Continuing our review of stories we brought you in 2019, here’s the news from November…
• THE month began with The PwC All-Stars Awards and the Young Player of the Year went to Kenmare’s Sean O’Shea.
He also picked up an All-Star along with teammates Tom O’Sullivan, David Moran and David Clifford. Other Kerry nominees included Shane Ryan, Tadhg Morley, Paul Murphy, Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien.
• TO mark the passing of the late Gay Byrne, Books of Condolence were opened at Kerry County Council offices in Tralee (County Buildings)
The Rose of Tralee Festival has paid tribute to the late broadcaster who presented the live selection night shows at the Dome for many years. Gay Byrne compered the show from 1974-1994 and continued as a judge from 1996 through to 2001.
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• COUNCILLORS in Tralee Municipal District gave the go-ahead for a new local authority estate at Ballyrickard.
The development will consist of 21 housing units of 15 three-bedroom houses and six four-bedroom homes, access road, parking, services, landscaping and associated works.
It will be located at a greenfield site north of Kerins Park, with Ballyrickard Court on the east, Ballyrickard Close to the north and The Kerries housing estate to the west.
• GARDAI arrested two men (early and late 20s) and a woman (early 20s) following the seizure of €4,150 of suspected drugs and €1,700 in cash during the search of a house in the Cois Abhainn area of Tralee on November 9.
Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit executed a search warrant at the house and during the course of the search Gardaí seized suspected cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cannabis worth approximately €4,150.
• A BALLYMAC woman won an impressive €62,000 on Winning Streak almost five years after she first appeared on a National Lottery TV game show.
Ita Neligan won a hefty €62,000 in cash which dwarfs the €2,000 she won when she took part in the Crack the Code game on the Million Euro Challenge game show on RTE One back in April 2015, then presented by Nicky Byrne.
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• SINN Féin Councillor Pa Daly is asking Kerry County Council to pilot a scheme in Tralee that would see people refunded for returning their plastic bottles.
Cllr Daly said Reverse Vending Machines allows people to return their plastic bottles in return for cash. Such a scheme was recently piloted in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. Cllr Daly believes Kerry County Council should look at running a similar project in Tralee.
• TRALEE Chamber Alliance announced it has plans to make a bid to host Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann in 2022 and 2023.
Managing Consultant with Tralee Chamber Alliance revealed the news at the launch of ‘Developing Tourism in Tralee — Action Plan to 2025’ by Minister of State for Sport and Tourism, Brendan Griffin.
Pat Carmody of Bank Of Ireland in Tralee and Ken Tobin have already met with key people involved with the Fleadh Cheoil to outline their desire to host the event.
• IT was truly the‘end of an era’ is overused when the Abbey Inn closed its doors for the final time after over 50 years.
The building was sold in November and the bar closed. Danny Leane’s bar developed a reputation as a great live venue back in the 70s, especially for rock music, giving local bands a chance and bringing fledgling stars down over the years, including a nascent U2.
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• AN RTÉ Investigates programme revealed there are 26 unauthorised quarries in Kerry, the second highest number for a county in Ireland.
RTÉ has found over 150 quarries across the country are unauthorised out of 1,100 active quarries in Ireland. Donegal has the most unauthorised quarries at 30, followed by Kerry with 26 and Cork with 19.
• THE sod was turned on two new greenway amenities in Kerry marking the commencement of construction on the multi-million-euro projects.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, today turned the sod on the new ten-kilometre Tralee to Fenit Greenway and the 10.5km greenway between Listowel and the Limerick county bounds. Construction on the Tralee-Fenit Greenway is expected to take between 18 months and two years.
• THERE was a fantastic family-friendly atmosphere in The Square on November 30 as the Christmas lights were switched on. Thousands of people filled The Square to dance and enjoy the festivities.
Mayor of Tralee, Jim Finucane and Brian McMahon from Ballyvelly switched on the lights to the cheers of the crowd.