The Kenmare News

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If it’s happening in Kenmare, it’s in the Kenmarenews

Vol 16, Issue 12

February 2019

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P6 Young artists showcased at Canvas Club exhibition

P20 Kenmare Citizens Information is on the move

P12 All smiles at Kenmare Mart social

‘Scarra abú

2 | Kenmare News Otherworlds Board Gaming Guild meet on Tuesday evenings from 7pm-10pm at Kenmare’s Family Resource Centre, Railway Road to play Board games, and they would love you to join them! However, these are not the board games you might think of such as Monopoly, Ludo, Scrabble, Cluedo and The Game of Life, because board games have undergone a revolution over the past decade in the way they are designed.Modern board games meet certain criteria such as no players must be out of the game early, and all players must stand a chance, however small, to win the game till the very end.

The game must last a reasonable amount of time, typically family games last 45 to 60 minutes, and are based on interesting mechanisms that keep players on the edge of their seats.

Modern games are fluid, with little downtime, some games make everyone play simultaneously, and for turn-based games, designers make sure that everyone is active even when it is not their turn to play Modern games also benefit greatly from quality work of illustrators. It is easy to see that a classic game like Monopoly hardly meets this criteria, by today’s standards, Monopoly would never have been published.

One of the clubs favourite games is ‘The Settlers of Catan’ which is an award-winning strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. The board itself is variable, making each game a little different from the next. Another is ‘Camel Up’ in which you play a member of Egyptian high society, who gather in the desert with one simple goal: to gain the most money by backing the right camel to win a leg or even the entire race. However, in this race, it’s not just the lucky ones who can beat the odds. Reading the dynamics of the race and having a good sense of timing is just as important when it comes to backing the right camels and taking the victory. These are just two of our favourites, we have many more and are constantly expanding our library as new games are released every month.

So if you have nothing to do on a cold and wintery evening, come and sit by the fire, make new friends, and have some fun and play with a real person sitting right next to you and not a virtual one. The club opens from October to May, membership is €30 and €3 per evening and is for ages 14 years and up. Find them on facebook at ‘Otherworlds Board Gaming Guild Kenmare.’

Congratulations to Brook Lane Hotel who are delighted to have ranked in the top 10 in three categories of Trip Advisor Awards for Best Small Hotel, Best Small Hotel Service Service & Most Romantic Hotel.

Minster Brendan Griffin and Cllr Patrick O'Connor Scarteen pictured during a visit to Rockmount Day Care Centre in Kilgarvan.

Kenmare Nursing Home

Tír na nÓg

for the elderly, Kenmare Nursing Home is a family-run establishment that takes pride in our friendly, personal approach to care.

Killaha East, Kenmare. 064 6641315/087 9371588 email: nursinghome@eircom.net

www.kenmarenursinghome .com

kenmarenews

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If it’s happening in Kenmare, it’s in the Kenmarenews www.kenmarenews.biz

4 Davitts Place, Kenmare t: 087 2513126 / 087 2330398

e: kenmarenews@eircom.net

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The MARCH EDITION of The Kenmare News will be published on Thursday March 21st and closing date for submissions is Thursday March 14th.

PROUD TO B E PR INT ED IN KER RY

The statements and opinions contained in The Kenmare News are solely those of the individual advertisements in The Kenmare News is not a warranty, endorsement or

KENMARE

Kenmare News | 3

4 | Kenmare News

Many happy retuns to Maureen O’ Sullivan, Tuosist Post Office, pictured with with her great grandchildren; her sons Michael, Gerard, Steve, P.J. and Eoin; and her sister Sheila who will also be 90 next year, as she celebrated her 90th birthday at the wonderful Brooklane Hotel with her family and some of her many friends. Maureen has been running her shop and post office for over 60 years and has no intention of giving up anytime soon.

The post office is the only rural shop between Kenmare and Ardgroom and a vital focal point in the parish of Tuosist. Over the years, thousands of visitors have arrived at her door, some looking for their ancestral roots, while others sought directions and other pieces of information, and no one has ever left disappointed! Among the well wishers were President Michael D. Higgins, Charlie Flanagan, T.D. and Michael Healy Rae, T.D.

Kerry GAA superstar Gavin Crowley spotted in Supervalu Kenmare checking out their brand new self checkouts, which are every bit as quick as himself!

Why not give them a go next time you are in store?

Kenmare Tidy Towns representatives being presented with their 2018 Gold Medal in Listowel recently. As they said, “We can keep the standard up in 2019, if everybody cares and makes a special effort. Other towns are working hard too - so we cannot become complacent!”

Danny Healy Rae

Main Street, Kilgarvan

064 -6685315 087 2316055 Book your function or event at the

danny.healyrae@oireachtas.ie

Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort 2019 Dates Still Available 3 Course Menu’s from €25.95pp Entertainment provided (t&c’s apply) For more information or to check available dates

Please call Alan on 064 6679300 or email: sile@kenmarebay.com

www.kenmarebayhotel.com

Clinics

1st Friday of the Month Sailors Bar at 9.30pm Kilmacalogue at 10.00pm The Lake House at 10.30pm

3rd Friday of the Month Lansdowne Arms Hotel at 9.15pm Riney’s Bar Sneem at 10.30pm Blackwater Tavern at 11.00pm

BUSES TO BELFAST

February 24 th

and

March 4th

FOR CATARACT REMOVAL/HIP & KNEE REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENTS

Kenmare News | 5

Every Thursday at 10am people gather at the Family Resource Centre Kenmare for coffee, chat with friends and delicious cakes. It’s a great place to meet new people and relax. Pop in and see us you will be very welcome.

