An Ríocht - The Kingdom

The Return of Hells Angels

2008-05-27T08:35:00.001Z

ALL roads lead to Killarney next month as the country's bikers ride en masse to the annual Ireland Bike Fest. Over 1,000 leather-clad visitors from around the country and further afield are expected to descend on the festival headquarters in The Gleneagle Hotel. Activities include daily ride-outs around the Killarney lakes as well as a charity ride through the centre of the town in aid of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the Custom Bike Show. The festival, which is supported by Killarney Town Council and Failte Ireland, takes place from June 6 to 8. Further details are available from www.irelandbikefest.com

Technorati Tags: killarney,festival,motorcycle

Ryanair Announces Dublin - Kerry Route

2008-05-16T09:54:00.001Z

Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, today (15th May 2008) announced that it has written to the Department of Transport confirming that it has accepted the offer of the PSO contract on the Kerry – Dublin route and will commence operations on the 22nd July.

Ryanair will operate three daily services between Kerry and Dublin with fares starting from just 99c one-way, excluding taxes and charges.

Ryanair’s arrival on the route will result in;

1. A doubling of the capacity (from 200,000 to 400,000 seats annually) on the route

2. A reduction of over €1.3m on the amount payable by the taxpayer for the provision of this public service.

Technorati Tags: ryanair,kerry,dublin

Ryanair offered Dublin/Kerry route

2008-05-14T14:22:00.001Z

The contract for the Dublin-Kerry Airport route has been offered to Ryanair by the Department of Transport. Ryanair says it is going to review the offer over the coming days before getting back to the Department of Transport. Aer Arann has operated the Kerry-Dublin route over the past six years. Its current contract expires on July 21st.

Currently, Aer Arann offer 27 return flights a week. According to the Department of Transport, if Ryanair accepts the offer, it will provide three daily return services. This amounts to six fewer return flights weekly compared to Aer Arann's current service, but an higher number of seats as the Ryanair planes have a seating capacity of 189 per plane compared with approx 70 with the Aer Arann planes.

Technorati Tags: ryanair,aer arann,dublin,DUB,KIR,kerry

Marks and Spencers completely rules out setting up in Tralee

2008-05-12T11:16:00.001Z

Marks and Spencers is completely ruling out setting up in Tralee. The British retail giant opened a store in Killarney on Friday morning (as reported by bloggarriv), more than a year after it was first refused permission by Tralee Town Council to open at Manor West Retail Park. The retailer tried to have that decision overturned, but An Bord Pleanala refused it last December, resulting in an announcement to open in Killarney. Neil Hyslop of Marks and Spencers says they had to move on, as there were no suitable sites in Tralee other than Manor West Retail Park.

Technorati Tags: m&s,marks & spencer,killarney,retail,tralee

Killarney financial company sign deal in India

2008-04-28T10:19:00.001Z

MONEX Financial Services, the Killarney-based specialist in multi-currency credit card processing, has signed a licensing agreement with ICICI Bank, India's second largest bank, to provide its currency conversion software to the bank.

ICICI processes over €700m in credit card transactions per annum and is the latest in a series of Asian contracts for Monex. Monex chief executive Frank Murphy said: "Three years ago, we decided to take our successful business model, as employed across Europe, and target the fast growing Asian market. Our timing was right, and we reaped the benefit of more and more foreign currency, especially euros and dollars being spent by credit card in Asia."

€200m scheme to create 1000 jobs gets the go-ahead

2008-04-27T15:20:00.001Z

PLANNING permission has been granted for a €200m mixed-use development which will create 1,000 full- and part- time jobs when it is completed. The development, on an 11- acre site in Tralee, Co Kerry, is the largest ever project planned for the north Kerry town.

Tralee Town Council yesterday approved the project, which will involve residential, office, retail, leisure and community facilities and will create around 400 construction jobs. The town centre project has involved the purchase of 200 acres in a multiple-site deal.

Under the deal, Kerry County Board are to develop two new complexes to replace the existing Austin Stack Park. The plans include a new 15,000-seater stadium, a practice pitch, 20,000 square feet of offices and car parking for 1,200 cars at Ballybeggan in Tralee. A 30-acre state-of-the-art- training academy will be developed in mid-Kerry at Currans

Westlife return for Killarney Summerfest Concert

2008-04-19T08:28:00.001Z

The Killarney Summerfest have just announced that Westlife shall be returning to Fitzgerald Stadium for a concert on Sunday June 22nd. Tickets are now on sale at the INEC box office and other outlets. Also keep an eye out for an announcement on another concert in the venue.

Technorati Tags: summerfest,killarney,westlife,concert

Dunnes Stores refuses to comment on opening Killarney branch

2008-04-18T15:19:00.001Z

Dunnes Stores has refused to comment on whether it still intends opening a branch as part of a multi-million euro shopping development planned for Killarney. Last year, An Bord Pleanala gave the go ahead to the 35,000 square metre shopping centre which is to be built on the site of the former Torc Great Southern Hotel. The planning appeals board upheld the decision by Killarney Town Council to grant planning permission to Meadowlawn Properties to build the multi-million euro retail development at the site of the former Torc Great Southern Hotel.

It's planned the centre would include eight retail units, a cafe/restaurant and 563 car park spaces. It was understood that Dunnes Stores would be the anchor tenant. However, there has been speculation in Killarney that the decision by Marks and Spencer to open a store at Deerpark Shopping Centre may have impacted on plans for the Torc site. Killarney Town Councillor Sean O'Grady has called on Dunnes Stores to clarify its plans. The company has refused to comment on the situation but points out that it never comments in relation to such property matters.

There is also no response to the rumours that Dunnes Stores have pulled out of the Torc Shopping Centre development and wil be building a new store further up Park Road next to Aldi and Tesco.

Technorati Tags: killarney,retail,marks and spencer,dunnes stores

Mayor Launches Inaugural Kerry Bicycle Festival

2008-04-02T13:17:00.001Z

Kerry Bicycle Festival, an exciting new four day free festival celebrating the bicycle through film, art and music was launched today in Tralee by Mayor, Miriam McGillycuddy. The festival will run from Thursday April 17th to Sunday April 20th.

Organisers of Kerry Bicycle Festival have announced a diverse line
up of events which will take place in Tralee town and it's environs.
Kerry's very first bicycle festival will include events from bicycle clowns to
bicycle films to bicycle jazz musicians. The initiative was brought about by a group of volunteers including local arts group ClubHeadBangBang.

The festival aims to raise the profile of cycling culture by promoting cycling as an environmentally sustainable cost effective mode of transport and to highlight Kerry as a destination for cycle tourism. An unique aspect of the festival will be a night of bicycle related short films.

Submissions are currently being sought. Films must be bicycle related and can be no longer than 15 minutes. Submissions can be made in dvd format to Michael Kelly, Tom Crean Business Centre, Kerry Technology Park, Tralee, County Kerry. The deadline for entries is April 10th 2008. Application forms and further information are available on the website: www.kerrybicyclefestival.org.

ABOUT KERRY BICYCLE FESTIVAL

Kerry Bicycle Festival is a four day free festival which brings together a
selection of diverse events which aim to celebrate the bicycle. This festival
encompasses musical, artistic and outdoor events all of which are free and will take place within the environs of Tralee town. This festival was established in 2008 in order to raise the profile of cycling culture by making it more accessible and attractive and to promote cycling as an environmentally sustainable and cost effective mode of transport. This is a voluntary organisation comprising a group of people with diverse interests and backgrounds all with a common goal.

MEDIA

A press pack of 'Print Quality' images can be downloaded here:
http://kerrybicyclefestival.org/press/PR1/KBF_PR1_images.zip
A .pdf of this Press Release can also be downloaded from here:
http://kerrybicyclefestival.org/press/PR1/PR1-Mayor_launches_KBF.pdf
These are all also available from our Press Area:
http://kerrybicyclefestival.org/index.php?p=press

CONTACT INFORMATION

Kerry Bicycle Festival
Tom Crean Center
Tralee
Co. Kerry
Ph: 087 7937471
email: axle@kerrybicyclefestival.org
web: www.kerrybicyclefestival.org

Technorati Tags: kerry,cycle,tralee,festival

Killarney Summerfest applying for 2008 Event Licence

2008-03-20T17:22:00.001Z

Killarney Summerfest is applying to Kerry County Council for a licence to hold a number of events this year. The concerts which are yet to be named will once again be staged in Fitzgerald Stadium. Summerfest is seeking dates between June 1st and August 31st and expect crowds of up to 30,000 at each event.

The licence application can be viewed at the offices of Kerry County Council for a period of five weeks. In 2006 Fáilte Ireland reduced its funding to the festival from a quarter of a million euro to 150,000. The tourism body said it was due to a growing number of festivals and an increasing demand on funding

Technorati Tags: killarney,summerfest,festival,concert

Sheahan (FG) claims cabinet minister cast doubt on Healy-Rae election deal

2008-03-19T12:17:00.001Z

A war of words has broken out between two south Kerry TDs over the contents of a much publicised deal between Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae and the Government. Deputy Healy-Rae claims to have secured eight pages of commitments for the constituency in return for his support for the government. He has never disclosed the full contents of the list.

However Fine Gael TD Tom Sheahan has described the list as "phantom" document. He says that in response to a question on the matter last week, the Taoiseach confirmed that any provisions agreed with Independent TDs are based on what has been already included in the estimates or the existing National Development Plan. Deputy Sheahan says that this indicates that many of Deputy Healy Rae's committments would have been provided in any case.

He says that a senior Fianna Fail minister has also cast doubt on the document. Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae has strongly rejected the claim and has challenged Deputy Sheahan to name the Minister involved. He says that he stands over the contents of his deal, and has accused Deputy Sheahan of wasting Dail time on the matter.

Technorati Tags: politics,south kerry,jackie healy-rae

Decision to refuse permission for Castleisland shopping development criticised

2008-03-06T17:23:00.001Z

A decision to refuse planning permission for a shopping development on the outskirts of Castleisland has been criticised, claiming it could cost the town 90 jobs. Tony Walsh of Walsh Colour Print in Castleisland was refused outline planning permission from Kerry County Council to build a 45-thousand-square-feet shop and three one-and-a-half-thousand-square-feet units, at Moanmore, Tralee Road, Castleisland.

Mr Walsh, whose company employs 85 people in Castleisland, will be appealing Kerry County Council's refusal for the development in a town which has a lot of unemployment. The council says the land is zoned industrial, and rezoning it for retail would contravene the town's local area plan.

