.Cllr Angie Baily, Mayor of Tralee Mikey Sheehy and Billy Nolan at ‘Castle Street Through the Ages: An Evening at Jess McCarthy’s’ on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean
THERE was an entertaining and a insightful gathering at a Tralee pub on Thursday to learn more about the history of one of our most famous streets.
‘Castle Street Through the Ages: An Evening at Jess McCarthy’s’ saw the proprietor of the aforementioned pub, Justin McCarthy and local historian Mike O’Donnell speak about Castle Street and its rich history.
The event, which was part of National Heritage Week, was sold out and a great opportunity to learn more about the local area and the businesses on the street through the years.
.Justin McCarthy of Jess McCarthy’s Bar with Colette O’Connor of Tralee Chamber, Martha Farrell of Tralee Tidy Towns and local history expert Mike O’Donnell at ‘Castle Street Through the Ages: An Evening at Jess McCarthy’s’ on Thursday. Photo by Dermot CreanKerry Lewis, Anne O’Donnell, Melanie O’Donnell and Claire O’Donnell at ‘Castle Street Through the Ages: An Evening at Jess McCarthy’s’ on Thursday. Photo by Dermot Crean
.Castle Street is open again. Photo: Bailys Corner/Facebook
CASTLE Street has reopened to traffic after almost a month closed…and so has Baily’s Corner.
The street had to be closed following a structural assessment of the building on Castle Street and a subsequent consultation with An Garda Síochána back on July 6.
Baily’s Corner broke the news on their facebook page earlier tonight with a photo of the street.
“Thanks to everyone for their amazing support and well wishes. It’s really means a lot! See you all later,” read the post, explaining they were open from 8pm tonight. Best of luck to them!
.Traders on Castle Street look forward to the Christmas shopping season.
WITH the festive season fast approaching the businesses of Castle Street, Tralee have come together to promote the street as a great place to shop and dine this Christmas.
By supporting local business you are helping to support local jobs and your community, so this Christmas, why not visit Castle Street which has everything you need.
Stop off at one of the three banks before you start your shopping, pick up the perfect gift from the many retailers and then have some lunch in a hotel or restaurant.
Why not get Christmas party ready in a local hair and beauty salons and then come enjoy the festive atmosphere in the many vibrant pubs on Upper and Lower Castle Street.
From shoes to jewellery, phones to books, fashion to food and much, much more, Castle Street can cater for your shopping and entertainment tastes this Christmas.
.On the opening day of Gaudinos on Castle Street were, from, from left: Teresa Roche, Suzanne McCluskey, Rosario Gaudino, Gilbert Ecker, Catherine Gaudino and Leonie Hanafin. Photo by Gavin O’Connot
FORTY-FIVE year ago, an Italian named Rosario Gaudino came to Tralee and opened a restaurant which was to become an institution for people of a certain age – the Allegro.
For anyone who went to secondary school in the 70s, 80s or 90s, it’s safe to say you spent a bit of time there whether it be for a plate of their famous chips, a coffee and a chat or to spot the talent in the next booth.
The restaurant moved from the corner of the Mall/Denny Street in the early noughties to Castle Street near Bank Of Ireland and now Rosario’s son (also Rosario), has shown he’s a chip (sorry!) off the old block by rebranding and reopening his father’s business.
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Rosario and wife Fiona, have decided to put their own stamp on the business with an emphasis on a classic Italian grill.
“We didn’t think we were reaching our full potential in the town,” said Rosario Gaudino. “So we said, we’d revamp and rebrand and go for it,” he added.
In addition to bringing back existing staff, the business has brought on five new workers and hopes to add a further four in the coming weeks.
On Wednesday, Gaudinos, opened its doors for the first time to the public. The family have given the interior of the restaurant a rustic Italian makeover, to complement the menu and the heritage of the family. Gaudinos will be open from 9am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.
The new interior of Gaudinos on Castle Street, formerly The Allegro.
It’s Lent! And Gavin O’Connor has a few alternatives to giving up chocolate and drink over the next 40 days…
The blackspot of bad driving that is the Island of Geese.
1. Bad Drivers, please give up the Island of Geese Roundabout
If you’d like to see a live example of Darwin’s ‘survival of fittest’ theory in action, rock on up to the ‘Island of Geese’ any rush hour and watch the shocking driving and bewilderment unfold.
Here’s a tip: if you don’t know that traffic coming from the right has the right of way, that isn’t your cue to don a kamikaze headscarf and roll straight through the roundabout like a nutjob.
