Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane and Frank Hartnett Senior Executive Engineer at Kerry County Council at the new space near the Strand Street roundabout. Photo by Dermot Crean
DRIVERS approaching the roundabout near Strand Street were understandably distracted over the past few days as a beautiful mural and garden space area has been created there.
The mural, by local artist Mary J Leen, depicts Mons Hugh O’Flaherty who was Ireland’s answer to Oscar Schindler, in the sense that he saved over 6,500 lives of Jews and anti-fascists during World War 2 while in Rome.
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Mons O’Flaherty lived just yards from the new memorial, spending the first two years of his life in the building which is now The Huddle Bar.
A plaque was unveiled at the building to commemorate him back in November.
The plaque created by stonemason Billy Leen at the garden.
On that day it was agreed that the area of ground adjacent to the Strand Road roundabout would be named in the Monsignor’s honour and so it came to pass on Friday.
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Kerry County Council staff worked hard to create the space and their toil has paid off.
The area looks beautiful with a wooden fence, short path, seating area and plants. There is also a stone plaque and a striking stone monument near the mural, created by local stonemason, Billy Leen.
Mayor of Tralee, Jim Finucane, was there to see the finished development.
“The whole story of Hugh O’Flaherty is such an extraordinary one. We had Holocaust survivor, Tomi Reichental, here in November to unveil the plaque and a project like this makes history alive for people. It’s a beautiful use of space. It’s eye-catching and very effective,” said Mayor Finucane.
“It enhances the local area,” said Communications Officer with Kerry County Council, Padraig Corkery. “Already there have been very positive comments about the space and it looks great at night when it’s lit up. The hope is that it’ll be added to the list of attractions and amenities trail around the town that the Tourism Development Officer is working on,” said Mr Corkery.
Scroll down for a (very) short video to get an idea of what the space looks like and further down for more photos…
The mural of Mons Hugh O’Flaherty by the roundabout near Strand Road lit up on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean.
The bench at the new space dedicated to Mons Hugh O’Flaherty. Photo by Dermot Crean