The Garvey Group, which has a large supermarket in the town, lodged an objection to the store. The Garvey Group were also objectors to the recent planning application by Tesco Ireland to build a new supermarket in the town. Is there any non-garvey group developments that they wont object to? Maybe the Competition Authority should have a look at the state of play in Castleisland

Technorati Tags: castleisland,retail,planning

Gardai confirm Ferris spoken to in Quinn probe

2008-03-06T11:08:00.001Z

Gardai have confirmed that they spoke to Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris about the Border murder of Paul Quinn. They said the interview was part of routine house-to-house inquiries carried out by the gardai and the PSNI near the Monaghan south\Armagh border.

Mr Ferris was in the home of former IRA leader Brian Keenan in Cullyhanna village when police called there. The Dail deputy told gardai that he had been visiting Mr Keenan, who was a friend and was seriously ill. Gardai had been accompanying PSNI officers during house inquiries in south Armagh and subsequently interviewed a number of people on this side of the Border.

Mr Ferris called to Tralee garda station last January and told them he did not know Mr Quinn and had no information on what had happened to him. He said that if he did learn anything about his death he would pass on the information to the relevant authorities

Technorati Tags: martin ferris,sinn fein,IRA,politics,north kerry

Tralee Town Council given go-ahead to prepare new Draft Development Plan

2008-02-27T13:32:00.001Z

The Management of Tralee Town Council have been given the go-ahead to prepare a new Draft Development Plan for the town. 116 submissions were made by members of the general public during the initial public consultation period and at a special meeting of the local authority last night, councillors added their own recommendations for consideration. These include the pedestrianisation of the Mall, setting a curfew for store deliveries and height restrictions for new buildings.

The draft plan will be presented to councillors in the coming months before it is put out for public consulation. It is hoped that the new Tralee Town Plan will be adopted before next year's local elections.

Technorati Tags: tralee,planning

Kerry TDs earn over three times the industrial wage

2008-02-25T18:47:00.001Z

Kerry TDs are getting on average a salary of 123-thousand euro, that's well over three times the industrial wage. An Irish Independent study shows all 166 TDs are now earning a total of more than 20-million-euro, the first time that landmark has been passed.

TDs get a basic salary of just over 95-thousand, but can get additional payments, allowances or bonuses on top of that. Kerry North Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris is the only Kerry deputy not getting additional payments on top of his basic salary. Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue has the highest salary among Kerry TDs, at 214-thousand euro. That's the basic plus almost 119-thousand as Ceann Comhairle.

Independent Jackie Healy Rae is taking home 120-thousand-euro.
This includes a payment of almost 20-thousand for being Chair of an Oireachtas Committee, and 6-thousand for having over ten years service as a TD. Fianna Fáil's Tom McEllistrim has a salary of over 105-thousand; the additional 10-thousand is for his role as vice-chair of an Oireachtas Committee. Fine Gael TDs Jimmy Deenihan and Tom Sheahan are both taking home just over 101-thousand-euro, each get an extra 6-thousand, Deputy Deenihan for having over 10 years experience as a TD, and Deputy Sheahan for being an Oireachtas convenor.

Technorati Tags: kerry,politics,jackie healy-rae,john o'donoghue,martin ferris

Cllr Danny Healy Rae made €762000 in council plant hire contracts

2008-02-21T16:54:00.001Z

Independent Councillor Danny Healy Rae made €762,000 in plant hire contracts from the County Council in 2007. He is the third biggest earner from haulage and hire contracts in the county.

Top of the list is O Dwyer plant from Camp Cross in Tralee who were paid 1.2 million euro in the period from January to December 2007. Clancy Plant Hire from Knockanure in Listowel received the second highest payment of €784,000. These figures have been released in response to the now annual notice of motion by Cllr Brendan Cronin on money paid to contractors. In total 11 million euro was paid out to over 100 contractors in the county for plant hire and haulage work.

John O Connor Head of Finance says up to 85% of the work carried out by contractors is directly associated with the roads programme.
The cost of contractors is on the increase 6.5 million was paid in 2005, 8.1 million in 2006 and 11 million in 2007. The county council says contracts are awarded based on the suitability of the plant item for the job, its reliability and the level of skill of the operator are all taken into account as well as the availability of a back up service and the rate.

Technorati Tags: politics,kerry,healy-rae

IT Tralee to benefit from €2.3 million funding

2008-02-21T16:49:00.001Z

IT Tralee is to benefit from funding to the tune of 2.3 million euro.
It received the allocation as part of the Department of Education's a 100-million-euro Strategic Allocation Fund to reform the higher education process.

IT Tralee works in collaboration with Shannon Consortium, an education partnership between University of Limerick, Limerick IT, Mary Immaculate College Limerick, and IT Tralee.

UL received a 12-million euro allocation, part of which will go towards foundation and access courses in Killarney, which will give people from diverse backgrounds flexible access to certificate, diploma and degree courses.

Radio Kerry group tune into €835,000 profit

2008-02-18T10:53:00.001Z

The holding company behind Radio Kerry's trio of Irish stations made profits of €835,000 last year, new accounts show. The accounts for the Radio Kerry Holding Group show the media group had built up retained profits of €2.7m by the end of last April, with €835,000 of those profits attributed to the group's most recent financial year. The group's size, however, means it is not required to file detailed information on turnover or expenses

Large development proposed for Milltown

2008-02-12T14:18:00.001Z

Kerry County Council has received an application for the construction of a large development in Milltown. It includes 70 houses, five apartments and a two-storey building containing four retail units and four offices. The 70 houses include, 42 traditional style 2-storey semi-detached dwellings, 22 two-storey terraced houses and 6 two-storey detached houses. The site is located at Ballyoughtragh North, Milltown.

Tillotsons proposed as location for Tralee waste plant

2008-02-11T14:15:00.001Z

The site of the Tillotsons car parts manufacturing factory in Clash, Tralee which is to be sold has been proposed as an alternative site for the development of a waste plant.

An application by Dillon Waste to extend their plant which overlooks Tralee Bay is meeting with stiff opposition by locals. Sixty residents from The Kerries have objected to the plant which they says is sixteen times the size of an existing plant. They claim the proposed facility will be visually obtrusive, that it would create a huge increase in noise and dust and would devalue property.

Dillon Waste plans to demolish part of the waste facility in the Kerries and build a new office, Materials Recovery Facility and a Public Recycling Centre. The closing date for submissions is next Wednesday, February 13th.

Technorati Tags: planning,kerry

Earl of Desmond hotel for sale

2008-02-08T16:38:00.001Z

A landmark Tralee hotel is up for sale. The Earl of Desmond hotel, which is almost 40 years old, is owned by White's Hotel Group based in Donegal. They have been in discussions with another hotel group on the sale of the 165 bedroom building, which has 22 acres of grounds and is being sold as a going concern.

Incomplete planning applications ‘costing thousands’

2008-02-07T15:29:00.001Z

PEOPLE in Kerry are "beggared and broke" by engineers and other professionals who submit incomplete planning applications on their behalf, it was claimed yesterday. Cllr Danny Healy-Rae also accused some professionals of "getting away with murder" in ripping off people making planning applications.

Potential new home owners are facing charges of between €2,500 and €3,500 to make a planning application to Kerry Co Council, a meeting of Killarney area councillors was told. In some cases, professional agents advised clients to re-submit applications even though they had been refused planning permission in the first place for valid reasons, according to Independent councillor Mr Healy-Rae: "They are getting away with murder and leaving people beggared and broke because they don’t do their job properly.

In the first six months of last year, further information had to be requested by planning officials in regard to 31%, or 183, of planning applications in the Killarney area. The requests for further information were made, in many cases, when the assessment section on the form relating to the site and percolation was not properly completed, as set out in the Environmental Protection Agency manual.

Executive staff member Paul Stack said council was forming a panel of agents and applications would only be accepted from those on the panel.
Advertisements were being placed in the newspapers and interested agents could apply to be placed on the panel.

Killarney Town Council discovers it owns up to four acres in National Park

2008-02-07T14:33:00.001Z

Killarney Town Council has discovered it owns up to four acres of land in Killarney National Park. The Town Council is now investigating the possibility of exchanging lands within the National Park with a view to providing a much needed graveyard.

At last nights meeting of the council, Cllr Michael Gleeson described it as shameful behaviour that nobody had discovered the council's ownership of this land before now. Cllr Brian O Leary said the exchange of lands would pose a difficulty, as lands lying under the Bourne Vincent Memorial Act of 1932 cannot be transferred.

Town Manager, John Breen told the council that both he and the mayor met with the Minister for the Environment John Gormley seeking the relocation of town council land within the National Park. Town Clerk Michael O Leary says the appropriate section of the Bourne Vincent Memorial Act 1932 has been referred to the County Solicitor to establish the location of plots of land referred to in it.

It has been confirmed that Killarney Town Council owns a plot of land adjacent to the Old Torc Waterworks. However more than four acres in the townland of Ferta has not been identified

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is set to open in May

2008-02-07T14:25:00.001Z

The controversial Killarney Sports and Leisure centre is due to open on May 1st. Construction of the 16 million euro project which is within budget is nearing completion.

A subcommittee is to be appointed to decide upon a name for the roundabout which is being constructed to facilitate the development.
Meanwhile, an official opening date has yet to be decided. The then Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue turned the sod on the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre in April 2006.

The decision to build facility split the town council in 2005, with councillors Niall Botty O'Callaghan, Donal Grady, Brian O'Leary and Sheila Casey voting against the project. They felt the pool aspect of the project is not a wise move financially. Councillors Michael Courtney, Sean O Grady, Michael Gleeson and Tom Doherty were in favour.

26 new jobs for Tralee

2008-02-04T15:04:00.000Z

26 jobs are to be created by a Tralee web-based technology company over the next two years. Donseed, which is based in the Kerry Technology Park, is to invest 1.2 million euro in the company for research and development, and sales, with support from Enterprise Ireland and the AIB Seed Capital Fund.

The company, which began developing technology in 2005, put their products on the market in early 2007; it's currently working with construction companies in over 100 sites across Ireland and the UK. It currently employs six people in Tralee and also has bases in Dublin and London. 24 of the new skilled positions will be based in Tralee, with a possibility that all 26 jobs will come to the town.

Donseed's CEO Vincent Lynch, says Kerry is an ideal base for his company.
Donseed's job announcement has been welcomed by North Kerry Fianna Fáil Deputy Tom McEllistrim, who says such high quality jobs will also have a positive impact on the local economy.

Over 18 million euro announced for road building and upgrading in Kerry

2008-01-31T17:14:00.000Z

18.4 million euro is to be spent on road improvements in Kerry in the coming year. 4 million of that funding will be spent on the Castleisland by pass, while 900,000 will be spent on the Tralee by pass. 250, 000 euro will go towards the Farranfore to Killarney bypass, which will allow for the planning process to go ahead. Improvements from Lawlors cross to Killarney will be undertaken to the value of 700,000 euro.

