What happened in Kerry this week
Killorglin beauty Natalie Sheehan used her time on stage at the Miss Universe Ireland final to spread a message of resilience and hope.
The timeless craft of boat building in West Kerry has helped The Maharees community secure the inaugural Cultural Heritage Award named in honour of the late Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
A change in legislation to allow parents of stillborn babies to add their child’s name to a public record is being welcomed by a Tralee mother who said keeping their babies’ existence a secret was very hurtful for parents.
An epic sea voyage from Tarbert Island in Kerry to Tarbert Village in Scotland is being undertaken by Kerry boatman Raymond McGibney and his family in 2025 – exactly 20 years after he first competed in the Scottish Series Regatta.
The parishes of Causeway and Ballyduff gave a meaningful send off to Fr Brendan Walsh last weekend to show their appreciation for his service over the past 16 years as he takes up his new role as parish priest in Moyvane.
The Junior Cycle results are in and 2,186 students from across the county can now finally breathe a sigh of relief as early reports suggest results in Kerry were superb across the board.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
O’Learys make huge splash for Kerry at Heritage awards
THE TIMELESS craft of boat building in West Kerry has helped The Maharees community secure the inauguralCultural Heritage Award named in honour of the late Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
During National Heritage Week in August, the O’Leary family gave a fascinating demonstration in front of almost 60 spectators on how to carefully construct what’s locally known as a canoe from white deal timber and ash –a tradition that’s been passed down through five generations of the West Kerry family, closely tied with the popular Maharees Regatta.
As explained by Monty O’Leary at the time, the boats have traditionally been used for fishing and transporting cattle between the likes of Ilauntannig and the mainland, but in recent times they’ve been used primarily for racing and transporting fishermen out to the more modern fishing boats that are moored close to shore.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Causeway man helps O’Leary go green
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has teamed up with Kerry man Adrian Casey to begin the green transformation of his 2,000-acre Midlands farm in Gigginstown estate, outside Mullingar.
The Ryanair CEO has invested just over €140,000 installing 231 solar panels and 90kw of batteries provided by Swyft Energy – a company co-founded by Causeway man Adrian Casey.
Mr O’Leary said he was dismissive about solar power until he realised the technology had advanced to a point which makes it financially viable for farmers.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Snapper Caroline captures the light fantastic
A local photographer captured stunning images of the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights - and below the sky – the wondrous phenomenon of bioluminescence at Stradbally Strand last Monday night.
It’s not the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last that Caroline Flynn is out and ready with her camera to catch the spectacular light shows that are now becoming more and more common in Kerry skies.
Still, the images Caroline captured are breathtaking as she stood from the vantage point of the beach, where the sky lit up in pinks and greens and the sea below was alive with bioluminescence –a chemical reaction which produces emissions of light from the ocean’s surface to the deep sea floor.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Go-ahead for 45 new homes at Parknadoo
PLANS to build 45 new homes on the site of the historic Parknadoon House on the Oakpark Road in Tralee have been given the green light to go ahead, despite appeals from local residents.
The listed late Victorian period house, which was bought for €920,000 over two years ago, is located just 300m from the entrance to Casement train station in the town centre.
Cork-based developers Tulfarris CG had applied to Kerry County Council to convert the 140-year-old protected building into six heritage-style apartments, and to turn the historic house’s separate ‘Gate Lodge’ into a two-bedroom cottage.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
From Tarbert to... Tarbert?
AN EPIC sea voyage from Tarbert Island in Kerry to Tarbert Village in Scotland is being undertaken by Kerry boatman Raymond McGibney and his family in 2025 –exactly 20 years after he first competed in the Scottish Series Regatta.
Raymond and his wife Michelle, brother Tom are ready to rock the waves this coming summer in their Sigma 38 cruise racer –and rekindle old connections between North Kerry and the Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club in Western Scotland.
Back in 2005, Raymond’s three nephews Paul, Darren and Christian steered the McGibney’s cruise racer along the same journey, and were met by Raymond, his parents Charlie and Ita, brothers Rory and Simon, and Rory’s son Fionn in Scotland for the regatta –where the team managed to place in fourth position in category 5.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
Kerry parkrun clocks up its first decade
It’s been a weekly gathering where generations have grown up, where friendships have bloomed and love has blossomed, and this coming January the Tralee parkrun movement celebrates 10 years running, and with it a decade of personal milestones.
As the worldwide parkrun movement celebrates 20 years here in Kerry, local and regular parkrun gatherings continue to go from strength to strength.
Today there are currently five parkruns across the county– in Tralee, Fenit, Killarney, Listowel and Inch Beach.
Read the full story in Kerry’s Eye Digital Edition.
