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Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from May…
• A TRALEE councillor called on the public to contact the gardaí when they see anti-social behaviour at the Lee Walkway.
Cllr Terry O’Brien brought up the issue at the Tralee Municipal District meeting of councillors after he received a number of complaints from people on the doorsteps when out canvassing for the local elections.
“We have a fabulous river walk but we have a problem with anti-social behaviour there. All of us have heard about it on the doorstep. It’s a fabulous amenity but people are afraid to go down there, because there’s an element that have taken it over,” he said.
• TRALEE-BASED software development company, JRI America announced it was to further expand and create 100 new jobs over the next five years at its centre in Kerry Technology Park.
Since 2011, when JRI America, Inc. established in Ireland, it has grown its team in Tralee to 100 staff. JRI America, Inc. now plans to expand its Tralee Technology Centre with the creation of a Security Operations Centre (SOC) involving around 25 roles across a range of security-related functions including Security Operations, Security Event/Incident Monitoring, Threat Vulnerability Analysis & Management & Network/Systems Security.
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• THE moving of the Tralee Food Festival from September to early May resulted in the event proving an even greater success as thousands attended events.
The fine weather helped but it seemed that the people of Tralee really took ownership of the festival and thronged the town on Saturday and Sunday.
• KERRY County Council came in for heavy criticism from Tralee Municipal District (MD) councillors, businesses and the general public for the poor state of the grass and plants in the Town Park.
They also criticised the lack of policing in the Town Park playground where teenagers and older children are causing problems and making it a no-go area for families.
Cllr Toireasa Ferris said that the Town Park is not looking its best and appeared ‘butchered and scalped’ in some parts.
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• PEOPLE of all ages took part in the Darkness Into Light Tralee walk for Pieta House on May 11.
Tralee Bay Wetlands proved the perfect venue and the dry weather also played its part to enhance the atmosphere as thousands of people set off at 4.15am.
Con O’Connor of Pieta House praised the organisers and said it was a special morning.
“To see thousands of people relaxing and just sitting for hours afterwards, totally calm conditions without a ripple on the lake and the steam rising from the heat of the early morning sun was just so spiritual and uplifting for so many people there,” he said.
Ciara Sheehy
• TRALEE truck driver Ciara Sheehy won an amazing €52,000 and a holiday in Iceland on the National Lottery Winning Streak TV game show on May 11.
Ciara had great support on the show on Saturday night from boyfriend John and family members. She spoke about her job as a truck driver and how she met John and appparently did all the chasing! She also saw a video message of good luck from her niece Seoidín and nephew Donnacha back home.
• THE Institute of Technology, Tralee welcomed An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney TD to officially open the €19 million Kerry Sports Academy (KSA).
Construction began on the Kerry Sports Academy in 2017 and the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., turned the first sod on 27th March 27, 2017.
The KSA is located in the North Campus at IT Tralee and provides state-of-the-art facilities for the Health and Leisure Programmes at the IT Tralee; UNESCO Chair in Inclusive Physical Education, Sport Fitness, and Recreation; National Centre for Adapted Physical Activity – CARA; Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – Traditional Irish Music Headquarters; Kerry GAA.
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• CIARA Griffin was announced as the Women’s XVs Player of the Year at the Zurich Irish Rugby Players Awards.
The Irish Women’s Rugby team’s captain, who hails from Ballymac, was named as the winner at the awards which took place at the Clayton Hotel on the Burlington Road.
• THE then Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Norma Foley warmly welcomed the news that Kerry had retained its 14 Blue Flags at 13 of the county’s beaches as well as Fenit Marina.
The decision of the International Blue Flag jury announced on May 20 sees the following beaches retain their flags for 2019: Rossbeigh, Ballybunion North, Ballybunion South, Ballyheigue, Fenit, Maherbeg, Kells, Derrynane, White Strand, Ballinskelligs, Banna, Ceann Trá (Ventry) and Inch. Fenit Marina also retains it Blue Flag this year.
• NORMA Foley topped the poll to retain her seat on the Tralee Municipal District as the local elections took place.
The seven councillors elected were, in no particular order, Sam Locke, Independent, Pa Daly of Sinn Fein, Mikey Sheehy of Fianna Fail, Cllr Jim Finucane of Fine Gael, Cllr Toireasa Ferris of Sinn Féin, Norma Foley of Fianna Fáil and Cllr Terry O’Brien of Labour as Tralee area representatives on the Council.
• TRALEE brothers who spearheaded a campaign to clean up the canal area won a national award for their efforts.
Nine year old twins Evan and Alex and their 12 year-old brother Dylan Nealon travelled to the ECO UNESCO Young Environmentalists Awards at the National Convention Centre in Dublin and came home with the Overall Super Junior Award for their ‘Evan, Alex and Dylan’s Tralee Canal Clean Up’ entry.
The Nealon brothers’ project involves the removal of plastic from the Tralee canal and bay, as well as the protection of wildlife and the environment.
• THE Austin Stacks GAA family was in mourning after the news of the passing of Jackie Power.
Son of Limerick hurling legend, Jackie and brother of Kerry great, Ger, Jackie himself was an accomplished hurler and footballer with the Stacks club.