Lisigiveen junction will get 400,000 euro, the Mountcoal junction in north Kerry will get 250,000 euro for safety measures to be installed. The Lispole bridge will be strengthened and the Laune bridge will be underpinned. The announcement has been welcomed by Ceann Comhairle John O Donoghue and Deputy Jackie Healy Rae.

Opening day of hearing into proposed liquified natural gas terminal

2008-01-22T11:29:00.001Z

The oral hearing hearing into the proposed liquified natural gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary opened today in the Brandon Hotel in Tralee.
Over 100 people attended the first day of the hearing.
Alternatives to the liquefied natural gas terminal on the Ballylongford Tarbert landbank were put forward at the hearing by the Kilcolgan Residents' Association.
Many residents and landowners there have voiced their concerns about the location of the project, so close to their homes.
If given the go-ahead, the €400m project will develop Ireland's first liquefied natural gas terminal.
Shannon LNG has applied for permission to build the terminal on the landbank.
There have been more the 50 submissions to the project which supporters say would bring badly needed jobs to the area.
The project has the backing of Kerry County Council and the Tarbert and Ballylongford Development Associations.

200 Killarney homes remain without power

2008-01-18T13:59:00.001Z

Around 200 homes in the Killarney area remain without power this eveing, as a result of lightening over night and this morning.
Early this morning thousands of homes in and around Killarney as well as parts of Cork were affected by the stormy weather.
The ESB says they have crews out working to restore power and do not envisage any long term damage to power lines.
Lightening is moving through the country and accordingly thousands of homes are expected to be without power according to Kevin McDermott of the ESB.
The ESB networks contacts centre number for people who are without power is 1850 372 999.

M&S advertise for positions for new Killarney store

2008-01-11T18:32:00.000Z

Marks and Spencer is adverstising for positions for its Killarney store which is due to open this May. The retailer is looking for section Managers and customer advisors. Last Month Marks and Spencer announced its plans for Killarney after months of speculation. The decision was cemented when An Bord Pleanala turned down an appeal by Marks and Spencer to locate at Manor West Retail Park in Tralee. That decision concluded a long and controversial wrangle between the retailer and Tralee Town Council. Last April, Tralee Town Councillors voted by a majority of nine to three to turn down Marks and Spencer's application for a material contravention which would have allowed it to locate at Manor West Retail Park.

Kerry rail passengers to benifit from new carraiges according to Iarnrod Eireann

2008-01-09T12:57:00.001Z

Kerry rail users are to benefit from the introduciton of new carriages to services this year. Iarnrod Eireann is introducing 183 new carriages nationwide as part of a 400 million euro investment under Transport 21. Last year the company carried a record 578-thousand passengers in Kerry. Jane Cregan, spokesperson for Iarnrod Eireann, says this fleet of new trains will improve the service and passenger comfort for Kerry rail users.

Killarney telephone numbers to change

2008-01-09T12:22:00.000Z

The existing 5 digit telephone numbers in Killarney are to change to 7 digit numbers in 2008. Numbers in Killarney will have an additional 66 added to the beginning of their phone numbers and Rathmore area numbers will have a 77 added to their numbers.

For example a Killarney number (064)-20000 will change to (064)-6620000, and a Rathmore number (064)-50000 will change to (064)-7750000. These changes will commence from the 3rd November 2008. Both old and new numbers will work until June 19th 2009. After that date only the new number will work.

Link: coolgarriv.com

Tralee needs to regain litter free status according to town clerk

2008-01-08T12:46:00.000Z

Tralee has slipped up in the latest Irish Business Against Litter League, but Killarney again continues to shine brightly as the leading light for cleanliness in Kerry. Killarney was classed as "Litter Free" in 5th position out of 50 areas and Tralee moved up from 41st position to 28th position and was deemed "Moderately Littered"

In its report, An Taisce, who monitored the areas, said some of the approach routes into Tralee were very good, creating a positive first impression of the town. The Dan Spring Road and Limerick Approach were praised but the monitors said extra care needs to be taken at Clash Industrial Estate and at a site near Aras an Chontae in Rathass.

They said if not addressed they could become a serious litter problem. The IBAL team also said by far the most heavily littered site in Tralee was near the Joe Keohane Roundabout at the entrance to New Marion Park. They said it has been clearly neglected over a prolonged period of time. Killarney again received much praise with the Cathedral, Railway Station and Castle Street Upper, highlighted as positives. As part of the IBAL Anti-Litter League, An Taisce monitors all towns of population 6,000 and over independently in accordance with international grading standards. There are no immediate plans to survey smaller Kerry towns such as Listowel, Caherciveen or Killorglin in the near future

M&S choose Killarney following Tralee snub

2007-12-17T09:23:00.000Z

Retailer Marks & Spencer is to open a store in Killarney after An Bord Pleanala turned down its appeal for a store at a retail park in Tralee.

Earlier this year, in a hugely controversial decision, Tralee councillors denied the retail giant a material contravention.

The Killarney M&S outlet will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre, employing 80 people, and its arrival has been gleefully welcomed in the town.

Although anxious to play down ancient rivalries, councillors and the business community in Killarney can hardly believe their luck and see the arrival of M&S as considerably boosting the tourist town's retail cachet, which had fallen behind Tralee in recent years.

"The increased presence of international brands will appropriately compliment the superb traditional indigenous retail offerings for which Killarney is well known internationally," the Killarney Chamber of Commerce said.

Earlier this year, to huge public surprise, town councillors in Tralee refused M&S a material contravention of the town plan to allow it into the retail park at Manor West on the outskirts of Tralee -- hoping instead to persuade it into a shopping centre nearer town.

Originally, a smooth passage was expected for M&S at Manor West, in line with other retail giants that operate at the retail park. However, shortly before the first vote local developers announced plans for a shopping centre in Austin Stack Park in Tralee, nearer the town centre. The expectation was M&S would move into the new park. Some councillors said other locations nearer town might be considered.

However, there was a public outcry at the councillors' decision. Even the Church of Ireland rector wrote to parishioners and joined a protest outside the council chambers in support of M&S.

The rejection of M&S was the single biggest issue on the doorstep in last May's general election, candidates found, and cost Labour general election candidate Tralee Cllr Terry O'Brien and Fianna Fail councillor Norma Foley dearly in votes.

The Killarney store will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre, where Tesco is anchor tenant. It will be smaller than the v6m store originally planned for Tralee but will include a food hall, clothing store, bakery and cafe.

The head of Marks and Spencer in Ireland, Neil Hyslop, said he was disappointed with the Bord Pleanala decision, especially as there was overwhelming support in Tralee, but confirmed the decision to open in Killarney. M&S had no plans to open elsewhere in Tralee, he said.

Healy Rae's forced to leave council chambers during discussion on their property

2007-12-11T12:39:00.001Z

Ethics legislation has forced the Healy Rae brothers to leave Kerry County Council Chambers while councillors discussed the proposed demolition of part of their property.

Fellow Killarney area councillor Brendan Cronin proposed the demolition of a shed in Kilgarvin on behalf of concerned residents.
Mayor Michael Healy Rae and Cllr Danny Healy Rae were not in a position to defend their property as they had to comply with planning ethics legislation by leaving the chambers when property they have an interest in is raised.
As part of the Kilgarvan local area plan, it was proposed that two sheds be knocked to facilitate the construction of footpaths on either side of the road leading to the primary school.

The demolition was agreed and the amendment is now to go out for public consultation.
According to the Healy Raes, their shed is used on a daily basis to store items for their plant hire business.
Cllr Cronin denied any political motivation in his proposal, saying the other shed to be knocked is not owned by the Healy Raes.

Kerry Cllr calls for protected slug to be moved for new road

2007-12-03T16:26:00.001Z

A Kerry Councillor is calling for a protected species of slug, which has led to the re-routing of the Ballyvourney by-pass, to be moved to another location.
Cllr Danny Healy Rae wants the council to write to the Minister about moving the Kerry Slug, which was discovered in a woodland area between Killarney and Cork.
He says this further delay in the building of the road will cause immense frustration and hardship for the people of Kerry who use this route daily.
Cork County Council is currently examining alternative routes, and this is expected to delay the publication of the compulsory purchase order by a number of months until next year.
However the council says it's unlikely the construction start date will be delayed.
Cllr Healy Rae believes the snails are only being used as an excuse for not building the road.

Work on Eastern Ring Road to commence in 2009

2007-11-30T12:10:00.000Z

Tralee Town Manager Michael McMahon has said that once all the necessary approvals were forthcoming and the funding allocated work on the Eastern Ring Road in Tralee could commence in 2009 and be completed in 2011. He was responding to members of the public who say the delay in its construction is hindering the development of the town.

At a public meeting to discuss the new draft Town Plan is was suggested that more underground and multi-storey car parks adjacent to the Town Centre and new, smaller taxi ranks should be developed. Members of the public have until Wednesday, December 19th to make submissions to the new Town Plan.

Kerry County Councillor says there is no such thing as global warming.

2007-11-13T15:51:00.000Z

There is no such thing as global warming according to Kerry County Councillor Danny Healy Rae. His remarks come as the Environment Minister proposes to raise the tax on 1.6 to 2 litres engine cars. Cllr Healy Rae says fears that emissions from bigger engines are resulting in global warming is nonsensical. He says history shows that the weather changes in patterns and not because of global warming.

Kerry in the dark as Limerick sign forgets county

2007-11-13T15:47:00.000Z

Kerry is a forgotten county in Limerick. That’s according to a Limerick politician who hails from the Kingdom. Cllr Cormac Hurley, who served in Limerick as a garda for decades before retiring and entering local politics, wants greater recognition of his native place in the Treaty city. It’s not that Limerick people snub Kerry — far from it, with resorts like Ballybunion and Ballyheigue being a home from home for thousands of Limerick folk when they go on summer holidays. But Cllr Hurley’s concerns centre on the lack of roadsigns in and around Limerick to direct motorists to Kerry.

Tarbert-born Cllr Hurley said: "Dublin people travelling to Kerry discover it’s a huge problem when they get as far as Limerick. For instance, there is no sign at the major N7 roundabout near Finnegan’s pub to direct motorists who wish to travel on to Kerry." Cllr Hurley wants the Kerry deficit on Limerick roads rectified. He said: "Cork is mentioned twice at that roundabout, but not a word about Kerry on the Dublin Road. And when motorists don’t see Kerry signposted they continue to the Parkway roundabout."

However, the Fine Gael councillor has been assured that moves are afoot to get Kerry recognition on Limerick’s road signs. County secretary Eugene Griffin said an upgrade of all national route signage is currently being carried out by the National Roads Authority. "And the regional roads will be updated by Limerick County Council based on available funding," said Mr Griffin.

