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Continuing our review of 2023 we look back at some of the news we brought you in September…
Katie Hannon
• RTE journalist Katie Hannon was selected as the 2023 Kerry Person of the Year while two Radio Kerry sports broadcasters were honoured by the Kerry Association in Dublin.
Ambrose O’Donovan and Tim Moynihan were selected to receive the Laochra Chiarraí award which recognises exemplary leadership in community activity in the county.
Both awards were presented at the Association’s annual Oíche Chiarraí in the Louis Fitzgerald hotel, Dublin in October.
• THERE were some very fancy cars on display at the FBD Insurance/Peevers Slye Cotter car park on Dan Spring Road for the second ‘Automobili Italia Tralee’.
Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Lancias and many more old and new cars rolled into the venue for the successful event which raises funds for the Irish Wheelchair Association.
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• IT was revealed that Kerry County Council have plans for developments at Blennerville Windmill.
They revealed they are progressing a design for extensive upgrading of the existing Blennerville Windmill Visitor Centre. The first phase of the development project proposes a new Bakery and Baking School which has received funding approval under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
• A LOCAL councillor called for immediate maintenance work on the old O’Sullivan’s Bar building in Fenit.
Speaking at the Tralee Municipal District meeting of Kerry County Council on Monday, Sinn Féin Cllr Deirdre Ferris said the building was in such a state of neglect that it was in danger of collapse. She asked that something be done immediately in regard to maintenance.
Cllr Ferris said it was a building of historical importance to the area and local development groups should be consulted as to the future use of the building.
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• IT was revealed plans for the new plaza area at the bus and railway station in Tralee will reach the planning stage by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
The proposed plaza area to the front of Casement Station will involve a landmark re-invention of the space on the southern aspect of the Tralee Casement Train Station which will revitalise the Train and Bus Station and its environs.
The proposed redeveloped area will create a sustainable transport hub and a serviced termination/start point for the Tralee Fenit Greenway linking to the numerous proposed and existing safe cycling and walking routes throughout the Town.
• MINISTER for Education Norma Foley TD announcesd official project approval for a second multi-million euro building project for Mercy Mounthawk Secondary school, Tralee.
The new project brief caters for six classrooms dedicated for the provision of special education with five pastoral rooms; one home economics room; two graphics rooms; two science labs and a prep area; two art rooms with six project store rooms; two construction studies rooms and six engineering rooms.
• THE Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council decided he would not run for office in the next local elections due to be held in 2024.
Fine Gael’s Tralee Municipal District Cllr, Jim Finucane, originally from Tarbert, successfully ran for Tralee Town Council in 1986 and would spend the next 14 years in that local authority.
He took a break from politics for much of the Noughties but returned in 2009 when he was asked to run for the County Council and he has been reelected twice since then.
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• ASTELLAS Pharma Ireland announced it is to apply for planning permission for a €330 million facility at the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee.
When constructed, the new plant will provide investment for Tralee and bring 110 highly-specialized engineering, science and technology jobs to the county and the region. Around 600 people will be employed during the construction of the building.
• A LOTTO player in Kerry won the top prize of €1 million in a Lotto Plus 1 draw. The Kerry winner scooped their top prize after purchasing their ticket online at www.lottery.ie or through the National Lottery app.
The National Lottery confirmed that a notification to the user’s online account and a separate email had been sent to the lucky Kerry ticket holder.
• TRALEE Bay Wetlands Eco and Activity Park and Tralee Town Park were recognised once again with Green Flag awards.
They were among the 101 parks, gardens, grounds and wildlife sanctuaries around the country announced as Green Flag Award winners this year.
Tralee Bay Wetlands received 2023 Green Flag Award and Heritage Site Accreditation as well as the Overall Pollinator Award.
• NINE Kerry players received PwC GAA Football All-Star nominations with David Clifford among three nominees for Footballer of the Year.
All-Ireland football champions Dublin had 10 nominations among the list of 45 players spread across 13 counties – the largest representative breakdown since 2008.
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