Bouncy Castle / Marquee Hire

Bizee Bouncers Obstacle courses, slides, combi units, disco dome & sumo suits Contact

John 087 7600422

Tables/Chairs

Fully Insured

School of Rock at Pobalscoil is rescheduled Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine is delighted to announce that their school musical, School of Rock, will now take place on Wednesday 20th, Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd March. The students will take to the stage to showcase their version of this highly entertaining show, after months of hard work and dedication since last September.

All tickets previously sold for the shows in January will be honoured. However, as the show will now run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, the pre-sold tickets will have to move back by one night therefore Thursday tickets (Black) become Wednesday, Friday tickets (Red) become Thursday and Saturday tickets (White) become Friday. This is not ideal, we know, but is the only way that we can manage the ticket sales as fairly as possible. If these arrangements do not suit you, we will of course, offer you a refund on returning the tickets to the Box Office.

Note that currently we have limited seats available for Thursday and Friday nights and quite a lot available for Wednesday night.

We are very grateful for the very large number of tickets already sold for the show and hope that you will join us on these new dates for what promises to be a great night out! The Box Office will be open from Thursday, 14th March from 9am to 4.30pm daily and Friday 15th 9am to 3pm.

6 | Kenmare News The Canvas Club Annual Art Exhibition

was launched at the Carnegie Arts Centre Kenmare on Tuesday 29th January and was a great success. The works of over forty young artists are on display here from children aged between 7 and 17. The popular classes are run by sisters Tara McCarthy and Mary Fairbairn and held weekly in Kilgarvan, Kenmare, and Sneem. Many thanks to Claire Bunbury for facilitating the exhibition and promoting the children’s art, and to talented young artist Lucy Johnson who displayed her work and gave a wonderful opening speech.

Our Facilities Include; 18m pool Children’s paddling pool Sauna & steam room

Where your wellbeing is our inspiration Contact us for more info

064 667 9399

The Bay Health Club, Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort www.kenmarebayhotel.com

Fully equipped gym Fitness classes Swimming lessons Bay Beauty Rooms

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Swimming Lessons Spring Term 2019 March 5th - April 13th Chose from Tuesdays, Thursday or Saturdays

Also Available

Swim a song for parents & babies Water confidence for toddlers Pre school classes Private one to one lessons

Fitness Classes New schedule out NOW!

Term February 25th - April 12th 2019 Spin fit Pilates Yoga Body conditioning Aqua fit Boxercise Circuit training

Kenmare News | 7

Community walks together to raise funds for Kerry Hospice pics Mary O'Neill Shop

Brian Finnegan pictured with the O'Connor Family from Blackvalley.

Family day out for Catherine O'Shea and Idris Gul.

The Crowley and Egan Families.

Tadhg Morley, Mary & Marian Sheehan, Paula O'Sullivan, David Sheehan & Therese Morley at Davy Breen's Kerry Hospice Walk to Loughbrin Lake on St. Stephen's Day.

Head chefs Timothy Clifford and Davy Breen!

Eileen Reilly, Ann O'Sullivan, Margaret Jones and Elaine O'Neill.

8 | Kenmare News

with

John O’Hare How often must I tell people, the fresh water fishing for trout, sea trout and salmon in this area, that is Kenmare, Kilgarvan, Sneem and Lauragh does NOT open until March 15th and the rainbow stocked lakes until possibly May 1st.

Also there are no brown tags for the Roughty River this year just the blue normal quota ones. We wait with bated (or baited!) breath to see what the fish run, if any, will be like.

A number of boat anglers on the Great Western Lakes used a method to catch the big Ferox trout called ‘Brickeen fishing'. They were known as 'Brickeen Men', and what they did is troll live minnows down deep to catch the trout. It is a practice now thankfully banned. The fish they caught was sold to hotels and restaurants and some even ended on the fish counters of the local supermarkets. The whole thing was a disgrace and those guys were not liked, to put it mildly, by the ordinary honest fisherman. However there is no understanding of the different ways the human mind works, even Sigman Freud who was the father of modern psychiatry could not do it.

A fishing friend from up the country told us of a few of them going for a weekend outing on the lakes where they all caught trout except one of them. So what did he do?

Only went to a supermarket, brought some trout and took them home. On his arrival home he went around to friends and neighbours giving out some of what he said was his great weekend fishing catch. What were they to think, only that he was a great angler. Can you understand that?

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Saturday 11th May 2019

Kenmare News | 9

WE WON!!

I cannot begin to say how delighted I am that the Halloween Howl Festival has won a National award at the All Ireland Community and Council Awards.

It is an amazing achievement for the town and all the local clubs and businesses that work so hard to bring it together every year.

While the festival has been running since 2012 there is a long standing tradition of Halloween going back before that. My first memory of Halloween in Kenmare is watching a small parade of about 30 children, carrying candles (no health and safety then!) and taking a turn around the town to showcase their costumes.

The Social and Events committee of the Chamber of Commerce grew that tradition and introduced the games in the park. The Kenmare Bay Swim Club then came on board and organised the Haunted Forest as a club fundraiser, so with all that in place the next logical step was to grow the existing events into a festival and so the Halloween Howl was born!