New A & E to go to tender in a matter of weeks

2007-10-24T11:28:00.000Z

The new A&E department at Kerry General Hospital is go to tender in the coming weeks, following the recent grant of planning permission. The proposed development comprises an extension, part single, part two storey, as well as alterations to the existing A&E department, and a new ambulance bay. When complete the new emergency department will feature a resuscitation room, additional treatment and observation facilities, as well as special facilities for children.

Kerry to retain its two three-seater constituencies

2007-10-24T11:26:00.000Z

Kerry is to retain its two three-seat constituencies, despite fears that the county would be changed into one five-seater. A report released this afternoon by the Constituencies Commission, recommends that both Kerry North and Kerry South remain as two separate constituencies. However, voters from the town of Castleisland will find themselves voting in Kerry South come the next general election, having previously been included in the Kerry North constituency. Other changes unveiled today include the moving of large parts of West Limerick into the Kerry North constituency, including the town of Abbeyfeale, and the villages of Glin, Carrickerry and Tournafolla.

County Council to improve 600 km of road over next three years

2007-10-17T09:23:00.000Z

Kerry County Council says it plans to improve 600 km of road in the county over the next three years. 60% of road works for 2008 will be completed by the end of this year according to the Director of Roads and Transport Charlie O Sullivan. The roads programme of works has been considered by each electoral area committee.

However a number of traffic black spot areas with the county have been identified as priorities according to local representatives. Councillor Ted Fitzgerald says work on the Tralee ring road should begin as soon as possible, while Councillor Johnny O Connor is calling for additional funding for roads restoration. He says the condition of some access roads into Kerry is poor.

Kerry to open against Clare/Waterford

2007-10-15T09:20:00.001Z

All-Ireland champions Kerry will face either Waterford or Clare in their opening game of the 2008 Munster Senior Football Championship.

The Championship draws for each province took place at Croke Park with All-Ireland finalists Kerry and Cork both seeded in the semi-finals of the Munster tournament.

Meanwhile, Cork will face either Limerick or Tipperary at the penultimate stage. The draw assumed the traditional format by seeding both Kerry and Cork in separate semi-finals.

Clare construction company awarded contract to build new Dingle Hospital

2007-10-10T10:27:00.000Z

A construction company based in County Clare has been awarded the contract to build the new Dingle Hospital.
Brian McCarthy contractors in Ennis are expected to sign the contracts with the HSE this week.
The company's portfolio includes the construction of the Clarion Hotel in Limerick and Cork Greyhound Stadium.
The Health Service Executive says once the paperwork is completed, the builders will be on site within five weeks

Senior county official blames traffic congestion on lack of driver education and poor courtesy

2007-10-10T10:26:00.001Z

A senior Kerry County Council official is blaming a lack of driver education and poor courtesy for the traffic congestion and incorrect use of roundabouts in Tralee.
Frank Hartnett says anyone who took a driving test in Kerry 20 years ago would have had little or no experience of driving on roundabouts.

Eagles leave release area for Atlantic coast

2007-10-08T15:22:00.000Z

Two of the 15 white-tailed eagles recently released in Killarney National Park have made their way to the Atlantic coastline. Also known as sea eagles, a key part of the eagle reintroduction project is that they will eventually settle along the coasts of Kerry and west Cork.

On September 17, the first bird left the environs of the National Park and flew to the coast at Glenbeigh, a distance of 24km. This bird returned to the release area two days later and is still there. Another bird left the release area on September 21 and was not located again until it was seen by boat operators on the Skelligs, about 72km away, on September 26.

Project manager Allan Mee yesterday said the boatmen involved and Bob Wilson, who works as a guide on the Skelligs, were "all blown away" by the sight of the eagle and thousands of gannets in the air. "The same day, the bird made it to the Blasket Islands off the Dingle Peninsula, just over 30km directly over water, where boatmen reported it was being chased by choughs," he added.

Since September 28, that bird has been resident on the south side of the Slieve Mish Mountains, near Castlemaine, 24km from the release site. "This bird was one of the later released birds [August 29], but has been a real traveller since release compared to most of the other birds being seen on the Upper Lake two days after release and regularly soaring over the Gap of Dunloe," Dr Mee reported.

Both birds to leave the release area have been males. Most of the birds are still in the Lough Lein area of Killarney close to where they were released and are still being fed by National Park staff. Several sightings in the Tomies and Glena side of Lough Lein have been reported by boatmen and others on the lake. Dr Mee said he was happy with the way the birds were getting on since the first lot of releases on August 16. "They seem to be doing very well as far as feeding is concerned," he said.

Horse manure and litter problems continue to plague tourist haven

2007-10-04T08:36:00.000Z

Killarney may be moving closer to the top prize in the Tidy Towns competition, but littering and horse manure continue to be problems in the tourist mecca. As well as winning the award for being Ireland’s tidiest large town, Killarney was only one mark short of scooping the overall award in the competition this year. An all-out effort is already under way to go a few marks better and pull off the big prize next year. Killarney also won a gold medal in the European Entente Florale competition.

But, while members of the Killarney Town Council were in self-congratulatory mood at Monday night’s meeting, Cllr Michael Gleeson called for a "renewed and reinforced" commitment to tackle littering. "It’s disappointing that littering is still a problem," he said. Also, while congratulating the council and all concerned with the Tidy Towns performance, Killarney Soroptimists (an organisation for women in business and managerial positions) expressed concern about the problem of horse manure on the streets of the town and in walkways in Killarney National Park.

Despite strong statements and legal threats on the manure issue in the past, the town council has failed to resolve the problem. It is understood the local soroptimists are to write to Environment Minister John Gormley asking him to address the manure problem as a matter of urgency. "It’s just not good enough to have manure on the streets of Ireland’s leading tourist town in this day and age," said a soroptimists’ spokesperson yesterday. "Not only is this a tourism issue, it’s also a major health and safety issue for people."

Killarney jarveys have resisted all efforts by the local council to install equine sanitary devices (also called horse nappies) to their vehicles. Such devices are commonly used in other parts of the world. The council has been at loggerheads with the jarveys for several years and last year threatened legal action to stop jaunting cars from using the streets if they did not fit the sanitary devices. However, the jarveys claim such devices are not suitable and could result in horses bolting, with obvious risks for both jarveys and tourists.

Kerrys firemen remembers colleagues who died in Wicklow

2007-09-28T09:07:00.000Z

Members of the Kerry Fire and Rescue Service are today paying tribute to their colleagues in Wicklow who lost their lives. 26 year old Mark O'Shaughnessy and 46 year old Brian Murray died when the ceiling of a disused factory collapsed on them as the responded to a fire there at about eleven o'clock yesterday morning. Books of condolence have been opened at Kerry County Council, on line, as well as at Wicklow County Council and in Bray Town Council. Tralee Fire Station Officer Nigel Corner knew Brian Murray and describes him as a lovely man who was dedicated to his job. The fire service, he says, is like a family and the deaths of the two men has devastated members across the country.

Jackie Healy Rae to support Government stance on Shannon Heathrow row

2007-09-27T15:03:00.000Z

Deputy Jackie Healy Rae says he will not be supporting a motion by Fine Gael calling on Aer Lingus to reverse their decision to remove the Shannon Heathrow flight. The Independent TD says he has made a multi million euro deal with Fianna Fail and the Greens for the Kerry South constituency and has agreed to support them for the next five years. Tourism and business interests in the south west claim the loss of the route will cost them millions in revenue. The Atlantic Connectivity Alliance led by Ballyheigue councillor John Brassil is holding a picket outside the Dail today in protest at the Aer Lingus decision.

Fianna Fail are tabling a motion today expressing their disappointment at the decision by Aer Lingus, however it falls short of calling for a reversal of the move to Belfast. Jackie Healy Rae says he will not renege on his agreement with the government. Fine Gael South Kerry TD Tom Sheahan is accusing Jackie Healy Rae of being hypocritical. Tom Sheahan who will be supporting his party's motion, says Deputy Healy Rae's support of the government on this issue will have serious consequences for the county.

€500m gas terminal seeks planning

2007-09-20T14:21:00.000Z

The company planning a €500 million liquid gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary has confirmed it will seek planning permission within the next eight days. Shannon LNG Ltd yesterday advertised detailed plans for a terminal to convert highly pressurised liquid gas for use on the national grid. It hopes to open the terminal in 2012.

If given the go-ahead, the north Kerry facility has the potential to provide 40% of the country’s natural gas requirements. Shannon LNG’s managing director Paddy Power said the plans are being sent to An Bord Pleanála and will be made public on September 28. The submission of this application is the culmination of months of research, he said.

"The EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) is a very comprehensive document addressing all aspects of the project including environmental impacts, construction and traffic issues, safety requirements and the strict standards to be employed during both construction and operation," he said. The cost of the project has risen by €100 million since last year when the company began a site investigation. Yesterday it said €500m was a more accurate reflection of the cost.

The proposed complex will be built on the Kerry side of the estuary in the townlands of Ralappane and Kilcolgan Lower, situated between Ballylongford and Tarbert. This is a land-bank owned by Shannon Development — earmarked to harness the economic potential of its deep-water access. The terminal will involve a network of jetties, four giant gas storage tanks and buildings where the liquid gas will be converted from minus 160°.

It will require a number of fire safety measures and the establishment of an emergency plan in case of a major accident on the site. As the terminal is considered a strategic piece of infrastructure, the planning application goes directly to An Bord Pleanála. Kerry County Council has already approved the rezoning required to allow the complex to be built.

Flights to Luton from Kerry Airport

2007-09-13T13:07:00.000Z

Ryanair is to commence a new winter service between Kerry and Luton. Flights to Kerry will begin on November 6th, and it brings to three, the total number of destinations served by Ryanair from the airport. 40-thousand passengers are expected to avail of the Kerry-Luton route during its first year. The morning flights will run three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday arriving in Kerry at 8am and departing at 8.25am. Basil Sheerin of Kerry Airport hopes to the frequency will increase in the spring. He says this may be a step in the right direction towards securing more flights to mainland Europe.

Killarney is crowned Ireland's largest tidiest town.

2007-09-11T16:19:00.001Z

Tidy Towns and Villages committees throughout Kerry will today formally receive their results to this year's competition. At yesterday's awards ceremony in Dublin, Killarney was announced as the tidiest large town and the second tidiest in the overall competition. But the county awards winners will receive their results in the post this morning. The Tidy Towns awards both nationally and regionally are broken into categories ranging from A and B which are for villages, to C and D for small towns to E, F, G and H for large towns and urban centres.

Knightstown came in ahead of Portmagee by three points to win the Category A award in Kerry with Knocknagoshel, Ceann Tragha, Lauragh, Knockanure and Chapeltown next respectively. In category B, the winner by a long way was Sneem followed by Tarbert, Moyvane, Ardfert and Castlegregory. Also commended in that category were Waterville, Brosna, Glenbeigh, firies, Lixnaw and Ballylongford.

