New plans for €650m gas terminal

PLANNING PERMISSION is being sought for a controversial €650m Power Plant and Gas Terminal in Tarbert - despite Government opposition to the importation of fracked gas.

This week, Shannon LNG Ltd - a subsidiary of New Fortress Energy - announced it will apply for planning permission for the first phase of development at the 600 acre Shannon Technology and Energy Park (STEP), in an effort to transition Ireland to 70% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

In May 2021, the Government announced opposition to the importation of fracked gas and their support for a moratorium on all LNG projects pending the completion of a review of security of energy supply.

‘We were lied to over Kilcummin €9m sewerage

Irish Water confirmed this week that it will not include 40 households left out of its planned €9m sewerage scheme for Kilcummin.

Locals and politicians are furious over Irish Water’s handling of the scheme which is now promised to go ahead in late 2022.

A major row erupted in the Dáil earlier this year following claims that almost 40 homes in Kilcummin have been left out the scheme.

Irish Water blamed the cost of the scheme and also blamed locals who did not apply for inclusion in the scheme - even though they were never asked.

Tiernan introduces John Moriarty book

THE WRITINGS  of Kerry writer and philosopher John Moriarty are brought into the mainstream in a new book that makes them accessible to a new generation of thinkers.

‘A Hut at the Edge of the Village, edited by Dr Martin Shaw, with a foreword by Tommy Tiernan, is a new collection of Moriarty’s writings, ordered thematically, with sections ranging from place, love and wildness through to voyaging, ceremony and the legitimacy of sorrow. Tiernan, who discovered John Moriarty in 2002 when he was recommended to him by a friend, said ever since he saw Moriarty’s face staring out of him from the cover of his book ‘Dreamtime’ he’d been hooked.

Tommy Tiernan wrote: “There he stood looking out, an unmannered bushman of the southern mountains. The book was full of stories. Old ones retold and re-imagined. It was dead history brought back to life. Tales that for generations had had all the danger and life taken out of them by academics and folklorists were suddenly revitalised.” Describing Moriarty’s philosophy of storytelling as just letting it come out of your mouth the way it wants to come, rather than approaching it with an agenda.

Wastewater boost for Fenit

A NEW WASTEWATER treatment plant in Fenit will boost business and the construction of new homes, according to Town Hall Chairman Tadhg Murphy.

This week, funding was secured to replace the existing ‘outdated and overloaded’ sewage system in the seaside community of more than 500 people.

Now, Mr Murphy says locals are delighted with the news - and they’re anxiously awaiting a timeline for when the facility will be built and operational.

Chef Louise tight-lipped on RTE’s culinary battle

A DINGLE chef and her food truck are going head-to-head with other chefs around the country in a new RTÉ food series to find Ireland’s finest food truck.

Louise Brosnan and her Mex West food truck can usually be found in Paddy Bawn Brosnan’s Yard but they’ll be appearing on our TV screens over the next six weeks in the brand new RTÉ Players series, ‘Battle of the Food Trucks’.

The first episode aired on Tuesday night, when viewers saw Louise and the other contestants prepare their signature dishes in an attempt to tickle the taste buds of judges and win a place in the second round. The remaining 12-minute episodes will be released over the next five weeks when it will be revealed who wins the crown and a cash prize of €5,000. Louise survived the first round with her scrumptious prawn tacos - but is remaining tight-lipped about her progression in the series, despite pressure from friends.

Friends raise funds for Night Nurse service

A group of women who lost their dear friend Chris O’Shea to breast cancer last year are planning to complete a 5K in pods on July 1, to raise money for the Night Nurses who took great care of her.

Chris was very impressed with the Night Nurses service, which provides free end-of-life care for cancer patients and their families in their own homes.

They support to individuals and their loved ones is provided during what can be a difficult and anxious time.

Tralee road works to run into next year

WORKS to modernise Tralee Town Centre and make the area more pedestrian and cyclist friendly will continue well into 2022, according to Kerry County Council.

Phase Two of the Tralee Town Centre Pavements project - encompassing under-grounding of cables and resurfacing work at Lower Rock Street, Russell Street, Bridge Street and Bridge Place - were delayed by three months due to Covid-19, and are now expected to be completed by January 2022.

Meanwhile, Public Consultation for Phase Three of the project - covering works at Godfey Place, Island of Geese Road, Lower Rock Street and Lower Castle Street - closed on May 14, 2021, meaning members of the Council must now meet to hopefully approve the project for planning.

A catch up, chat, and a caring ear

Patrick Hunt enjoys his weekly visits from NEWKD Home Visitation volunteer Patricia Griffin as part of a programme aimed at alleviating loneliness in elderly people.

‘Home Visitation’ is a social programme launched by NEWKD for over 60s who live alone in rural isolated areas, have no means of transport, or those who cannot leave their home for medical reasons.

This initiative was developed by Rural Social Scheme (RSS) supervisors at NEWKD (North, East & West Kerry Development) in Listowel and will be a free weekly visiting service for people in the North Kerry areas of Moyvane, Listowel, Ballydonoghue, Duagh, Causeway, Ballyduff, Tarbert, Ballybunion, Asdee and Ballylongford.

Causeway GAA raises over €20k for Pieta House

Close to an astounding €22,000 was raised for Pieta House and Causeway GAA Club during a 48-hour relay that comprised some 220 people, 16 dogs, a donkey, and even an alpaca!

Causeway GAA’s Eamon Fitzgerald said the club would like to put on record their gratitude and appreciation for the public’s overwhelming response to the fundraising event.

“We could never have imagined receiving such a positive response to what started out as a small fundraising event, to not only help with club development and facilities, but more importantly, to make up for missing out on our annual St Stephen’s Day Long Puck competition in memory of Kevin Diggins, which raises much needed funds for Pieta House also,” he said.

A challenge bound to inspire!

THE CHALLENGE is to recreate the cover of a favourite book, or an illustration from a loved story, and the Listowel Writers’ Week Art Challenge has even received the seal of approval from the Getty Museum that inspired it.

Already entries have been flooding in from around the world from creative people who’ve risen to the challenge in the most imaginative of ways and posted images of their efforts on social media using the hashtags #LWWArtChallenge2021 or #LWWNBookCoverChallenge2021.

But now the organisers are hoping to promote the challenge locally and inspire families and children to take it up as a summer holiday project ahead of the second part of Listowel Writers’ Week 2021 in October.