REVIEW 2020: The News From July

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Continuing our look back at the stories we brought you in 2020, here’s the news from July…

• Data from AIB revealed Friday, June 12 was the busiest day for shopping in Kerry as stores reopened after lockdown.

The data was been compiled from over one million AIB debit and credit card transactions between 18th May and 14th June.

The data also showed that Kerry consumers were spending more on fast food and takeaways. The average transaction amounts for each of those sectors was higher over phase one and two of the government’s reopening plan than before the Covid-19 restrictions came into place.

• Councillors in the Tralee Municipal District approved plans for the public realm aspect of the Island of Geese site.

They also approved plans for an office block and retail/restaurant/cafe unit on the site. The plans included a main paved area surrounding retained feature chimney; a pocket park with a digital interactive children’s play area and a raised semi-circular shallow amphitheatre sitting area next the chimney.

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• Tralee Municipal District councillors approved the construction of eight social housing units in Rahoonane.

The development will consist of four terraced two bedroom units and four terraced three-bedroom units on a site of 0.28 hectare. The site is located at the edge of the Shanakill and Rahoonane estates fronting onto a green area adjacent to the Killeen Road.

• The Tralee-Fenit Greenway is unlikely to be finished until the last quarter of 2021, councillors heard at the July meeting of Tralee Municipal District.

They heard construction works had commenced again on the project after the site was closed for a period of two months due to the COVID-19 restrictions. They said it is anticipated that works will be complete in Q3/ early Q4 2021.

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• The Chairman of Austin Stacks GAA Club undertook a fundraiser for the club which also aimed to reclaim the name of a local road named after a Rockie legend.

Billy Ryle will walked 100km on the Bracker O’Regan Road to raise funds for urgently needed repair and upgrading work at the Austin Stacks playing pitches in Connolly Park.

But its dual purpose is to reclaim the official name ‘Bracker O’Regan Road’ for the O’Regan family and the Stacks club, from being known colloquially as ‘The Fat Mile’.

“By donating to the fundraiser, you are sending out a clear message that it’s time to stop referring to the road as ‘The Fat Mile’,” said Billy. “The use of the word ‘fat’ is offensive and unkind to people who have weight issues and is discouraging body self-conscious people from walking on Bracker O’Regan Road.”

Miriam Murphy.

• The death took place on July 10 of renowned soprano Miriam Murphy. Tralee native Ms Murphy passed away in London, where she was based. As a child she began singing in choirs in town and attended the Kerry School of Music.

She went on to have a stellar career in the opera world singing roles at some of the world’s top opera houses. She sang with the Opéra national de Paris, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Seattle Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North, ABAO Bilbao Opera and Opéra de Lille among others.

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• Kerry County Council opened an online Book of Condolence for the late Jack Charlton as the country mourned a legend.

“Kerry is a county with a proud sporting tradition,” read a statement from the Council. “We invite the people of Kerry to extend their sympathies to Jack’s family, his friends and the wider football community, as we remember his great service to Irish football and the pride and joy his teams gave to the nation.”

• Another EuroMillions Plus winning ticket was sold in Kerry.  The €500,000 ticket was bought in Kelly’s Londis store in Milltown. It previously sold a €1 million Daily Million top prize to one of its lucky customers last February.

• The collective Kerry Chambers and Kerry County Council announced a new initiative to support local business.

The Kerry Gift Card was launched to encourage people in Kerry to shop locally and spend locally.

Operated by One4All through Tralee Chamber, the Kerry Gift Card is be available for businesses right throughout the county and allows shoppers to spend money in their outlets and on their services.

• There was terrible news for Tralee when it was announced BorgWarner in Monavalley would close at the end of March 2021 with the loss of over 200 jobs.

The decision was made due to a drop in demand for products made at the factory and the COVID-19 crisis was not a factor.

• By July 31, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kerry since the start of the pandemic stood at 317 (seven cases in the whole of July).

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