Castleisland and Dingle were tied on 240 points at the top of Category C with Killorglin, Ballybunion and Caherciveen next. Kenmare took the top prize in category D followed by Listowel and the national large town winner was, Killarney also took the same prize in Kerry. While Tralee was a medal winner in Category G. Kerry towns and villages to receive national accolades were Killarney, Kenmare, Tralee, Sneem, Listowel and Killorglin. The overall tidy town winner was Aughrim in Co Wicklow.

Two additional driver test centres opened in Kerry

2007-09-11T16:18:00.001Z

Two additional driver test centres have opened in the county. Tralee and Killarney are to get an additional test centre each, bringing the total number in the county to four. This announcement will be welcomed in Kerry where provisional licensed drivers wait months for a driving test. The average waiting time for a driving test is now down to 23 weeks. This represents a 30% drop in waiting times as the average waiting time stood at 33 weeks a year ago. At present 20% of tests are being lost due to cancellations. The 32 new centres around the country will be operated on behalf of the RSA by SGS Ireland who was awarded a contract by the RSA to conduct a minimum of 100,000 additional driving tests over the next 15 months. 22 of the new centres are now in operation and a further 10 will open during the next six weeks. This brings the total number of driving test centres nationally to 83.

New traffic plan suggested for Killarney.

2007-09-11T16:17:00.001Z

A new overall traffic plan for Killarney has been suggested by Cllr Brian O Leary as a possible solution to the town's severe traffic problems. Cllr O Leary says Killarney experiences a greater increase in traffic than any other town in the country during the summer months. Cllr O Leary also says there is a lack of co-ordination between the traffic lights around the town. Mayor Niall Botty O Callaghan says the situation on Muckross Road needs to be addressed, describing the traffic jams there as a disgrace and a nightmare when big events take place in the town.

Cllr O Callghan says the lights at the junction of Ross road and Muckross road are to blame and points out that Mill road became a rat run for the summer season. Cllr Michael Courtney drew attention to the fact that the situation has improved since the rotation of the lights at Ross road had changed, however some Cllrs feel this is also due to the fact that the number of tourists in the town has decreased in the past couple of weeks. Town Clerk Michael O Leary says a traffic report was commisioned by the town council in April which notes that the provision of an outer by-pass and a link road linking the N71 Muckross Road to the N22 Cork Road at Lissivigeen is required to address the traffic congestion. He also noted that improvements to the traffic lights at the Woodlawn / Muckross road junction are ongoing and will be completed shortly.

Construction of Killarney by-pass not to start before 2010

2007-09-07T18:50:00.000Z

Construction of the Killarney by-pass is unlikely to begin before 2010 and is subject to the approval of the National Roads Authority. However preliminary design work has begun from Farranfore to Killarney. A topographical survey was carried out from Farranfore to Lawlors Cross last year and a preliminary ground investigation contract will be carried out this year to ascertain ground conditions

Daves Photo Blog: Blennerville, Tralee

2007-09-07T10:29:00.000Z

Daves Photo Blog: Blennerville, Tralee

Killarney land zoned for housing despite department objections

2007-09-05T14:00:00.000Z

Sufficient land for about 1,000 further houses in Killarney has been zoned by the local town council — despite strong reservations by the Department of the Environment and the National Roads Authority. The department’s spatial strategy unit, insisting there was already an oversupply of residential-zoned land, has asked the council to reconsider the proposal, which represents a variation of the town development plan.

The council has, to date, zoned for residential development more than 95 acres in the Flesk valley, along the town’s southern extremity. The zoning decisions have hugely increased its commercial value. The land has been zoned for a variety of medium and low-density housing, while a further 100 acres in the valley have been zoned for special amenity, tourism, and agriculture. In recent years, the price of building land has rocketed in Killarney, fetching more than €1 million per acre in prime spots of the town.

An Taisce said the latest residential zonings were premature and represented unsustainable development due to lack of proper access and distance from the town, schools, shops and other facilities. The National Roads Authority also strongly advised against the "unacceptable" proposals, saying the cost of lands needed for a proposed link road would increase significantly if the zonings went ahead.

Town Clerk Michael O’Leary defended the council’s proposal. He said that while, theoretically, there was enough zoned land in Killarney, a lot of that zoned land was not coming onto the market and was not available for housing. Senior planner Fiona O’Sullivan said only one housing development, the first in some time, was currently under way within the Killarney town bounds.

The zoning of more land for housing is part of an action plan for the Flesk Valley area drawn up after a motion from Fianna Fáil councillor Brian O’Leary that a parcel of land be rezoned. The Mill Road has already been described as a rat-run used by people trying to avoid traffic congestion on the town’s Kenmare road through Killarney National Park, also part of the busy Ring of Kerry.

Meanwhile, the roads authority also warned that rezoning so much land for housing would push up the price of much-needed land for a new southern link road, the route of which has not yet been finalised. "Such proposals, while potentially bringing major financial gains to the property owners involved, would be at variance with the broader public interest," the roads authority submitted.

Failte Ireland withdraws Christmas in Killarney funding

2007-09-04T11:56:00.000Z

Failte Ireland has withdrawn its funding of the Christmas in Killarney Festival. A 23-person committee will oversee the event which will once again include the Killarney on Ice skating rink. Co-chairman, John Healy says without Failte Ireland this year, local businesses will need to dig deep. He says last year's festival was a financial success.

Almost 9,000 Kerry drivers have penalty points

2007-09-03T19:00:00.000Z

Almost nine-thousand Kerry drivers have now got penalty points on their driving licenses. One Kerry motorist is currently disqualified from driving, having received twelve points; this automatically disqualifies a person from driving for six months. Another thirteen license holders are on the verge of being disqualified as they have ten penalty points on their licenses. The latest figures show that the majority of point holders in Kerry have two points, that's over seven-thousand two-hundred, while over a thousand have four points. The number of Kerry drivers with penalty points has dropped slightly on the previous month, this may be because points are wiped from a license after a period of three years.

Plans for 137 housing development in Gneeveguilla

2007-09-03T15:35:00.000Z

There are plans for a 137 housing development in Gneeveguilla. It will comprise houses, apartments, shops, and a crèche. Developer John O'Mahony is applying for planning permission to build on the site at Coom, Gneeveguilla. He's also seeking permission from Kerry County Council to demolish a house and sheds currently on the site. The development takes in 131 two-storey detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses, as well as three separate two-storey blocks. These will incorporate 1,600 square metres of commercial and retail space, six two and three bed apartments, and a two storey crèche.

Extra flights and trains planned for All Ireland

2007-08-28T10:33:00.000Z

Kerry Airport and Iaranrod Eireann are planning to run extra flights and trains to Dublin for the All Ireland final. Iaranrod Eireann is in the process of organising extra trains to facilitate the droves of Kerry and Cork fans that will be travelling to Dublin. Kerry Airport is also in talks with Aer Arann with a view to securing a larger Air craft and chartering extra planes specifically for the football final.

Andrew Roche of Iaranrod Eireann says they hope to provide an increased service from Kerry to Dublin for the historic All Ireland football final. However he says arrangements have yet to be finalised. Meanwhile Kerry Airport says one Aer Arann flight from Kerry to Dublin is already booked out.

Noel Ryan from the airport says they have requested a 72 seater aircraft from Aer Arann and securing this will depend on availability. He says they should know later this week what the flight availability will be. In the meantime, those wishing to fly to Dublin on All Ireland day are asked to contact Kerry Airport for more information.

Pipeline work suspended for safety fears

2007-08-22T08:19:00.000Z

Work on major pipeline schemes in Co Kerry have been suspended because of health and safety and other concerns, the county council said yesterday. Contracts for the €4.1m scheme to upgrade the wastewater pipelines in Kilcummin, Barraduff and Milltown were signed in February and works began in May.

Some 6km of sewer pipe is being laid in the Milltown scheme and 9.5km of sewer pipes in the Barraduff-Kilcummin scheme which will link with the Killarney treatment plant.
The pipe laying is part of a multi-million euro upgrade of waste water in Kerry, which will eventually see upgrading of treatment plans. It is also part of an attempt to tackle an on-going problem with pollution in the lakes of Killarney from outlying villages.

However, work on the Killarney environs scheme was suspended on July 20. Last Friday, the Milltown scheme was put on hold following a visit there by an inspector from the Health and Safety Authority. A spokesman for Kerry County Council said they also had concerns about "due diligence" or the progress of the work. The contractor is the same in both schemes and had not been suspended, the council spokesman confirmed.

Bomb scare at Tralee Races

2007-08-21T17:15:00.000Z

Security Alert called off at Ballybeggan race course.
Thousands of race goers, including eight Rose of Tralee contestants and their escorts, were evacuated from Tralee racecourse this afternoon following a security alert. It happened just before the first race of the day at 2:45 but no device was located. Following a search of the premises by Gardai, racing began at 3.30 and subsequent races have been delayed as a result of the incident. Superintendent Pat Sullivan of Tralee Garda station says they will be conducting an investigation into what happened. General Manager of Ballybeggan Racecourse, Timmy Griffin says the club's secretary who received the call said it appeared to be made by an older man. Race goers who spoke to Radio Kerry News praised the Gardai and the race course's handling of the security alert. They said the evacuation to outlying car parks was organised in a calm and panic-free manner. Meanwhile, the general manager of the race course says Ballybeggan has not suffered a serious financial loss from the security scare as all races on the card will take place this evening.

Planning for a multi million euro development in Listry is refused.

2007-08-21T13:23:00.001Z

Planning permission for a multi million euro development at Listry outside Killarney has been refused. The proposed development included 73 dwellings, a 22-bedroom hotel and a retail block with seven outlets at Listry Cross. An Bord Pleanala said they were concerned about the disposal of surface water and foul drainage from the 5.7 hectare site.

The reports noted that such a run-off could harm the River Gweestin which is an important salmon spawning river and a nursery tributary of the Laune. The board said necessary works would have to be carried out to show no damage would come to the river. Another reason for the refusal was that the layout of the development would contravene the objective of the local area plan in relation to the development of a mixed use streetscape frontage along the road.

The application for the village-type development was by Don Culloty and Sean Doolan and Sons Limited. The principle of the development was not an issue according to the appeals board. The council had approved a similar form of development on the land previously and this type of development was advocated in the Listry/Faha local area plan. The council, the inspector said was happy with the proposal except for one aspect which did not comply with the local area plan.

Rose of Tralee festival kicks off

2007-08-17T16:15:00.000Z

The 48th Rose of Tralee International Festival begins today in Co Kerry.

