We’re  finally going Green this Friday!

Greenway will be opened to the public tomorrow (Friday) by Environment and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.

The 6.5km section from Kilfenora to Fenit is part of the 11.3km route, the finished surface of which is asphalt concrete and three metres wide.

When complete, the Tralee to Fenit Greenway will include 20 agricultural crossings, 10 private crossings, two public crossings and eight potential pedestrian access points.

The greenway was developed along the old corridor of the disused Tralee to Fenit railway line, which closed in 1978.

The 2.2km urban section of the route, linking Tralee Railway Station to Mounthawk at Bracker O’Regan Road was completed in 2015.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

Wedding bells for reigning Rose Sinead

Wedding bells rang out last Friday for the 2019 Rose of Tralee Dr Sinead Flanagan when she married Dr David Glynn at a ceremony in Holy Trinity Abbey Church in Adare.

The 2019 Limerick Rose, who is now the longest-running Rose to hold the title, looked stunning in a long white gown and veil, and was very much the Rose for the day.

The then 27-year-old junior doctor succeeded the 2018 Waterford winner Kirsten Mate Maher.

The Limerick native, who grew up in Mungret and now lives in Adare, was offered ‘Hearty congratulations’ by her Rose Festival family who said: “We want to send them our very best wishes for a long life ahead together, full of joy, laughter and love.”

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

99s at 99 for Betty and friends

To celebrate reaching her milestone birthday, 99-year-old Betty Moody treated all her neighbours in Moyvane to an appropriately delicious treat - a 99 for everyone in the audience!

Betty is over the moon to reach the fine age of  99 – after recently spending two months in hospital, where she was seriously ill.

Carer and friend Frances Leahy said they had pleaded with doctors to let Betty return home, as it was her dying wish to pass away in the house she shared for over 20 years with her late husband Jim.

"That was four months ago and I said to her that we didn’t think she’d make it to her birthday - she asked me if I knew her at all!" Frances laughed.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

Wazp to sting drug smugglers

A TRALEE company is set to play its part in the fight against international drug smuggling – with a key role in the development of cutting-edge technology to police Ireland’s 3,171-kilometre coastline.

Wazp is part of a new consortium of companies in the Guard Project, which is charged with creating state-of-the-art drone technology to take on drug barons who use Ireland’s coast as an entry point to the vast European market.

Led by the Tyndall National Institute in Cork, the Guard Project has secured state backing of €7.6m to develop a drone to directly target smugglers — an initiative that will bring up to 500 jobs on stream as the new technology is developed and rolled out.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

Give online  abuse the red card!

A NEW campaign demanding that the Football Association of Ireland tackle the growing scourge of social media abuse of officials involved in soccer is to be spearheaded from Kerry at the upcoming AGM of the organisation in Dublin.

Kerry District League secretary John O’Regan has launched his crusade just a few days after revealing that abuse on social media brought him to the brink of ending his near 50-year association with the game at county level.

“Someone has to be designated as a social media officer so that what’s being said about people who are involved in soccer can be monitored,” said Mr O’Regan.

"It’s got out of hand and is getting worse - and has to stop."

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

Recovery Haven concert hits the right note

A highly anticipated and great night of entertainment in aid of Recovery Haven Cancer Support services hit all the right notes when it was hosted at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel last Sunday night.

The gala concert was organised to give the public a night out to celebrate, but to also raise money for the charity which is mainly run on public donations.

It costs €300,000 annually to keep the service going for Kerry cancer patients and their families – a service that offers care and compassion, two very important components for those receiving and recovering from treatment.

Secretary for Recovery Haven Dermot Crowley said there was a great line up arranged for the evening – and he thanked all the performers for giving their time so generously and performing at the gala free of charge.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

Fuel crisis hits vital cancer bus

THE global fuel crisis is seriously impacting a vital local charity’s ability to provide free transport to hospital treatment for Kerry cancer patients - the cost of keeping Kerry Cancer Support Group’s fleet of buses and cars on the road will more than double this year.

For the first time in the Tralee-based charity’s 15 years in existence, it will cost more than €40,000 in fuel costs alone to bring local cancer patients to crucial treatment in Cork and Limerick – over €20,000 more than it did last year.

This is despite the fact extra bus services were run during the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of limitations on capacity due to social distancing guidelines.

Kerry Cancer Support Group manager Breda Dyland said rising costs at the pumps could have a detrimental effect on people with cancer throughout the county.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

Three ‘amigos’ say adiós to agri department

Three ‘amigos’ who worked for the Department of Agriculture for a combined 128 years service marked their recent retirements at a triple celebration held at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel last Friday.

William O’Rourke, from Abbeyfeale, spent 42 years in the department, his colleague Bertie Cahill, a native of Cordal, gave 43 years service, while John Scannell, who hails from Duagh, also worked in the department for 43 years.

The three men worked in three separate locations at first, but have shared an office in Spa Road, Tralee for the past 23 years.

Their work as Agricultural Officers varied but they all worked directly with farmers, taking care of grants for various needs.

John, who has spent his time between an office in Listowel, working with Kerry Ingredients, and later in Tralee, said that they had built up a great friendship with each other over the years, but not only that, they also befriended many farmers who they met frequently through their work down through the years.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

O’Donoghue Walk goes pink for Mary!

The annual Todd O’Donoghue Walk will turn pink this year in support of popular Tralee Garda and great friend of the late Mr O’Donoghue, Mary Gardiner, who continues her fight against breast cancer.

The annual walk is being organised a bit earlier this time around – and in a departure from the norm all proceeds this year will go to Breast Cancer Ireland.

The change in the beneficiary, for this year only, is in honour of the friendship between Garda Gardiner and the late Mr O’Donoghue – and to support Mary in her efforts to complete the 100km in 30 Days Challenge she has undertaken for the month of June.

Mary is still undergoing treatment for breast cancer and is facing surgery soon – but first she wanted to show her support for the national charity Breast Cancer Ireland.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye

International field at Half on the Head

The Ballyheigue Half on the Head turned into an international event this year as runners came from as far away as California, Australia, South Africa and all over Europe to take part in the race.

Organised by Mick Harkin and Marian Godley, it was hoped that numbers attending the run would return to pre-Covid times – however, the race organisers were in for a pleasant surprise when last Saturday’s turnout surpassed the numbers of participants recorded in previous years of the Half on the Head.

As with previous years, proceeds from this year’s event will go towards local causes – the beneficiaries of last weekend’s race will include the Ballyheigue Resource Centre, Ballyheigue Tidy Towns, the up-and-coming Ballyheigue Athletics Soccer Club, as well as a number of other local community projects.

 Read the full story in tomorrow’s Kerry’s Eye