For me personally, the thing that makes me proudest of the Halloween Howl is the way that the community has come together to create, maintain and grow events. That sense of community spirit that we often take for granted is a rare commodity and we should treasure and nurture it. In 2018 watching children that would have been first in line to play the games 6/7 years ago now coming back and volunteering at events to support their clubs epitomises the truly unique character of the Festival. Don’t forget this is a festival that is run by volunteers!

In other news, Fáilte Ireland is looking for St. Patrick’s Day initiatives that are taking place so if anyone has any quirky competitions or offers taking place please let us know so that we can share them.

Minister Brendan Griffin, with Councillor Patrick O’Connor Scarteen, visited us in Kenmare this month, he also met with local sports groups and listened to their plans for the future improvement of sports facilities in the town.

We had a long discussion with him regarding all the festivals and events that Kenmare has to offer but impressed upon him the need to gather more support from state bodies. While, the Kenmare Marketing and Events Group (KMEG) has a part time, paid marketing and events person the rest of the committee is entirely voluntary, as are the committees that organise most of the events in town. It is imperative that we as a community continue to support these committees but we must also put pressure on our elected representatives to push for the supports that we need in order to continue and underpin the Tourism growth taking place in Kenmare.

So well done to everyone, those who volunteer on the Festival now and those that were instrumental in nurturing it in the early years. We achieve great things when we work together! Kenmare Abu!!

www.kenmare.ie

10 | Kenmare News

Senator

Daly reports ...

Power of Relationship between Ireland and America important in Brexit negotiation

Mickey Ned O’Sullivan on a recent visit to Leinster House.

My good friend Congresman Neal who I have known for over 10 years is the Chairman of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. In the US Congress that committee will be overseeing any UK- US trade deal. The Congressman made it clear to myself and other members of the Irish-US Parliamentary Friendship Group of which I am Co-Chair that unless the Good Friday Agreement is protected and the border in Ireland remains as it is his committee will not support a UK- US trade deal.

Minister for Foreign Affairs & Tanaiste Simon Coveney was also in Washington DC recently along with our delegation. We thanked the members of Congress for their support to Ireland in relation to Brexit and the need for the UK Government to fulfill its promise of no return to a Hard Border on our Island despite Brexit.

The power of Irish America and the strong and enduring links of our 2 republics is important now more than ever.

Senator Mark Daly

The President of the GAA was in the Senate this month. I asked him about the issue of the increase in ticket prices and the issue of some marches not being available for viewing on TV in people’s homes.

Seanadóir Marcus O’Dalaigh

Senate Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, the Irish Overseas & Diaspora Member of the Joint Comittee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: +353 (0)1 618 3830 Fax: +353 (0)1 618 4669 Mob: +353 (0)86 803 2612 www.senatormarkdaly.org

Teach Laighean, Sráid Cill Dara, Baile Átha Cliath 2.

Fón: +353 (0)1 618 3830 Facs: +353 (0)1 618 4669 Fón Póca: +353 (0)86 803 2612

Call instore to Vodafone Killarney or call 064 6635050

Congressman Joe Kennedy III presented with a copy of the report ‘Northern Ireland Returning to Violence as a Result of a Hard Border due to Brexit or a Rushed Border Poll : Risk to Youth’ I complied with UNESCO Chairs.

Chair of the Powerful Ways & Means Committee & Chair of the Friends of Ireland, Congressman Neal, Ireland’s Ambassador to the US Dan Mulhall, Congressman King & Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

Sean Daly at the Mansion House for the 100th anniversary celebrations of the 1st Dail.

Congresman Richie Neal, Chairman of the Friends of Ireland on Capitol Hill discussing my report ‘Brexit & the Future of Ireland: Uniting Ireland & It’s People in Peace & Prosperity’.

Kenmare News | 11

Kenmare and District Gardening Club

Mr Christy Lehane of the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association (IMNDA) called to collect a cheque of €650 from Sean Daly & Co, the proceeds of their office annual Christmas hamper raffle. Every year those working in Sean Daly & Co select a charity which they have appreciated during the year, through personal experience, family members or friends. The IMNDA is the only organisation of its kind providing care and support to people with Motor Neuron Disease in Ireland. They now have three nurses who help and support over 370 patients diagnosed with MND all over Ireland.

The charity is heavily reliant on public donations and they have a plan in place to increase support to four nursing specialists. Sean Daly & Co. were delighted to help IMNDA and thanked all their customers and friends who contributed to the raffle.

All welcome to the fun open day at Black Valley National School on March 3rd from 1pm - 3pm, where there will be music, fun and food for all ages. Please spread the word to anyone interested in enrolling, or finding out more about the education they offer, or the local community. Teachers, special needs assistant and I.T gurus will be on hand to chat and answer any questions you might have.

The A.G.M was held on February 5th in the usual place, the Gateway, Kenmare. After reports by the treasurer and secretary, the committee were unanimously reinstated, their hard work and dedication being appreciated by the club.

The chairperson encouraged the members to open their gardens and looked forward to hearing suggestions for lectures. Stephen Austen then announced details of our forthcoming annual trip, which this year will be to the Dublin region. The meeting was followed by a talk by Donchadh MacCarthaigh, entitled Plant Quality. With his high academic and commercial experience, we were treated to a most informative talk on the regulations that cover plant cultivation in the commercial sector the successes and the pitfalls! He welcomed the free movement of plants within the EU., where there are good international standards and rules governing tree production. He stressed the importance of plants produced on a commercial scale to be from a good seed source and a reliable origin. He recommended that plants purchased should be named cultivars and that trees should be correctly grafted; that we should be wary of our purchases from supermarkets, where the price will be competitive but where the plants may not have been kept under the best conditions – well done Aldi that got top marks for their plant care!