Thrity-one contestants are representing parts of Ireland, Australia, Canada, Britain, Europe and the United States.

The girls will be interviewed by broadcaster Ray D'Arcy before a TV audience next week.

This year's Festival features a Gala Rose Ball, a Rose Parade, a fashion show, live fireworks and marching bands. The event first began in Tralee in 1959 with just five contestants.

Unofficial strike halts Tralee buses

2007-08-16T14:36:00.001Z

Bus Éireann says it expects services from Tralee to resume shortly after an unoffical work stoppage. A spokeswoman for the company says that a number of drivers from the National Bus and Rail Union took part in the strike.

Bus Éireann says the company was given no warning and that the stoppage was outside the agreed industrial relations procedures. The services disrupted included the hourly Limerick and Cork routes, however they are expected to resume shortly.

Kerry farmers urged to join scheme and protect water supply

2007-08-07T14:38:00.000Z

Farmers living close to the lake which provides most of Kerry’s drinking water are to be urged to join a scheme to protect it from contamination. Kerry County Council plans to invite three farmers living close to Lough Guitane to join the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme, which encourages environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

The move is planned to ensure the lake, near Killarney, is protected from any source of contamination. Under regulations introduced a year ago, the council can increase the buffer zone which limits farming activities and bans land spreading in the vicinity of drinking water sources.

South Kerry Independent Alliance councillor Michael Gleeson said the well-being of Lough Guitane was of "central importance" to the county. "Anything that would impact adversely on it would be a disaster for Kerry," he remarked. Mr Gleeson proposed that the council and Department of the Environment compensate landowners affected by the introduction of a buffer zone around Lough Guitane.

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Parknasilla to undergo Major 2 year revamp

2007-08-04T13:45:00.000Z

The Parknasilla hotel in Kenmare is to undergo a major revamp over the next two years. The hotel which was the flagship of the Southern Hotel chain before it was sold by Dublin Airport Authority to developer Bernard Mcnamara a year ago, will close this September. The four star annual holiday retreat for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will undergo a refurbishment of the main hotel next year.

This will include 30 new two-room suites, added onto the existing 95 rooms and a new 300 seat conference centre. A five star wellness centre and spa featuring 13 treatment rooms is due to open at the restart in the near future. Plans are also afoot in 2009 for an 18 hole golf course and 70 luxury chalets dotted across the 500 acre parknasilla estate.

Rose escorts a good mix

2007-08-02T14:11:00.000Z

They’re smart, good-looking, charming, well-educated and if they could only waltz, they’d be perfection itself. Sadly, while the Rose of Tralee escorts score highly on just about every other admirable quality, they tend to veer more towards the flat-footed than the Flatley-footed when it comes to their dance-floor moves.

"I always have to get them together for a few lessons before the festival," said escort co-ordinator Colm Croffy. "The only year I didn’t, they looked like gardeners moving freshly painted wheelbarrows around the dance-floor." Colm knows what he’s talking about. A former escort himself, he had such an enjoyable time accompanying the New Orleans Rose in the 1999 contest that he’s been organising the selection and training of escorts ever since.

His latest batch were unveiled in Croke Park yesterday and Colm describes them as representing a healthy mix of interests and attributes. "We don’t want them all to be solicitors or bankers or jockstraps. We have opera buffs, trad music fans, rugby players, GAA players — a whole variety of types."

One thing they must have in common, however, is a delicate balance of confidence and modesty. "We’re looking for guys who, even though the spotlight will be on them, understand that it is not for them. She is the film star and he is only the agent."

The chosen 32 out of the original 220 who expressed an interest, survived extensive interviews with panels headed by veteran stylist Celia Holman Lee and model Katy French.

This year’s festival runs from August 17-21 and has 31 Roses contesting the crown. The 32nd escort gets to accompany reigning Rose Kathryn Feeney for her last week as holder of the title.

See www.roseoftralee.ie

Radio Kerry launches search to find Seven Wonders of Kerry

2007-08-02T11:16:00.000Z

Radio Kerry has launched a search to find the Seven Wonders of Kerry as voted by the station's listeners. The competition, organised by the Kerry Today programme, will run for the month of August. It's a celebration of Kerry's great natural beauty, its history and traditions, and the many outstanding Kerry people, down through the ages, who have excelled in the arts, sports, politics and other fields. The Seven Wonders, as voted by Radio Kerry listeners, will be announced at the end of the month.

For further details, listeners can go to www.radiokerry.ie

Plans for new industry in Killarney

2007-07-30T14:56:00.001Z

There are plans for new industry in Killarney.
Kerry County Council has granted permission for 11 light industrial and warehouse units outside Killarney. This will bring the number of units at the site in Coolcaslagh, Killarney to 33.

Airshow horror as small plane crashes in field killing the pilot

2007-07-30T08:51:00.000Z

The wreckage of a Cessna plane in which the pilot died after the aircraft crashed into a field near Ardfert, Co Kerry, yesterday evening.

One pilot died and another had a miraculous escape when two light aircraft crashed within two hours of each other at separate locations yesterday.

A 57-year-old pilot of a small aircraft died when the plane he was flying crashed during an aeronautical manoeuvre at a Co Kerry airshow just before 5pm.

He had been performing manoeuvres during the annual Ardfert summer festival when the accident happened. An investigator from the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Unit flew to Kerry by helicopter last night to begin a probe into how the Ardfert crash happened.

The man was on his own in the single-engine white and navy plane with orange and brown markings. No one was injured on the ground.

Residents in Ardfert village reported seeing a plane flying "very low" over the village around the time of the accident. Gardai are also conducting an investigation into the crash. Last night, Supt Pat Sullivan, who visited the scene, appealed to spectators who may have video footage or photographs of the plane to come forward.

Early accounts indicated the plane went down suddenly. It did not go on fire and there were no reports of smoke spotted from the engine beforehand.

No reprint of tourism map excluding Killarney

2007-07-23T14:25:00.000Z

Despite local protests Fáilte Ireland have said they will not be reprinting a guide which fails to mention Killarney among the main attractions on the Ring of Kerry. Killarney mayor Niall O’Callaghan criticised Fáilte Ireland and Cork/Kerry Tourism for the exclusion of the top tourism town from the South West Holiday Guide, saying it was "unbelievable" such a mistake could be made.

However, his demand for a reprint and withdrawal of the publication, which is distributed to around 100,000 visitors at tourism information offices, has been rejected by the promotion bodies. But, a Fáilte Ireland spokesperson, while accepting a mistake had been made, said it would be too costly to rectify the matter at this late stage in the 2007 tourist season.

The spokesperson also rejected claims the mistake would have a negative impact on tourism in Killarney, adding: "This is an information booklet distributed amongst the tourist trade and is a very useful tool for visitors. We have another section on touring routes for Kerry where all the locations on the Ring of Kerry are correctly listed."

Mr O’Callaghan insisted it was damaging to tourism in Killarney, commenting that it was a joke to exclude the premier tourist town. At the same time, Kilgarvan, which is not on the Ring of Kerry, is included, he pointed out. "Everybody that knows anything at all about tourism in Kerry could tell you the Ring of Kerry starts and ends in Killarney, but here we have the two premier tourism promotion bodies, who are doing the job full-time, and they can’t get it right," he went on. Fáilte Ireland said the error would be corrected in future editions, but they did not think reprinting the guide would be a good way of spending taxpayers’ money.

Naked man seen running in Killarney woods

2007-07-20T16:21:00.000Z

Gardai in Killarney are investigating sightings of a man who has been running naked around the woods near Castleross. Radio Kerry news understands a girl who was travelling on her bicycle was shocked when a man jumped out in front of her without any clothing. A complaint was made to Gardai that the man was seen near the woods in Castleross on Monday last between 2 and 3 pm.

Kerry Seanad candidate offering Councillors and TDs stays in hotels

2007-07-19T10:51:00.000Z

Ah, corruption is alive and well...

A Kerryman, who is running for the Seanad, is offering Councillor's and TD's the opportunity to stay in his hotel's in Dublin and Kildare free of charge. Luke Moriarty, who is originally from Kilorglin has written to a variety of councillors and TDs offering vouchers for his hotels while at the same time saying it would be a "great honour" for him to represent them in the Seanad. The lengths of stay on offer for the Courtyard hotel in Leixlip and the Bracken Court hotel in Balbriggan vary up to four nights and some come with a breakfast thrown in. In letters written on Fianna Fáil paper, Mr Moriarty wrote that he is a firm believer in supporting the work of those who day in, day out dedicate their time and effort to making a difference locally and nationally.

To this end, the Killorglin native says he would like to lend his support by offering a voucher for two nights' accommodation including breakfast at either of the Moriarty Group's two hotels. The letter then goes on to say "On my own behalf, I want to say that it would be a great honour to represent you in the next Seanad." The letter is being met with some criticism by some Councillor's. Councillor Luke "Ming" Flanagan says he was shocked by the offer, describing it as the most "brazen" attempt to buy his vote.

Kerry All Ireland Quater Final Rescheduled

2007-07-18T10:22:00.000Z

Originally fixed to play their All-Ireland quarter-final on the same day as Kerry, the Dublin footballers will now have a stand alone fixture on Saturday, 11 August.
The Nicky Rackard Cup final will provide the curtain raiser.

Kerry will now play their last eight encounter the following day. That match will be preceded by the All-Ireland SHC semi-final between the winners of Waterford/Cork and Clare/Limerick.

R569 has a 100km/h speed limit

2007-07-18T09:45:00.000Z

Meet the R569.

An ordinary R-road, a back road winding through the Kerry hills and along the Roughty Valley.

A road just like any of hundreds of other rural R roads the length of the country.

Except . . . the R569 is special. It is somehow deserving of a 100kmh speed limit, more deserving than all the other R roads which are 80kmh as standard, even roads like the R132 which are former N roads now bypassed by motorways, often wide and straight and with hard shoulders.

The R569 is 100kmh all the way through the narrow twisty section to Morleys Bridge and beyond, with signs every km or so just in case you thought it was a mistake.

All the way to Kilgarvan, home of Jackie Healy Rae, after which, despite being generally straighter and wider, it is the standard 80kmh to the bigger town of Kenmare.

Odd that, isn't it?

This was originally posted on boards.ie, by Aquavid

It's no joke - they're praying for rain in Kenmare

2007-07-17T08:24:00.000Z

A complete ban has been imposed on developments in Kenmare, one of Ireland's fastest-growing and most popular tourist towns, because of concerns about the town's water supply and quality.

Council officials have their fingers crossed that the summer's rain will continue in order to prevent a drought, a meeting of Kerry County Council heard yesterday. In the decade since 'Fortune' magazine voted the heritage town one of the top destinations in the world to retire to - alongside London, Costa Rica, Hawaii and Florida - Kenmare has seen its population surge by 30pc.