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2. Austin Stacks fans, be nicer to ‘Naries’
This is more an all year round suggestion given the Rock’s defeat last Sunday. The Stacks fans have been incredible, but it might be worth noting if you really ‘hate no-one’ maybe publicly taunting your nearest and dearest neighbours about your success is not the way to go.
I’m sure if the shoe was on the other foot, there’d be none of that stuff from the blue side of town…ahem!
3. Give up throwing litter on Castle Street late at night
The concentration of fast food joints on upper Castle Street can be a good thing for revellers searching for a post-midnight feast.
But some nights you could seriously slide down Castle Street with all discarded leftovers and litter.
Find a bin guys, it’s good for everyone…alternatively, give up fast food for the month!
4. Give to the Soup Kitchen
Sometimes looks can be deceiving and a lot of people in town are struggling to put food on the table, the Soup Kitchen next to St John’s Church on Ashe Street is a vital resource to some of those less fortunate.
The Soup Kitchen will accept non-perishables and if you give them a call they’ll even come collect them for you. Get in contact with them on: 086-3188736.
5. Give up the evening’s telly
With the evenings beginning to stretch and hopefully most of the more debilitating weather behind us, the outdoor life is looking a bit more attractive.
Arise from winter hibernation and maybe take an hour stroll each day to clear the head. Many of us take the beautiful scenery right on our doorstep for granted. Let’s get re-acquainted with it.
Sandra O Sullivan, with her second place ‘ALFAPARF Junior Category’ award at the ‘ALFAPARF Hairdressing Awards’ on in the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Dublin last week.
SANDRA O’SULLIVAN, a hairdresser with the Sean Taaffe Hair & Beauty Group who have an outlet in Tralee, came second in top annual hairdressing awards.
Sandra, came second in the ‘ALFAPARF Junior Category Hairdresser Awards’ at a ceremony at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Dublin last week.
“As a Group we decided to only enter one category this year, so it was particularly rewarding to win second place,” said Sean Taaffe.
Sandra, from Milltown. works in Sean Taffe’s Killarney Salon and joined the hair and beauty group over 16 months ago. This was the first hairdressing competition she ever entered, so it was extra special for her to be recognised.
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The judges were impressed with both her technical knowledge and expertise in the highly competitive ‘Colour, Cut & Blow Dry Category’. Sandra was the only entrant from the Sean Taaffe Group into the hairdressing categories in the competition this year.
The Sean Taaffe Group employs over 50 people in its five businesses throughout Kerry including a salon on Castle Street.
Previously the Sean Taaffe Group have won numerous awards including the overall award of ‘ALFAPARF Fantastic Salon of the Year 2012’, 1st place in ‘Fantasy 2012’ (by Marta Plechowska) and Sean Taaffe won the highest individual category, the ‘ALFAPARF Fantastic Hairdresser of the Year in 2013’.
UPPER Castle Street was the next stop for the Tralee Tidy Towns team in their efforts to clean up our streets.
With the help of some local businesses on the street, they did a clean up of the area yesterday morning.
“Being on the high street in the centre of the town, there is a lot of traffic and a lot of dust generated, so trying to keep the shop-face clean is a constant battle,” said Joe Mannix of Mannix Solicitors who have had offices on Castle Street for over 30 years.
Upper Castle Street is noted for having the highest concentration of takeaways in the town, six in total.
“We’re in the middle of ‘takeaway land’ here, but I’m sure it’s difficult for takeaways to keep their place clean because their clients may discard some of their rubbish after leaving their premises on nights out,” said Joe.
“There’s a relatively high occupancy on the street, so as streets go in the town it’s not bad,” said Joe.
Tralee Tidy Towns are encouraging businesses to get involved as they try to tackle the litter problems of each street during the summer months and are appealing for more people to get involved. Already they have swept their way through Rock Street and Ashe Street.
The businesses who took part in the clean up were, Skynet Internet Café, Raja’s Kebab House, Castle Hostel, Hennessy’s Bar, BetPal, John Griffin Butchers, Four Season’s Bar, Classic Hair Studio, Mannix and Co. Solicitors, Soprano’s, CostCutters and Envy Hair Studio.
At the Tralee Tidy Town’s clean up on Castle Street were, from left: Joe Mannix (Mannix Solicitors), Gretta O’Rourke (Tralee Tidy Towns), Gillian Wharton Slattery, Gearoid Ryle (Mannix Solicitors) , Stephen O’Brien (BetPal), Aki O’Rourke (Tralee Tidy Towns), Joan O’Regan (Tralee Tidy Towns)