The next meeting is at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 7th in the Gateway and will feature a talk by Manfred Wandel of Fruithill Farm, Bantry, which specialises in organic and garden supplies. His title is ‘Things Organic.’ New members welcome.

Local hygienist Betty visiting Little Acorns Preschool recently to chat with the children about care of their teeth.

FINANCIAL & GENERAL INSURANCE

IT’S A NEW YEAR

What are your resolutions?

Photo caption here...

12 | Kenmare News

All Smiles at Kenmare Mart Annual Dinner Dance

Pictured at Kenmare Co-Op Mart Annual Dinner Dance Jan 2019 was guest speaker, John Coughlan, Munster Chairman IFA, pictured with the Manager and officers of Kenmare Mart and Carmel O'Leary, Lily of Killarney. Back Row; Patrick Randles, Patrick Doyle, Kevin O'Leary, James O'Farrell, George O'Neill, Donald Lynch, Denis McCarthy and Christy Hussey. Front Row; Patsy Dinneen, Joe Riney, Councillor Dan McCarthy Manager, Carmel O'Leary, Lilly of Killarney, John Coughlan, Michael Tim O'Sullivan Chairman of Kenmare Mart and John Joe O'Sullivan.

Donal Kelly and Sean Randles.

Photo caption here...

Jean O'Sullivan and Michael Healy Rae TD.

Kenmare News | 13 pics Mary O'Neill

Councillor Dan McCarthy with Carmel O'Leary, Lily of Killarney, and john Coughlan, Munster Chairman IFA.

John Coughlan, Munster Chairman IFA, Mary O'Leary and Paudie O'Shea.

Mary O'Leary, Genette Harrington and Mary O'Neill.

George O'Neill, Councillor Patrick Connor Scarteen, James O'Farrell and Kevin O'Leary.

THE ROSE GARDEN

CAFÉ & ACCOMMODATION

Now Open for the Season Michael O'Sullivan makes a presentation to guest speaker John Coughlan.

All day Irish Breakfast Big Sunday Roast Lunch served daily Delicious Homebaking & Pastries Great Coffee Special Indonesian Buffet Evenings

A Mighty Feed!

We are only minutes walk from the heritage town of Kenmare.

The Sneem Road, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

The Sneem Road, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Johnny O'Shea, Caroline Healy Rae, Councillor Johnny Healy Rae and Ina O'Shea.

Call Vince & Mary on +353 64 664 2288 Or email - therosegardenkenmare@gmail.com Photo caption here...

www.rosegardenkenmare.com

14 | Kenmare News pics Mary O'Neill

Mandy, Hania, Michael, Jean and Ciaran Sullivan, Dromoughty.

Kevin O'Reilly and Michael Healy Rae TD.

Terence O'Shea and Kevin O'Leary.

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If it’s in Lauragh and you love it... snap it! It is free to enter the competition & you can enter up to 3 photos. More info & technical requirements are on the entry form which is available on our website or facebook page.

Closing date for entries 1st June 2019.

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Kenmare News |15

John & Mary O'Sullivan, Sneem, celebrating their 50th Wedding anniversary with family at The Killarney Park.

Kenmare Women's Group Here we are in the middle of February, we've had a touch of winter, but nothing as bad as many other parts of the world.

Our speakers this year have included Breda, from the library, who filled us in with all the different ways we can use the varied and interesting facilities at the library. How many of us use it to the full? We are so lucky, let's make the most of it. Then Simon gave us an interesting insight into the producing of the Kenmare Chronicle. What a superb record of life in Kenmare, both written and photographic. We should keep and value these records.

In the coming weeks we have speakers covering homeopathy, nutrition, geology, style and music appreciation. Should be good!

Come along and join us at the Adult Education Centre, any Wednesday morning from 11am - 1pm.

Further information from Pat on 086 3454849.

Bye for now. Pat (secretary)

now This above all, to thine own self available be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou cans't not then be false to any man.

Sheen Falls Wine Academy

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

2nd March ~ Series of 3 events in 2018 Topic - Choosing the right wine Group dinner with wines €80 per person

31st March Prosecco Afternoon Tea Music by our resident pianist €30 per person

Upcoming Events March Supper Club ~ 8th March - Sea , April Supper Club – 6th April - Spring, Communion Lunch – 11th May

Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare, Co. Kerry 064 6641600 | info@sheenfallslodge.ie www.sheenfallslodge.ie

16 | Kenmare News

Cllr Patrick

O’ConnorScarteen

reports ...

Roads- Local Improvement Schemes: The Government has allocated a further €670,000 this year for the provision of LIS in Kerry. The scheme allows for roads to houses, farms & community facilities to receive substantial funding which is added to by a small local contribution. The measures is of great benefit to people in rural communities especially. Rural & Community Affairs Minister Michael Ring TD made the announcement on 7 February.