Huge numbers of holiday and second home developments encircle the town. Currently, plans for what is effectively a whole new town on the seaward side are before An Bord Pleanala and a decision is expected shortly. However, Kenmare's water supply often turns out to be of poor muddy quality and there is not enough of it.

Now no developments and no housing schemes are being given planning permission because of the town's lack of water and lack of water treatment, director of water services, Oliver Ring told councillors yesterday. Development in Kenmare was "closed down", he said in reply to questions from mayor of Kerry, Cllr Michael Healy-Rae.

Senate hopeful says Kerry’s planners are too strict

2007-07-12T15:40:00.000Z

Anger with "over-stringent" planning policies in Kerry is about to boil over, it was claimed yesterday. Some councillors said they were hoping for a new approach from recently-appointed county manager Tom Curran, who met FF councillors on the issue prior to the council’s annual meeting, in Tralee two weeks ago.

Despite promises that favourable treatment would be given to people building one-off houses on family-owned land, people were still finding it extremely difficult to get planning permission, FF Cllr Michael Cahill warned."I’m bitterly disappointed. The guidelines issued by the former Minister for the Environment are not being applied in Kerry," he claimed.

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Deputy Deenihan concedes Mullingar Accord is null and void

2007-07-12T11:13:00.000Z

North Kerry Deputy Jimmy Deenihan is conceding that the Mullingar Accord between Fine Gael and Labour is null and void. Fine Gael and Labour entered into the pact in September 2004 to offer voters an alternative government. It acted as a blue print for co ordinating policies, council work and ultimately led to a voting pact.

However it appeared the pact failed miserably for Labour in Kerry, with the party failing to win a seat in Kerry North and Breeda Moynihan Cronin losing her seat in Kerry South. Jimmy Deenihan says the pact worked better in some constituencies than others. The Fine Gael Deputy says while a future pact with Sinn Fein is not a matter for him to decide, he is not ruling it out.

Players in assault probe dropped

2007-07-12T08:19:00.000Z

Three players from the Kerry minor squad who were alleged to have been involved in an assault in Killarney after their Munster final loss to Cork have been dropped. Delegates at the July county board meeting were told of the move by Kerry County Board chairman Sean Walsh.

Gardai confirmed that they are investigating two incidents that took place in Plunkett Street and Muckross Road in Killarney late on July 1 and in the early hours of July 2.

The three players who were allegedly involved in the incidents, which resulted in a man in his early 20s being taken to Cork University Hospital as a result of injuries, will not be part of Kerry's minor campaign for the rest of season.

At Tuesday night's county board meeting, Mr Walsh read a statement to delegates which said that, as a result of information received, the three players were being "excluded from the Kerry minor football panel".

New roundabout for Lisivigeen

2007-07-11T10:52:00.000Z

A new roundabout at Lissavigeen outside Killarney is to be included in this year Goverment roads programme. According to Deputy Jackie Healy Rae this development is part of his deal with the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to support a Fianna Fail Government. Funding of 100,000 euro has been allocated by the NRA for the appointment of consultants. Kerry County Council will soon be advertising to have plans drawn up. Deputy Healy Rae says he has received assurances that work is to be completed by the end of the year. The junction of the N72 and the N22 experiences problems with heavy traffic on a regular basis

Appeals for people in Kerry to donate at Blood Clinics in Killarney

2007-07-10T11:23:00.001Z

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is appealing for people in Kerry to donate at its Blood Donor Clinics in Killarney this week, to replenish its dwindling summer stock. Clinics are to be held in Aras Phadraig, Killarney from today until Thursday from 3 to 5pm, and 7 to 9pm each day. A minimum of 3,000 units of blood is required every week in Ireland, but the total blood stock level for this week is 2,455.

Over the summer months, stocks drop despite continued demand, as schools are closed, people are on holidays, and are more likely to take advantage of the long summer evenings. Current stocks of seven of the eight blood types are well below the minimum level required by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, they are O positive, O negative, A positive, A negative, B positive, B negative and AB negative.

€400m fuel terminal plans to be submitted for North Kerry

2007-07-10T11:21:00.000Z

PROPOSALS for a huge €400 million fuel terminal at the Kerry tip of the Shannon Estuary will be submitted for planning approval before the end of the year, it was confirmed yesterday. The project will be the first to be submitted directly to Bord Pleanála under the new Strategic Review Act.

Shannon Development chief executive Kevin Thompstone launching the companies annual report in Limerick said planning approval will be sought sometime between September and December. Shannon Development entered a deal last year with Shannon LNG Ltd, an Irish subsidiary of Hess LNG Ltd to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on a 600-acre land bank owned by Shannon Development near Ballylongford.

Mr Thompstone said: "The project has the potential to make a real difference to long-term energy costs in this country as well as delivering significant economic, environmental and employment benefits. It also has the potential to secure Ireland’s long-term supply of natural gas and to provide an economic boost in north Kerry.

"We designated this site for deep-water projects and have been actively marketing the potential of the site to an international business audience for many years. Significant preparatory work is already underway, including site investigations, with a view to lodging a planning application later this year."

Outlining developments on the wider new jobs front, Mr Thompstone said 2006 was an excellent one for the company whose jobs remit includes the mid-west, north Kerry and south-east Offaly.

He said: "In all 2,087 new jobs were created bringing total employment to 20,530 in Shannon Development assisted companies which achieved over €5 billion in sales in 2006."

Shannon Development has responsibility of promoting indigenous industry throughout the region and holds overall responsibility for all job promotion in the Shannon Free Zone.

He welcomed the growth of R&D in the Shannon Free Zone which increased by 14.6%, compared to the national average of 10.2% for foreign enterprises elsewhere in the country.

Multicultural festival dishes up feast of food and fun fit for a Kingdom

2007-07-10T11:16:00.000Z

KILLARNEY celebrated its ethnic diversity at the weekend, honouring 3,000 people from 50 countries living in the area.

The Killarney Le Chéile multicultural festival, which included indoor concerts and outdoor events, offered people who have arrived in the town an opportunity to mingle with local people in a relaxed atmosphere.

Marilyn Catapat-Counihan, coordinator of the Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative (KASI), yesterday described the festival was very successful. "There was a lot of goodwill and support from the local community, and many people were willing to help," she added.

Sixteen acts took part in a concert, which featured music and dance from many parts of the world, including one group of foreign nationals dancing an Irish polka set.

The three-day festival, held in conjunction with Killarney Summerfest, also included a multi-cultural family picnic with 25 different dishes in the St Brendan’s College playing field. Killarney has had a drop-in centre for asylum seekers and refugees since 2000 and this was extended in 2005 to support migrant workers.

The centre’s services include advocacy work, English language support and referral to other agencies. "As well as providing essential services, our main aims are to facilitate integration and to develop links with the community," Ms Catapat-Counihan explained.

The centre has between 3,000 and 4,000 visits per year. Ms Counihan said language support and funding were key issues, while parents needed to be better informed about the education system. ’Integration is all about hard work and is something that will not happen overnight. The children are doing very well in schools in Killarney, but it’s harder for parents and people working in the area,’ she said.

The festival was funded by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice. Speaking at the festival, former Killarney mayor Sheila Casey said the role of the local community was crucial in welcoming and integrating newcomers. "Many face the isolation of barriers of language, religion, colour, ignorance and bigotry," she said.

30% increase in Kerry Garda numbers over decade

2007-07-06T14:48:00.000Z

Figures from the Department of Justice show there has been a 30% increase in the numbers of Gardai serving in the Kerry Division over the past decade. According to the department, there are now 299 Gardai working in Kerry compared to 230 in 1997. At present, there are 100 based at Tralee Garda Station - almost one third of the total number serving in the county. The information was released at the request of Tralee Town Council.

Judges from international competition in Killarney to assess town

2007-07-06T10:13:00.000Z

Judges from the international Entente Florale competition were in Killarney Wednesday to assess the town. This year, Killarney has been selected as the town to represent Ireland in the prestigious European competition. One of the aims of Entente Florale is to promote the greening of towns and villages across Europe.

The organisers in Killarney did a wonderful job clearing up after the mess of coke bottles and other rubbish after the Munster Final on Sunday. Here's hoping their hard work pays off.

Kerry's Mayor and Deputy Mayor accused of abusing the planning process

2007-07-03T16:29:00.000Z

Councillor John Brassil is accusing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kerry of abusing the planning process in relation to getting permission for a mobile phone mast in the Black Valley. The Ballyheigue councillor says council management had asked members to allow them explore a number of options before initiating the section 140 process. Surveys were carried out by the South West Regional Authority, Eircom and a company in Tralee which specialise in this type of communication difficulty.

However, he says Councillors Michael and Danny Healy-Rae ignored this advice and brought in the Section 140 which forced the council executive into granting permission for the 02 mast in Looscaunagh. An Bord Pleanala subsequently overturned that decision. Councillor Brassil says the people of the Black Valley would more than likely have the issue resolved by now, if councillors had listened to the previous County Manager Martin Riordan.

However Danny Healy Rae is rejecting the suggestion that he and his brother abused the planning process and says two applications to build the mast at Looscaunagh were refused. He says in North Kerry, four material contraventions have been initiated at the request of management, which he has no issue with, but yet the people of the Black Valley, in south Kerry, cannot get planning permission.

Tourists unhurt as bus falls into ditch

2007-07-03T08:23:00.000Z

A German tour bus had to be lifted by crane from a ditch in Kerry yesterday after crashing on a country road. The bus had taken a turn onto a narrow road in the Black Valley near the Ring of Kerry on Sunday evening, a route not normally used by such large vehicles. The 38 German passengers on board, most of whom were children, had to climb out the driver's window on the left hand side of the bus in order to escape.

Yesterday the 'Broskamp' bus was removed from the area by crane. None of the 34 children or four adults were injured. The group, who were from Cologne, were staying in the Neptune hostel in Killarney and had been sightseeing around the Ring of Kerry. However, when the bus attempted to travel down the road, on which cars normally find it difficult to pass each other, it veered into a ditch.

A number of taxis were dispatched to the scene in order to bring the group of children and adults back to Killarney.

Department fails to respond to Lough Lein pollution plan

2007-06-29T11:13:00.000Z

THE Department of the Environment has, for almost three years, failed to respond to a proposal to extend the public sewer in Killarney to the heavily populated environs of the town.

A sewer extension is seen as essential to tackle serious pollution problems in Lough Lein. At present, thousands of one-off houses, as well as several bed and breakfasts and some hotels, in the immediate surrounds of Killarney, are dependent on septic tanks. Poorly maintained septic tanks are among the chief causes of polluting matter ending up in picture-postcard Lough Lein, according to engineering surveys.

