‘Your community
is like family now’
THE HEARTBROKEN partner of one of the Ballybunion drowning victims said attending last Thursday evening’s vigil in the seaside town has provided comfort amidst the tragedy, sadness and grief, and that the local community is like family now.
Paulette Daly attended the ceremony on Ballybunion Men’s Beach, a week to the day that her partner Des Byrne and his sister Muriel Eriksson died in a double-drowning tragedy that brought a deep sense of shock to the North Kerry community.
“Initially I felt I couldn’t go to Ballybunion - but then on Wednesday night felt we needed to see where Des and Muriel were when they died," Paulette told Kerry's Eye.
"I felt something that told me ‘you need to do this',” she added.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
What happened in Kerry this week
One of Kerry’s most iconic hotels has been sold, bringing to an end four generations of hotel ownership for the family that opened it in 1913.
Read more in tomorrow's Kerry's Eye
A brand new dome is nearly ready, families, friends and fans from across the world are anticipating, and 33 new contestants wait in hope as the final preparations are put in place for this week's long awaited comeback of the International Rose of Tralee Festival.
Full build up and coverage in tomorrow's Kerry's Eye
A devastating landslide caused by flash floods left a family cut off and trapped in their home outside Tralee this week - forcing them to seek help from the Civil Defence to make a vital hospital appointment.
Read the full story in tomorrow's Kerry's Eye
People around Killarney are united in shock and sadness at the sudden and tragic death of local woman Miriam Burns, who was described as 'truly a lovely lady, who never had a bad word for anybody'
Read the full story in tomorrow's Kerry's Eye
Born during the height of the Irish Civil War, Kerry's latest centenarian, Josie Sayers said there was no secret to living such a long life – but she urged the youth of today to slow down and savour the moments saying: “They grow up too fast nowadays.”
Read Josie's story in tomorrow's Kerry's Eye
One Kerry man's passion for all things Michael Collins will have him on the road early to Béal na mBláth this Sunday before travelling to Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin to pay more respect to the leader he calls ‘the greatest Irishman of all’.
Read his story in tomorrow's Kerry's Eye
Greenway openings now postponed
THE DATE for the full opening of the two greenways serving Tralee and Listowel have been pushed back by at least a month - because Kerry County Council is still putting the finishing touches to the two projects costing nearly €13m between them.
On a number of occasions over the past few months, Council officials have earmarked an end of August dateline for the full opening of the 11.5km greenway from Fenit to Tralee, and for the 10.5km greenway from Listowel that links up with the Limerick Greenway at Abbeyfeale.
Both are part of the Kingdom of Kerry Greenways, which will also include the South Kerry greenway which will run for 30km between Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Puck tradition feels the heat
The Puck Fair organising committee could be forced to review its future plans for the wild goat after a raft of complaints were made to the Department of Agriculture during this year’s festival.
The 400-year-old festival was plunged into controversy last week after a heated debate on RTÉ’s Liveline programme over plans to keep the wild goat caged 50 feet in the air during soaring temperatures and an unprecedented heatwave.
The debate on Tuesday of last week – aired just one day before Puck Fair kicked off for three days of festivities – heard criticism from animal rights activists who labelled the practice as ‘barbaric’ and ‘cruel’.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
These young actors are real FASS learners!
Thirty children and and teenagers attending the West End School of Arts in Killarney got a surprise masterclass last week from none other than Hollywood
The acting sensation was back home in Killarney for a few days and spent all of Friday and Monday teaching at the arts school he founded.
Details of his surprise visit home were kept top secret among just a few family members and West End School of Arts manager Martin O’Brien.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Life as a Rose blooms for Édaein
As a freelance travel journalist, Kerry Rose Édaein O’Connell is used to an exciting life full of country hopping and far flung exotic destinations - but the North Kerry woman has said that taking part as a Rose has been one of the most incredible experiences in her life.