The scheme was scrapped by a previous administration in 2007 and reintroduced by Fine Gael in September 2017. A total of €17.4 million was allocated in 2017 and €21 million in 2018 €10 million in a new round of funding already this year to support the continued improvement of non-public rural roads that enable people to access their homes and farms. This scheme continues to be a lifeline for people living in rural areas because it directly improves their access to and from their homes and farms. The backlog of applications in Kerry from pre 2007 is now almost cleared. Last year over 800 applications were submitted. These applications are currently being accessed.

Kilgarvan Water Supply: Kilgarvan water supply has been removed from the Environment Protection Agencies remedial list. This follows on from upgrade works on the water treatment Plant at a cost of €500,000. There were 11 schemes in the County on the list this has now been reduced to 3.

Upgrade works on these 3 Caherdaniel, Castlecove and Caragh Lake are now underway. Irish Water are investing significantly in Kerry. I made numerous representations in relation to the upgrading of these schemes and thankfully action has been taken which will result in an excellent quality of water for these communities.

Kenmare Citizens Information: Have moved from the Adult education center to beside Poffs café.

They have a great knowledge of various topics and are there to help in relation to peoples rights and entitlements regarding employment, family, over 60s, housing, social welfare etc. Phone: 076 1077810 48% increase in Kerry roads funding since 2017: Kerry Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, announced funding of over €22 MILLION from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to go towards works on Kerry's Regional and Local roads in 2019. The funding is part of an overall increase in Kerry Regional and Local Roads funding for 2019 of 19% on the initial 2018 allocation and a huge 48% on the initial 2017 funding. This funding comes on top of the nearly €20 MILLION announced by Minister Griffin for Kerry National Roads for 2019.

Department of Rural & Community Affairs Funding: €160,000. For Kenmare road Trails Enhancement project for walkways and cycle routes, Kenmare to Killarney Old Road. Minister Michael Ring TD has allocated this under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Measure 2: €36,000. Kenmare Athletic Club: & Pobail Scoile Inbhear Sceine: Sports Minister Brenan Griffin has allocated the funding for the development of Athletics, I was glad to have assisted in securing the funding.

Monthly motions: That Kerry county council request the Department of Rural and Community Affairs to introduce the Indemnity Scheme for landowners without delay.

That Kerry Council request the appropriate Departments that suitable buildings in state ownership which are currently unused should be utilized as community halls.

: Local Elections 2019: I am delighted to be selected by Fine Gael to run for re-election to Kerry County Council. I love Politics and get great satisfaction working as a Public Representative. I hope to continue to represented the all the people of the Kenmare District regardless of peoples politics. The last election in 2014 was very difficult for me, a third of all FG Councillors lost their seats 107 in total.

I ended up battling for the last seat with a candidate from another town. Since then I have worked extremely hard, assisted many people with individual issues and been involved with many positive additions to our community. Thankfully there have been many improvements on a County and National Scale also.

I look forward to meeting as many people as possible on the campaign trail.

The Election is to take place with the European Elections and referenda on Friday 24th May 2019. If you know of anyone that moved to the area or turned 18 please contact me and I can give them a form to register to vote.

Political Team I work with Political representatives of all sides for the good of the area and I am part of a team of 9 on Kerry County Council, my other Fine Gael Colleagues whom I work closely with can be contacted as follows: Minister Brendan Griffin TD 066 9795666 MEP Sean Kelly 061 468788 Senator Paul Coghlan 087 2217400 Clinics: Available at all times on 087 2904325 or at 5 Main Street, Kenmare. Also I can meet people after work in Kenmare, Kilgarvan, Tuosist, Lauragh, Sneem, Tahilla, Blackwater, Templenoe, Bonane. I also am also in South and Mid-Kerry a couple of times a month.

Cllr Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen

087 2904325

pconnorscarteen@gmail.com

SEAFOOD BAR 30 Main Street, Kenmare. 064 6679949.

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Kenmare News | 17

Minister Brendan Griffin TD visits Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine/ Kenmare Athletics club who received €36,000 towards an Athletic Track.

Minister Brendan Griffin TD visits Kenmare Shamrocks who received Government funding of €45,000 towards redevelopment of old dressing room.

Sneem Resource Centre are planning a Calendar for 2020 and are thrilled with the stunning wintery shots that local people have been sending in!

Their judges had a hard time deciding which ones to use for their calendar. Stephanie Burns sent an atmospheric photo of the sun setting behind St. Michael's Church which they will put on the January page, Ester Noordkamp Bultman took a beautiful shot of the snow covered village and mountains in the background, and her picture will appear on the December page. Now it is time to get snapping thinking of Sneem in early/mid spring as they will be for photographs for the February and March pages.

Remember the photographs need to be Sneem related and the format needs to be in landscape.

Please send your photographs with a title or a few words and your full name to sneemrc@gmail.com with ‘Sneem Calendar 2020 February / March’ written in the subject line.

Richard Tindale's beautiful photograph 'Seaview in Winter' that we are sharing with you here did not make it into the final two, but what a photograph!

.ie

18 | Kenmare News DELAY IN PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES The HSE have confirmed the continued failure to open the Psychiatric ward in UHK will continue and that it may not actually open until June 2019 which in my opinion is a disgrace. I recently asked the Minister for Health why were the delays continuing. The Minister in his response said the physical condition of the premises at the Psychiatric unit at UHK has been raised in a number of yearly inspections by the mental health commission. This initiated a programme of extensive refurbishments, initially in the Valencia ward in 2016 and later in the Reask ward from mid 2018 to present. The works are scheduled to be completed in April 2019 which will see a complete upgrade of the entire unit including both clinical and non clinical areas.