The issue was highlighted, yesterday, at a Kerry County Council meeting for the Killarney area. Three councillors — Michael Gleeson, Brendan Cronin and Danny Healy-Rae — had separate motions down calling for a sewer extension to the Tralee Road, Aghadoe and Lissivigeen areas.

Kathleen O’Regan Sheppard, who led a deputation of Tralee Road residents to the meeting, asked Mr Healy-Rae to refer the matter to his father, Independent TD Jackie-Healy-Rae, with a view to getting government support. Tralee Road people had been looking for an extension for 20 years, she said.

Sanitary services engineer Paul Cremin said a brief for a major extension of the sewer — to be known as the Killarney main Drainage Project — had been submitted to the Department of the Environment for approval, in October 2004.

The green light had not yet been granted, but he is being told by the department that approval may be given by the end of this month. "Once we get approval we will not be found wanting and we will have resources in place," Mr Cremin added.

The scheme would cater for the expanded urban area of Killarney and surrounding areas including Kilcummin, Beaufort, Lissivigeen, Scartlea, Tralee Road, Tiernaboul, Ballymaunagh and Aghadoe.

Ms O’Regan Sheppard hit out at what she described as a lack of a "can do" attitude in local government. "It’s incredible that there’s been no follow-through on this urgently needed extension since 2004. Private enterprise would go to the wall if it behaved in that way." Ms O’Regan Sheppard urged councillors to continue pressing the Department.

Mr Gleeson, who chaired the meeting, said he could not over-emphasise the importance of the sewer extension which was vital for the "salvation of our lakes".

Broadband infrastructure works start in Tralee

2007-06-28T11:03:00.001Z

Broadband infrastructure works are starting in Tralee this week and will continue until the end of July. Initial works are beginning in the town centre. Kerry County Council says some traffic delays can be expected. The local authority says there will be regular updates on the location of the works.

Similar works have recently completed in Killarney.

Restoration of Killarney House top priority for new Killarney Mayor

2007-06-28T11:01:00.000Z

The restoration of the Killarney House is a top priority for Killarney's new Mayor. Cllr Niall Botty O Callaghan was elected Mayor of Killarney last evening, while Cllr Patrick O Donoghue was elected Deputy Mayor. Cllr O Callaghan says Killarney house is a magnificent building but it is very run down. He says it would cost up to 6 million euro to restore and would make a fantastic museum. Cllr O Callaghan also plans to use his mayorship to speak up for young people and to promote Killarney.

Killarney's new town manager will be officially appointed in August. John Breen who is Director of Housing with Kerry County Council will take over from Tom Curran who was recently promoted to County Manager.

Plans for Listowel bypass move a step closer

2007-06-28T10:59:00.001Z

Plans for a bypass in Listowel are moving a step closer. The first public consultation phase is taking place this Friday (June 29th) which will notify the public and landowners that may be affected by the construction of the bypass. The road is expected to cost in the region of 13 million euro. There are two possible routes the County Council is looking at, one is along the west of the town that would run along the old Listowel-Tralee rail line and continue on the John B Keane road heading west. Its understood this is an attractive 3km route for the County Council as it already owns the land here and it would not encompass any severance package for landowners.

The eastern corridor option runs along the Bridge Road, near the river Feale, over the Duagh R55 road, it would then cross a new bridge that would have to be constructed and lead up to Bolton's Cross along the Tarbert side of Listowel. It's thought the bypass, which ever route is taken, will take 5 to 6 years before it becomes operational. Listowel has had a growing traffic problem over the last number of years which is not helped by the fact the town has a single traffic flow system in place. A survey carried out by the National Roads Authority shows over 12,000 cars are travelling on the N69 Tralee road daily.

New High Street Plans

2007-06-26T11:13:00.000Z

In Killarney, property developer and businessman Pat Duggan has plans to revitalise High Street for shopping.

His €20m proposal is for a four-storey retail and parking complex which would involve the demolition of a bar and the former Hilliard’s shoe factory building. A 260-space car park is also included.

In recent years, all of the substantial new shopping developments in Killarney have been in out-of-town locations.

Traffic issues to determine €30m town project

2007-06-26T11:12:00.000Z

A number of key traffic issues will have to be resolved in Tralee before a €30 million project goes to the planning stage, it emerged yesterday. Proposals have been drafted for a conference and exhibition centre at Fels Point, Tralee. Behind the venture is developer Liam Carroll, owner of the Fels Point Hotel.

Tralee, however, has chronic traffic/parking problems and measures will have to be introduced to improve the situation. Recently, traffic in Tralee was almost brought to a standstill when about 2,000 farmers came to town for the annual meeting of Kerry Co-op.

There are plans for a ring road but it looks as if it will not be built for many years to come. Members of Tralee Town Council have been shown Mr Carroll’s plans which are for a site next to the hotel. The three-storey complex would include a 3,800-seat conference and entertainment centre, which would be capable of drawing high profile events.

It is also possible the annual Rose of Tralee festival would be held there. This year’s festival will be based at the Fels Point Hotel.

Inch Strand in worlds best nudist beaches

2007-06-25T15:25:00.001Z

Inch Strand is included in a list for the world's best nude beaches and resorts. The beach in west Kerry is also on an unofficial naturist trail. This inclusion, by the US guide for naturists, follows a call by the Irish Naturists' Association for local authorities to support their request for nudist beaches in Ireland. Public nudity is still illegal in Ireland.

There have been reports of nude bathing at Dingle Peninsula beaches since the 1970s, when a secluded beach near Coomeenole hit the headlines. A group of naturists from Kerry, Cork and Waterford bared all at Inch during the June bank holiday while celebrating World Naturist Day.

Decision on Castleisland Tesco deferred

2007-06-25T15:15:00.000Z

A decision on the location of a Tesco supermarket in Castleisland has been deferred until the 19th of July. Tesco Ireland is appealing to An Bord Pleanala to overturn a Kerry County Council decision not to grant planning permission for the development. Tesco Ireland wants to build a supermarket of almost 2,500sq.m with 193 parking spaces on the Limerick road in Castleisland. The site is currently zoned for medium-density, residential development. Earlier this year the rezoning of the land was proposed at Kerry County Council but it failed to receive the required support to make the change.

A number of submissions and objections had been lodged with the Council in relation to traffic, pollution and the impact of the supermarket on residential and visual amenities. Tesco appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala and submissions have been lodged with the board by the Garvey Group and RGDATA. Tesco Ireland claims the project would generate between 80 and 100 jobs in the town if it got the go-ahead. A decision is due on the 19th of July.

Ballybunion residents organise traffic meeting

2007-06-25T15:14:00.001Z

Concerned residents of Ballybunion are organising a public meeting to discuss putting a one way traffic system in place in the seaside town. They say there's serious traffic congestion in Ballybunion during the summer holiday season. Kerry County Council, politicians, and the Gardaí, as well as the general public are invited to attend the meeting. It'll take place in Ballybunion Community Centre on Monday at 8pm.

ESB restores power to Kerry homes

2007-06-20T19:59:00.001Z

Some 50,000 homes were left without electricity after severe lightening struck transmission networks in Co Kerry this evening.

The powercut happened shortly before 6pm. The ESB has now restored power to all the affected households.

From The Indo:

Hundreds left in dark after electrical storm

Hundreds of homes in Kerry were still without electricity for much of yesterday after an electrical storm hit the region.

Restaurants, businesses and major supermarkets in most towns were forced to close their doors at 5.40pm on Wednesday after lightning struck the main network supply coming out of Tarbert on the Shannon estuary. The electrical storm was followed by darkened skies and enormous downpours, leading to brief flooding of roads.

Tourist town Killarney was one of the areas worst affected with bewildered visitors finding most restaurants, pubs and fast food places had shut down at the peak dinner time period. Some of the bigger hotels, such as the Gleneagle and Brehon hotels, had their own generators to cater for their guests.

Traffic lights and ATM machines were also out of action. However, most of the 60,000 ESB customers affected had power restored by about 9pm. Houses still affected yesterday were those closest to the Tarbert station in the Listowel and Lisselton areas.

Council study on rapid growth of two Kerry villages

2007-06-20T16:02:00.000Z

A recent study of the changing settlement patterns in Kerry commissioned by Kerry County Council examined issues arising from the rapid growth of Lixnaw and Firies. It also includes analysis of planning applications from 2002 to 2005. The research which was carried out by the Institute of Technology in Tralee highlights the fact that Lixnaw and Firies have effectively become dormitory settlements for Tralee and Killarney. The report finds that civic and public spaces are essential in areas of settlement and that residents view themselves as having purchased a house rather than a home.

It recommends that equal attention be given to the development of social infrastructure as is given to physical infrastructure. It also says consideration should be given to the establishment of a parish council to enable communities engage with the planning authority. In relation to planning decisions made between 2002 and 2005, the report says there is a height uptake of permissions with more than 80% going to construction. It also says housing construction is considerably outstripping population growth and that the development of villages has been developer led rather than planned.

Altobridge in Malaysian deal

2007-06-19T13:03:00.000Z

Kerry-based wireless firm Altobridge has secured a major contract with Malaysia's largest mobile operator to provide coverage to outlying areas and businesses.

The contract, which was announced Tuesday, is a joint venture with Malaysian mobile operator Maxis to provide wireless GSM communication for communities and enterprises that would otherwise be cut off from standard communications networks.

Isolated village communities as well as enterprises such as offshore oil platforms will benefit from the deal.

Speaking to ENN, Altobridge spokesman Tim Guest said the company was 'very excited' about the deal, which is being seen as a major coup for the company. "This announcement opens the door for the provision of mobile services to other isolated communities in the developing world," he said.

In a statement, Maxis Chief Technical Officer Rolf Marthinusen said that Altobridge's solution "allows us to provide necessary telecommunication service to secluded communities across Malaysia."

He went on to say: "We have successfully deployed and built a total of 1,048 sites, with more to follow. The remote GSM project with Altobridge will significantly expand our coverage to these rural communities."

Chief Technical Officer of Altobridge Richard Lord added: "Any wireless service that costs operators more than USD10 per month per subscriber, for small subscriber groups, is not going to succeed in emerging markets. The business case just doesn't work."

Altobridge would not disclose the value of the contract at this time. The company currently has a team on the ground in the country and expects the number of staff assigned to the area to grow in the near future.

The contract is the Malaysian government's latest step towards fulfilling its commitment, made in May 2004, to provide full mobile network coverage across the entire country. Coverage in the nation's capital Kuala Lumpur currently stands at 100 percent, while for the rest of the country the figure is 79 percent.

Based in the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, Altobridge supplies wireless communications software to the aeronautical, maritime, military and emergency services sectors as well as communities in the developing world. The company also has offices in the US and will be exhibiting at the CommunicAsia 2007 event in Singapore.

ENN