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Continuing our review of 2023 we look back at some of the news we brought you in July…
• THE Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle was another massive success in early July with around 4,500 setting off from early in the morning on the route.
Thankfully, the sun was shining for the most part and there was a carnival atmosphere at the Beech Road Car Park in Killarney as cyclists arrived home after the gruelling event.
One of them was Anthony ‘Anto’ Cronin, a teacher in CBS The Green, who participated on a penny farthing bicycle in aid of Kerry Mountain Rescue, one of the main beneficiaries of the 41st edition of the event.
• THERE was a great turnout early in the month for the launch of a book from a first-time local author.
‘What Anna Did Next’, was the debut novel by Denise Brassil and her late sister Martha. Denise’s family and friends gathered in The Rose Hotel where she launched the book and was interviewed on stage by Radio Kerry’s Elaine Kinsella.
It was an emotional afternoon for the Caherslee woman who explained the novel has been over two decades in the making.
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• TRUE golfing royalty was present in Tralee Golf Club when Gary Player paid a visit to the Barrow course to play a bit of golf and meet members.
The winner of nine majors also posed next to the statue of the Tralee course’s designer, Arnold Palmer, a friend and contemporary of the South African legend.
• IT was announced a new humanitarian scheme agreed by Government ministers would provide up to €200,000 for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies who, through no fault of their own, had been unable to obtain flood insurance and were affected by recent floods in Kerry in June.
Flooding occurred in Tralee, Killarney, Listowel and other parts of Kerry last month due to freak rainfall amounts over a short period.
This new scheme will provide much-needed funds to these organisations to carry out essential repairs to their businesses and to return premises to their pre-flood conditions.
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Mairead Fernane.
• THERE was great sadness in Tralee in mid-July at the news of the passing of Mairead Fernane. Mairead was a former Chairperson of Austin Stacks GAA Club and a true Rockie to the core growing up in Rock Street.
Mairead was also a Fine Gael Councillor elected to Tralee Town Council in 2009 and served as Deputy Mayor in 2009/10 and 2013/14. Mairead was a prominent local activist for the Tralee Community Hospital and also served with the Kerry Hospice Foundation committee for 15 years, retiring in 2021. In 2005, Mairead founded Victim Assistance, a voluntary organisation which helps victims of crime.
• PLANS for a new five-day festival of family fun and street entertainment in Tralee in August were at an advanced stage.
The name and branding for the new ‘Féile Thrá Lí’ were unveiled on July 17. Féile Thrá Lí, the Tralee StreetFest would take place between August 18-22 to coincide with the Rose of Tralee International Festival.
• THE County League Division 1 relegation playoff battle between Austin Stacks and Kerins O’Rahillys was held on Sunday, July 23 and it was the Blues who prevailed after an epic battle in difficult conditions at Austin Stack Park. They retained their Division 1 status while the Rockies headed down to Division 2.
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• RTÉ announced that Kathryn Thomas would join Dáithí Ó Sé as co-host for the Rose of Tralee 2023.
The pair would make history as the first ever joint presenters of RTÉ’s coverage of the Festival, broadcasting live from the Kerry Sports Academy at the Munster Technological University (MTU) on August 21st and 22nd.
• SOMEONE scooped the €1 million top prize in a Lotto Plus 1 draw in late July after purchasing their ticket in Murphy’s Supervalu on Railway Road in Kenmare.
Store owner Derry Murphy was delighted to hear the good news: “It really could be anyone who’s won, since we have a real mix of locals and tourists who shop with us every day.” It later emerged that it was a European tourist who won the prize.
• LOUISE Ní Mhuircheartaigh produced a stunning display and shot 1-10 as Kerry ladies took another major step towards ending their famine as they booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland final for the second year in a row.
There was a huge Kerry crowd in Semple Stadium in Thurles for the semi-final against Mayo which they won by 1-16 t0 1-11.
• THE Kerry footballers suffered heartbreak against Dublin once again as they were beaten in the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park on July 30.
A rainy day in Dublin was the setting for Kerry’s defeat at the hands of our great rivals and there was disappointment on the faces of the many, many thousands of Kerry fans who made the trip to the capital.
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