.
Continuing our look back at the stories we brought you in 2020, here’s the news from November…
Caoilinn Harte.
• Following a nationwide search to uncover Ireland’s most inspirational people, eight-year-old Caoilinn Harte from Listowel, is celebrating after being named an Inspirational Hero in the Gala Retail and Virgin Media Inspiration Awards.
Nominated by family and friends for the Inspiration Awards, Caoilinn stood out for her compassionate selfless acts, positive attitude, and kind heart during the current pandemic.
• It was announced that the annual free parking period for Christmas would begin in Tralee on Monday, November 30 and will continue until Monday, January 4, but this time it’s free all day in Kerry County Council car parks.
Continued below…
.
• The results of a survey on Tralee Town Park showed that members of the public in town would recommend the facility to visitors, but more needs to be done in terms of safety and some other facilities.
The findings of the survey were presented at the Tralee Municipal District meeting of Kerry County Council by Tralee MD Officer Jean Foley.
• It was announced the County Council would introduce further treatment of the surface of The Square after a successful trial period over the past six months.
Council Management acknowledged the improved performance of the surface areas treated and is now in the process of extending the trial area over an area measuring in excess of 50% of the Square.
• Tralee Municipal District councillors said dog owners need to exercise common sense and respect in relation to Rath Cemetery and greater deterrents are needed in relation to dog-fouling there.
At the meeting of the Tralee MD of Kerry County Council in November, Sinn Féin Cllr Cathal Foley asked Council management what are the regulations in relation to the control of dogs at Rath Cemetery as he had received a message from a very upset person about a dog fouling on a grave of a relative in Rath.
Continued below…
.
Rosie Kennelly.
• A Presentation Secondary School student won a national award for her public speaking skills today.
Rosie Kennelly, a sixth year student, won the ARTiculation 2020 public speaking All Ireland Final with a presentation on artist Chuck Close.
• Funding totalling €9,380,000 has been allocated for three Kerry-based Greenway projects under the allocations announced for Greenways in 2021 across the country. The Tralee-Fenit Greenway, which is currently under construction, received €3,440,000, and is due to be completed next year.
• Kerry County Council has to this point in November received a total sum of €11,778,139.23 of a commercial rates rebate from the Government.
The rates rebate covers the period from March – January since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rory Kirby.
• A Tralee man came third in a prestigious radio drama awards.
Rory Kirby’s play ‘The Gypsy Girl’ made the top three in the RTÉ PJ O’Connor Radio Drama Awards which has been running for over 30 years and celebrates the best in new Irish writing.
“I am beyond delighted to have placed third in the for my play The Gypsy Girl. RTÉ Drama On One will now record and air the play,” said Rory, who also received a prize of €3,000.
• Due to Level 5 Restrictions, the annual switching on of the Christmas lights which normally takes place in front of hundreds of people was very different this year.
The lights were switched on in an online ceremony by the Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Terry O’Brien and his family on November 22 with a special video made for the occasion.
Continued below…
.
• Three Mercy Mounthawk students were celebrating this week after winning two prestigious awards at Scifest 2020, which was held in November.
Dara Newsome, David Hughes and Conor Bradshaw’s ‘Specs’ project — an adapted spectacle system for Dementia patients — won both the Intel Technology Award and the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Grand Award.
• A Tralee girl was one of the stars of ‘The Late Late Toy Show’. Eight year old Saoirse Moynihan, a pupil in Caherleaheen NS, was a guest on the show and received a special message from none other than David Williams.
Budding vet Saoirse also examined her patient, ‘Toby Tubridy’ the toy dog, and performed a coronavirus test on him before administering the Pfizer vaccine, much to the amusement of the host.
• Well-known local building contractor Tom Ross died and five others have been injured at a building on Ashe Street on November 28.
The men were doing construction work on the building when part of the chimney collapsed at around 8am this morning. It’s believed 68-year-old Mr Ross, a building contractor, was on the ground floor of the building when it happened.
• Gardai conducted a search of a suspected Shebeen premises operating in Causeway where they found a fully operational bar.
The bar featured a number of beer taps, along with a fully operational cooler room with gas lines and cooler to operate the taps.
The premises was fitted with a number of tables, chairs, pool table, dart board, arcade games and an 80 inch flat screen television.
Neil Flynn.
• A Tralee man has won a prestigious international playwrighting competition run by the BBC.
The BBC World Service and the British Council announced the winning entries for the 2020 International Radio Playwriting Competition and Neil Flynn’s ‘The Snowman’ won the top prize in the English As a First Language category.
• As of November 30, the official number of COVID-19 cases in Kerry since the start of the pandemic stood at 1,331 (an increase of 268 on the previous month).
