to mitigate the impact on them, so access for residents will be maintained at all times, but the road would be closed to all non-resident traffic.
• A PREMIER Junior Camogie Championship between Kerry and Wicklow had to be postoned due to the contaminated water incident in Limerick in late May.
Around 60 people, including 12 Kerry players, involved in camogie fell ill after drinking water in the Croagh Kilfinny GAA Grounds.
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• THERE was anger expressed as the St Vincent De Paul shop on Castle Street was forced to close for the day because of equipment left piled up outside the front of the shop and inaccessibility issues.
Footpath improvement work was taking place for the Council and when the contractor left for the weekend, they left barriers and equipment stacked up near the windows, while the shop can only be accessed by what was described as an unsteady plank.
The Council have expressed regret that the contractor left the area in such a way and have contacted them about the matter.
• BAILY’S Corner announced it had to close until further notice. Work had been taking place at the front of the building on Castle Street to extend the pub, but in July there were safety concerns.
Kerry County Council and the gardaí made a decision to close Castle Street to traffic from the corner of Edward Street to the junction at Ashe Street.
• KERRY County Council opened a Book of Condolences for the late Brendan Grace after he passed away in July.
Brendan Grace was a frequent visitor to Kerry over a number of decades and performed his shows many times in Tralee.
He was also in Blennerville back in July 2016 to unveil a plaque dedicated to the memory of Tralee character, Nedeen Kelliher.
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• Kerry played two games in the Super 8 All-Ireland quarter final series in July.
The first was a comprehensive 1-22 to 0-15 win against Mayo in Killarney on July 14, while a week later they played out a thrilling draw against Donegal in Croke Park. More exciting days would lie ahead.
• COUNCILLORS in the Tralee Municipal District approved local authority housing developments in Tralee at the July meeting.
There will be 30 residential units built at Croogorts near the Gort na Gréine/Rockwood Park/Lios Rua/Gallowsfield estates, on a greenfield site of 1.13 hectares.
They also unanimously approved the construction of a 61 unit housing development at Lohercannon. An application for a development at Hawley Park for a two storey complex consisting of 12 one bedroom/two person apartments and four two bedroom/three person apartments was also passed unanimously.
• A NEW tarmacadamed walkway was developed in one of the most scenic parts of Tralee thanks to the generosity of a local landowner.
Brian Walsh allowed for the fenced off laneway to be constructed on his land near the car park by the lock gates in Lohercannon going out to Cockleshell Road/beach and it’s already proving a big hit with walkers during the fine weather this summer.
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• A LOCAL councillor asked the Council to take measures to make the Abbeycourt area less hazardous to pedestrians.
Cllr Toireasa Ferris said the kerbing around the trees there was causing problems and someone had fallen recently.
The Council said they would have a look at it. They also said that they had engaged the services of an independent and competent test facility to assess the slip resistance of the slab surfaces in Abbeycourt and the Square in February of this year. Following their assessment, no areas of high slip potential were identified.
• FENIT RNLI Lifeboat saved the lives of four people responding to a late night mayday call for assistance in Tralee Bay in late July.
The volunteer crew of Fenit RNLI responded with full efficiency to the call following an urgent request for assistance by the Irish Coastguard late. Urgent assistance was required for a speedboat carrying four people which was taking in water very quickly.
The All Weather Lifeboat with a full crew arrived at the scene within a very short time and transferred them from the vessel onto the lifeboat safely and securely.