The Lyreacrompane lady said that having the honour of being the 61st Kerry Rose has been an unforgettable experience – and that’s saying a lot, coming from a jet-setter who spends weeks at a time documenting her travels for national media.
“It’s honestly been one of the best experiences, and I know that every Kerry Rose says this, but you don’t realise it until you're in it.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Popular café to reopen at Tralee's Wetlands
The café and restaurant at Tralee Bay Wetlands is to reopen this week, under the new management of local business woman Mags Kissane.
The Lakeside café, which is owned by Kerry County Council as part of the Wetlands complex, closed at the beginning of the pandemic and only reopened for a short time after the restrictions were lifted.
Ms Kissane signed a contract last week to take over the day-to-day running of the restaurant at the popular facility, and said she is looking forward to the challenge.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Josie celebrates centenary milestone
Kerry's latest centenarian was in great form when she answered the door this week to welcome Kerry’s Eye into her home in Annascaul to mark a huge milestone in a full and happy life.
Josie was born on August 10, 1922, during the height of the Irish Civil War – just 12 days before the death of Michael Collins.
After 100 years, she maintains that there is no secret to living such a long life – but urges the youth of today to slow down and savour the moments.
“They grow up too fast nowadays,” she said.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Ardfert honours 'quiet genius' of local artist
THE UNASSUMING and quiet genius of an Ardfert man who died over 25 years ago is being celebrated in his native place this week as his life’s work as a self-taught artist goes on display for the first time.
Mickie Cavan taught himself how to draw in his spare time, and his work now lives on after him and is getting a new lease of life and audience as part of Heritage Week.
The work is being exhibited in Ardfert Cathedral, after being painstakingly gathered from throughout the parish from people who were gifted artworks by him during his lifetime.
The project, which delves into some of the history of Ardfert through Mickie’s vast volume, is the brainchild of Ardfert Historical Society, and has been three years in the planning.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Skaters roll up for Bruce event
The late Bruce ‘Ox’ Kelliher would have been proud to know that a Skate Jam held to christen Ox Park in Tralee last weekend was compared to some of the best in the continent.
The Kelliher family have found great comfort in the naming of the facility at the Tralee Sports Complex after Bruce.
Bruce - a skateboarding legend who was also well-known for many other sporting pursuits - had campaigned for years to have a skateboarding park built in his home town.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Revival rocks Listowel square
There was a festival atmosphere in Listowel’s town square last weekend as the Revival music festival proved a huge hit with near sell-out crowds and people attending from all over the country.
On Friday, The Waterboys, The Stunning and Power of Dreams took to the stage as the festival made a long-awaited comeback after three years.
The crowds were not disappointed and everything went off amazingly. The talent raised the bar in terms of the calibre of performers who want to play in Listowel – and as the Waterboys are the first international act to play on the Revival stage, organisers have a lot to think about in terms of planning for next year.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Celebration of Light to remember cancer victims
Recovery Haven Kerry’s Celebration of Light returns to Tralee Bay Wetlands on Sunday, to remember those lost to cancer.
The very meaningful ceremony organised by Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer support charity returns on Sunday, August 21, at 7pm.
Recovery Haven’s PR and Marketing Officer Marisa Reidy said the charity is thrilled to announce the return of the annual Celebration of Light ceremony which will be run in association with the Rose of Tralee Festival.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye
Dingle Regatta returns in triumph
CHARLIE HAUGHEY was back in West Kerry over the weekend — not the original of the species, of course, but his grandson Cathal Haughey as the Dingle Regatta made a triumphant return to the county’s sporting calendar.
Crews from many parts of the county and beyond from Clare, Galway and Cork were in attendance, together with a large spectator presence, as the sun shone on the West Kerry capital’s oldest sporting event for the first time in three years.
“It was like being in Spain,” said longstanding Dingle Regatta chairman Eddie Hutchinson, “and it was great to be back. The break that was there for the last two years was the biggest break we ever had, so that’s what made it very important,” he added.
Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye