THERE was an increase in new car sales in Kerry last month compared to August 2021, according to the latest statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
There were 155 new car registrations in the county in August compared to 134 in the same month in 2021, an increase of over 15%.
So far this year 2,132 new cars have been sold in Kerry this year, up 5.8% on the same time last year when 2,015 were sold. Nationally there were 8,157 new car sales last month, while in August 2021 there were 5,966, an increase of over 36%.
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Volkswagen was the most popular make of car sold in Kerry in August at 31 units. The rest of the Top 5 was made up of Kia (23), Skoda (17), Hyundai (12) and Toyota (11).
The Kia Sportage was the most popular model with 17 units sold. The Volkswagen ID.4 (13), Toyota RAV4 (7) and the Skoda Kamiq and Volkswagen Tiguan (both on 6 units sold) making up the top 5.
There were 54 petrol engine vehicles sold, 45 diesel, 26 electric, 18 petrol electric (hybrid) vehicles, 10 petrol/plug-in electric hybrid and two diesel electric vehicles sold.
.Top International model, Sydney Sargent, (who now lives in Dingle) will judge the Listowel Tidy Towns/An Taisce Best Up-Cycled, Vintage or Preloved Outfit on the closing day of the festival race meeting on Saturday 24th of September. Photo: Don MacMonagle
With the Listowel Harvest Festival now just weeks away, a designated Listowel Races ticket shop has opened on William Street in the town today (Thursday).
Located next to McGuires pharmacy at the site of the old “Coco Kids” store, the shop be open from Thursday to Saturday between 12 to 3pm up to the start of race week.
Daily, flexi and seven day tickets will be available for purchase in store. Student and OAP tickets must be bought at the turnstiles on race day.
There is something for everyone at the forthcoming Listowel Harvest Racing Festival which runs from Sunday 18th to Saturday 24th of September.
So whether you live ‘forever in blue jeans’; consider yourself a ‘sharp dressed man’; love a retro vintage look or want to dress up to the nines . . . you could be a winner alright at the Listowel Harvest Races!
The fashion and fun starts on the opening day – Sunday 18th of September, when top radio and TV personality Elaine Kinsella will judge the Lyrath Estate Hotel Best Dressed Couple Competition, with a prize fund valued at €2,000!
So co-ordinate with your significant other and bring along any smallies as it’s also family day at the races with lots of free entertainment and a pet farm !
Monday is the premier of a brand new competition celebrating one of fashion’s most iconic wardrobe essentials – Denim Blue Jeans ! Open to everyone, ‘Forever in Blue Jeans’ is a great excuse to wear your favourite jeans and style them up or down as you wish!
Keeping with Listowel’s commitment to serious fun, Tuesday features a new Fancy Dress competition !
Let your imagination go wild. . . . and dress up as your favourite Super Hero, TV or Movie Star, Historical or Cartoon Character. The possibilities are endless! Or course, you can always just dress to impress too ! The judges will have cash prizes.
Don’t forget Tuesday is also Frankie Day – when the world famous racing legend Frankie Dettori rides at Listowel.
Fashion is taking a break on Wednesday – as the week’s racing highlight takes centre stage with The Guinness Kerry National Steeplechase €200,000 (Grade A).
Back by popular demand, the Best Dressed Man’s Competition is on Thursday and sponsored by Ryles Menswear Tralee. Judged by the very stylish Nathan McDonnell of Ballyseedy, there is an overall €2,000 value prize fund with first prize of a much coveted, tailor made, bespoke suit.
The Ladies take over on Friday! This is the 8th year of McElligotts sponsorship of this prestigious fashion event and they are delighted to welcome on board Kia Ireland as official event co-sponsors.
Judged by Bairbre Power, fashion writer; Aoife McNamara, sustainable Irish fashion designer, the fantastic first prize is a trip for two to New York, staying in the iconic Fitzpatrick Hotel in Manhattan with spending money.
There are also generous cash prizes of €1,000 for the Most Creative Headpiece and €500 for the Most Contemporary Outfit. This is the biggest ladies day in Munster and one of the fashion highlights of the year, so organisers advise you get to the course early if you want to catch the judges eye!
Listowel Races were the first course to host a sustainable fashion competition and thanks to organisers Listowel Tidy Towns and An Taisce, this competition which promotes and celebrates up-styling, recycling and vintage / pre loved style has continued to grow in popularity as we all seek to reduce waste to protect the future of our planet.
Top international model, Sydney Sargent will judge this year and there are prizes for both male and female entrants.
There will also be live music each day and a wide selection of catering facilities on course including excellent corporate entertainment packages.
Tickets can be purchased online or at turnstiles on the day for €20 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & €25 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, with a 20% discount for groups of 20 or more.
Visit www.listowelraces.ie for more information and follow the hashtag #listowelraces on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and to join the conversation!
.Presentation Primary junior infant pupil on his first day at school. Photo by Dermot Crean
AS ever, the teachers at Presentation Primary School had a busy Wednesday morning as they welcomed the new arrivals to the school.
Ms Deenihan and Ms Daly have about 50 pupils between the two junior infants classes and all went smoothly as they settled into school life. Scroll down for photos…
Presentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot Crean.Presentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot CreanPresentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot Crean.Presentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot CreanPresentation Primary junior infant pupils on her first day at school. Photo by Dermot Crean.Presentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot CreanPresentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot Crean.Presentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot CreanPresentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot Crean.Presentation Primary junior infants pupils on their first day at school. Photo by Dermot CreanMs Daly’s junior infants class at Presentation Primary School on Wednesday. Also included is SNA Lorraine O’Halloran (standing left) and teaching assistant Deirdre O’Donoghue. Photo by Dermot Crean.Ms Deenihan’s junior infants class at Presentation Primary School on Wednesday. Also included is Deborah O’Leary and Mary McCarthy. Photo by Dermot Crean.
A FILM produced by a Tralee native and directed by a Dingle-based filmmaker will be shown on RTE next week.
Following its world-premiere at the 2022 Galway Film Fleadh, ‘Blow-Ins’, a feature documentary film directed by Malcolm Willis, and produced by Ben Kavanagh, will be screening on RTÉ One on September 8 at 10.15pm.
Former Mercy Mounthawk student, Ben Kavanagh, is an accomplished director of music video and commercials, making his feature-film debut as a producer with ‘Blow-Ins’.
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The film, from production company Icy Peaks Media, is a study of the ‘blow- ins’ of Dingle — people from different towns, counties and countries — who have relocated to the area.
The town boasts a foreign population of nearly 30% and the locals refer to these individuals as “blow-ins”. The film explores what brought people there and what caused them to stay?
It features a wide variety of characters, where the viewer gains insight into the unique magic of the area and what it means to live there. It also asks the question of what it takes to truly be considered a “local”.
Malcolm Willis is the award-winning director behind the 2019 film Kilimanjaro Mama. Originally born and bred in London, Malcolm moved to Killarney over two decades ago.
He became so enamoured with the town throughout the making of the film, that he moved to Dingle in 2021 – becoming a ‘blow-in’ himself. Have a look at the trailer here…
.A junior infant has a healthy snack at St John’s Ashe Street Parochial School. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT was a new beginning for young boys and girls as they made their way to St John’s Parochial School this week.
The school located off Ashe Street continues to grow and they welcome nine junior infants this year, double the usual amount of new arrivals from the previous few years.
In fact, the number of pupils has doubled in size since just a few years ago with around 60 students now attending and a new teacher starting this week.
Teacher Patricia Fitzell made the pupils feel at ease as they got to know each other and the senior infants with whom they share a classroom. Scroll down for photos…
Junior infants at St John’s Ashe Street Parochial School. Photo by Dermot Crean.Junior infants pupils at St John’s Ashe Street Parochial School. Photo by Dermot CreanA junior infant at St John’s Ashe Street Parochial School. Photo by Dermot Crean.Teacher Patricia Fitzell and Principal Mike O’Toole with junior infants at St John’s Ashe Street Parochial School on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean.
.A junior infant at break time on her first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT was a very busy end to the month of August at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn as the school welcomed two junior infants classes.
Ms Ní Dhonghaile and Ms Ní Ghearáin made the 56 new arrivals feel at home in a school which has seen more work completed over the summer months.
The astroturf pitch and ‘ball wall’ are now up and running, adding great sports facilities for students in the 16 classroom school which also has five resource rooms.
Everything went smoothly for the pupils who posed for class photos in the lovely sunshine on Wednesday morning. Scroll down for photos…
Junior infants at break time on their first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Junior infants at break time on their first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot CreanJunior infants taking some time to meditate on their first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Junior infants at break time on their first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot CreanJunior infants at break time on their first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot Crean.Junior infants at break time on their first day at Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn on Wednesday. Photo by Dermot CreanMs Ní Dhonghaile’s junior infants class with Principal of Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn’s Cáit Uí Chonchúir and teaching assistant Seán Ó Murchú. Photo by Dermot Crean.Ms Ní Ghearáin’s junior infants class with Principal of Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn Cáit Uí Chonchúir and teaching assistant Sarah Jane Ní Chiarba. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Gardaí investigating a house fire in which a father and daughter died at their home at Killeen Heights, Tralee, on May 12, 2012 have arrested three people.
A man aged in his 30s was arrested in June 2022. He has since been released without charge with a file being prepared for the DPP.
A further two men (both in their 40s) were arrested this morning. Both are currently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Tralee and Killarney Garda stations.
Anthony O’Brien was 29 years old when he died trying to save his five year old daughter Nadine’s life in the fire at their Tralee home back in May 2012.
THERE was an increase in new car sales in Kerry last month compared to August 2021, according to the latest statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
Gardaí investigating a house fire in which a father and daughter died at their home at Killeen Heights, Tralee, on May 12, 2012 have arrested three people.