During the refurbishment of the Reask ward it was necessary to reduce bed capacity to temporarily redesign the unit to allow the transfer of bed space. This included the use of bed space in a high observation Brandon suite which had not opened for that purpose at the time.

On the 10th January 2019 refurbishment had progressed to the point where the patient dormitory areas and associated staff areas could be reoccupied. This was in line with the refurbishment time line plan and the HSE are confident , in consultation with the contractors that the deadlines for the full completion of the refurbishment will be met. In order to reopen this close observation unit an additional 13.5 WTE need to be recruited. Recruitment commenced in July 2018 and is still progressing. Unfortunately due to delays in the recruitment process it is expected that the completion of the staff required to open the Brandon suite as a close observation unit may not be in place until June 2019.

This is not acceptable as the services are required right now and is at crisis point.

Have you turned 18 or will turn 18 before May 24th ?

Moved address recently?

Have a family member who cannot get to a polling station and needs a postal vote? This year we have the Local Elections, European Elections and a referendum on divorce coming up on the 24th of May 2018. If you need a form to register to vote, change address or a postal vote please contact me or my office. No matter who you vote for, it’s important to be involved and have your say.

“On average one operation a day in UHK” With waiting lists getting longer in UHK for all procedures it is with dismay that I read that only 38 orthopedic operations were carried out in UHK in the months of Nov and Dec and I am inundated with calls for people waiting 2/3 years to have their hip/knee replacement carried out so this means on average one operation a day. In a recent Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Health these facts were confirmed to me and I am struggling to get my head around these figures. As we all know no orthopedics operations were carried out from June 2018 to Oct 2018 and the way they are clearing this back log is by carrying out 38 operations in 2 months. How are they supposed to clear the current waiting list for people if this is the level they are carrying out the operations there”. Once again I am taking people for orthopaedics consultations to Belfast on March 14th where they will leave with a date for their surgery in a few months, and people are being told it’s a 3 year wait here, this baffles me!

NURSES STRIKE Everyone at some stage in their life has benefited from the care, attention and assistance that has been given by nursing staff, be it the Nurses, midwives or Psychiatric nurses. It is shocking to think that at a time when a Hospital in Dublin is potentially going to cost 3 or 4 times what it originally should have cost that this Government cannot afford to pay our nurses properly. Indeed last week in the Dail I spoke against a rainy day fund as it seems ridiculous to me that the Government are talking about stashing money to potentially give to European banks in the future at a time when they are telling our hard working nursing staff that they will not sit down to negotiate their pay. The ultimate insult came during the week when the Minister for Finance and Health sent out a press release saying that they would sit down to discuss other issues but not the issue of pay. As there are local elections upcoming in May I would urge people to ask potential candidates the following.

Councillors or potential Councillors are usually aligned representatives in the Dail, indeed in the Kenmare area many put out ads saying that they work in close conjunction with TD’S. Well my question now is ask these potential candidates what is the TD that they support doing for the Nurses in the Dail because I know for a fact they are doing nothing to help them but are doing everything to hinder them in their endeavours of getting fair pay for their work.

MICHAEL HEALY-RAE TD BEEF PLAN MOVEMENT There is a new grass roots initiative aimed at securing better prices for farmers through collective bargaining. One very successful meeting was held locally in the Kenmare mart and another last week in Castleisland Mart which was very well attended by over 400 farmers and many public representatives. The Chairperson Eamon Corley said the aim of the movement is to have farmers acting as collective units in each county to negotiate better prices for their cattle. Factories are definitely working in a monopoly and cartel situation which controls the prices downwards at all times. It is extremely unfair that farmers are producing, rearing and fattening beef and not making enough money to meet their costs. The whole aim is that purchase groups could be established to allow farmers to obtain better deals on items such as fertiliser, fuel and feed stuff. Dermot O’Brien an agricultural officer and advisor also spoke on the night and he stated that one fifth of all cattle slaughtered in this country at present are held in factory controlled feed lots and farmers just can’t compete. It is controlling the market. It is a negative, anti-competitive practice that has to be tackled. I have continuously raised this issue in the Dail, considering that the Irish beef industry is worth over €2.6bn annually it is of massive importance to all of us to ensure that its future viability is sustained. The Taoiseach recently made an outlandish statement that he was reducing his beef intake to reduce his carbon foot print. This was the worst type of nonsense that I have ever heard coming out of the mouth of a Taoiseach who is after all the Taoiseach for all of Ireland not just Dublin a fact that he forgets quiet a lot. He also forgets we are a farming country.

KILGARVAN WATER PLANT I am very glad that over 750 customers in Kilgarvan have now a much improved water supply following completion of the €500,000 of upgrades to the water treatment plant. The water quality has been improved and it has also insured that the supply has been removed from the Environmental protection agencies remedial action list.

The work involved the installation of in-tank aeration to improve the removal of disinfection by products and Kerry County Council completed these works on behalf of Irish water. The design and installation of the mechanical plant was undertaken by EPS under Kerry County Councils supervision. People in Kilgarvan now are sure of a reliable and high quality drinking supply of water and ensures compliance with requirements set out in the European Union Drinking Water Directive and National Drinking Water Regulations. I was glad to have campaigned for this funding and it is now in full operation.

HEALTH FOOD SUPPLEMENTS We are fortunate in the Kenmare area that back over many years we have had a number of health food stores which are well supported locally. What the Government are now proposing to do is increase the VAT rate on health food supplements from 0% to 23%. This will obviously put a massive strain on people who use these food supplements to help their healthy diets. I have raised this matter in the Dail going back to before Christmas when I first became aware of this. I have led the charge against the Government on this matter and it is currently been reviewed I was told this week on the record by the Minister for Finance.

Many owners of health food stores have told me that it will have an absolutely detrimental effect on their shops which create much needed local employment.

Peader Mc Nally Collorus, Lauragh Postman who retired last week with great regret to his customers. Peader always has a smile on his face and a friendly word for everyone that he encountered and he will be really missed by us all here in Kilgarvan Post Office

Kenmare News | 19

Blackwater NEWS

The Annual 31 Card Game for the up keep of defibrillators in the Blackwater / Templenoe area takes place in Blackwater Tavern on Tuesday March 26th. Please Ring Tavern 064 6682003 to book a table. There will be a raffle on the night, and raffle prizes are welcome, simply drop them into O’Neill’s Shop/Tavern in advance.

The first edition of The Best of Beara Magazine is hot off the presses this week and the response from the community has been incredible.

“We are already fielding requests for additional copies from as far afield as Dingle,” said magazine editor Tessa Dennison. “There was definitely a gap in the market for a tourism based magazine for Beara. In Kenmare, we are lucky to benefit from tourism on both the Iveragh and Beara Peninsulas and I hope by promoting the attractions of the Beara Peninsula we can bring even more visitors to the area.”

The 32-page, free, glossy magazine has been designed and published by Dennison Design in Kenmare to highlight the beauty and charm of the Beara Peninsula. The region can sometimes be overlooked by tourists but it’s hoped that this new magazine may encourage holidaymakers to include it in their itinerary. Local photographer Derek Hillier provided the stunning cover image and along with Natalie Moriarty and Jessica Dennison, shot many of the wonderful photographs throughout the publication.

The Best of Beara magazines will be published three times a year.

If you wish to receive free copies for your business or place an advertisement in the Summer 2019 edition, please email hello@bestofbeara.com.

Be sure to follow the story of The Best of Beara Magazine on Instagram at bestofbeara as we work to bring you Issue 2.

Course commencing Wednesday 6th of March at 7.30pm The Gateway Kenmare One night per week for 3 weeks

There will be a Dine & Dance Event (Tea Dance) in the Kenmare Bay Hotel on Sunday March 31st from 1.30pm to 6pm. There will be lunch on arrival (soup, lamb or salmon, apple pie, tea/coffee) followed by dancing with music by the Singing Jarvey. Everyone is welcome, and tickets priced at €20 must be pre booked. Ring Mary in Blackwater 064-6682003 to book.

Blackwater Women’s Group meet once a month on the second Tuesday at 8pm. Membership is only €5 per year, and new members are always welcome. Next Meeting is on Tuesday March 12th at 8pm followed by a guest speaker.

The AGM of Blackwater Women’s Group took place on February 12th. The following members were elected.

Chairperson Josephine O’Neill, Vice Chair Majella O’Sullivan, Secretary Marie O’Connell, Treasurer Mary D O’Neill, Assistant Treasurer Mary Doyle, Events Facilitator Mairead Robinson. P.R.O. Mary O’Neill Shop Assistant P.R.O. Julie Creedon, Sean Chairde delegates; Marie O’Connell and Catherine Dodd. Sports Sub Committee Co-Ordinator; Julie Creedon Annual Membership of €5 is now due for renewal Adult singing Classes (as a Group) with Killarney Singing Tutor Mary Culloty O’Sullivan take place in Blackwater Tavern every Wednesday afternoon, from 2pm sharp to 3pm.

All styles of singing are catered for; ballads, musicals and contemporary. Breathing, diction, posture, confidence and more are also covered. The class is aimed at people who would like to sing in a group, and all levels of ability welcome, with no singing experience necessary.

Open to men and women it is priced at €50 for 5 weeks.

Ring Tavern 064-6682003 for more information.

There will be a public performance in Blackwater in April.

Exercise and Total Toning Classes continue in the Blackwater Tavern every Monday from 7pm to 8pm for the Energetic. €5 per Class.

There will be a class for the Less Active during the day on Mondays.

The aim of this class is to get the older or less active people in the community fit and active. This Class is supported by Age & Opportunity.

All are welcome, and ring Mary in Tavern to book or for information.

Aqua Fit Sessions take place in the Kenmare Bay Hotel every Tuesday and Thursday Evening from 7pm to 7.45pm, and every Wednesday and Friday Morning from 10.30am to 11.15am; 45 mins per session.

These are free to members of Kenmare Bay Leisure Centre, and €7 for non-members. No prior bookings necessary for Aqua Fit, just turn up, and there is no need to be able to swim.

Drama Rehearsals continue every Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Blackwater Tavern. The group have written an original play which will be staged in Blackwater in May/June 2019.

.ie

20 | Kenmare News

What can Kerry Citizens Information Service do for you?

Did you know that Kerry Citizens Information provides free, confidential, information, advice, and advocacy services in relation to your rights, entitlements and the social services that exist to support you?

A friendly team of Information Providers will help you find your way through the maze of information from various government departments and agencies, and make sure that you have all the information and help you need, presented in an easy-to-understand way.

We also offer Free Legal Advice Clinics (FLAC) in Tralee CIC twice a month and in Killarney and Listowel CIC once a month, which are provided by volunteers from the legal profession.

Please ring the relevant CIC to make an appointment.

We can provide you with information on a wide range of issues, including employment rights, housing, social welfare, family matters, pensions, migrant rights, health services, education, disability and much more. We can also help you to complete forms, write letters make telephone calls and calculate your entitlements.

Frances Clifford, Manager of the service is Kerry, said, “We are very proud of the fact that a lot of people volunteer with us for many years. Volunteers contribute so positively on so many levels. We are very appreciative of the time they selflessly give to assisting others. We simply could not provide the service without them.”

Currently, Kerry Citizens Information has 5 drop in centres in Kenmare, Tralee, Killarney, Listowel, and Caherciveen, and outreaches in Killorglin weekly (Tuesday) and Dingle monthly (3rd Tuesday monthly). You can just call in, no appointment needed.

All Information Providers receive extensive and continuous training to enable them to give up-to-date and accurate information to the public. Existing volunteers cite the comradery of working within a team of like-minded people, the challenge of learning new information and the sense of carrying out a role which is of value to the community, as critical factors influencing their decision to work with Kerry CIS.

Demand for the service continues to grow year on year and last year in Kerry we dealt with 36,000 queries. Nearly 80% of our customers are Irish and most are aged between 25-65.

In conjunction with MABS we offer a free business advisory service for sole traders and self employed people who need financial advice but cannot afford an accountant. It is called CAVA - Chartered Accountant Voluntary Advice. Ring Tralee CIC on 0761 07 7860 to make an appointment.

Volunteers are a key part of the service and work along with a small number of paid staff to deliver the service, we are proud of the fact that many people volunteer with the service for many years.

At present Kerry CI are seeking to recruit new volunteers to join their existing teams across the county. Anyone interested should contact Aine Brosnan at the Tralee office on T: 0761 07 7863 or E: aine.brosnan@citinfo.ie and ask for an application form and role description.

Citizens Information is a free and confidential service and is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board.

Make the right move.

Drop in and find out all your rights and entitlements in relation to:

Employment Family Housing Social Welfare Over 60s

Kenmare News |21 The Community Games U10 & U12 Handwriting Competition text was sent to all the local primary schools in mid January.

Thanks to all the schools who returned entries there were 227 entries!

An independent judge adjudicated on the scripts which were judged on 'Correct letter formation, neatness, legibility, fluency, completion of piece and punctuation.'

If you are looking for a local, competent and hard working man to do some plumbing, gas works or boiler servicing jobs then look no further than Seán Murphy Plumbing & Heating. The son of Mike and Anne Murphy, Seán grew up in Kenmare and now lives in Kilmurry with his partner Jessica.

Sport and community play a big part in Seán’s life. As a youngster football and hurling was his passion until soccer took over and now Seán is the Chairman of Internazionale FC. Along with some great club members Seán is key in organising some fabulous events including The Haunted House for the Halloween Howl festival and The Santa’s Grotto for the children at Christmas, in addition to helping out marshalling for several other events throughout the year.

Seán started his plumbing apprenticeship with John Sweeney in February 2001, working with John for the next 18 years until the end of January this year, and is very grateful to John for everything he has done for him over the years. As well as being a qualified plumber Seán is also a registered gas installer with REGIS so he is able to deal with all your gas needs. You can contact Sean on 087 900 3865.

The result of the competition is as follows Under 10 Handwriting – Boys - (40 entries) 1st James Leonard – St Johns 2nd Dara Foley – Kilgarvan 3rd Daithi Driscoll – Realt Na Mara 4th Olly Hayes – Kilgarvan Under 12 Handwriting – Boys - (62 entries) 1st Gaspar Landron O’Connor - Cahir NS 2nd Liam O’Sullivan – St Johns 3rd Michael Tangney – Tulloha NS - Bonane 4th Robbie Guest – St Johns Under 10 Handwriting – Girls – (53 Entries) 1st Niamh Sheehan – Cahir NS 2nd Aoibhe Kelleher – Cahir NS 3rd Martha Landron O’Connor – Cahir NS 4th Emma Poff – St Johns Under 12 Handwriting – Girls – (72 entries) 1st Maggie O’Donoghue – Cahir NS 2nd Amy Truman – Cahir NS 3rd Amy Arthur- Cahir NS 4th Thien Doran – St Johns The contestants who were placed first will now go forward to represent the Kenmare area in the county finals, which will be held in Listowel on Saturday the 23rd of February at 10.30am.

SEÁN MURPHY Plumbing & Heating

Need an emergency plumber? Contact Seán today!

now available

Registered Gas Technician

087 900 3865

Bathroom Design & Installation

Boiler Installation & Service

seanmurphykenmare@gmail.com

All Plumbing Maintenance

Kenmare, Co. Kerry

22 | Kenmare News Physiotherapist,Tara Timlin will give a talk on the best practice for managing injuries in Kenmare Library on Wednesday 27th February at 11am. This event is free and everyone is welcome to attend. Call 064 6641416 or email kenmare@kerrylibrary.ie for more information.

Kenmare Clinic has MOVED !

Ramone Holly Hughes is delighted to announce the opening of her brand new premises, conveniently located at Whytes Centra, Kenmare. Centra, a short 3 minute walk from the town centre, offers ample parking for easy access, whilst also providing toilet, shower and shop facilities. The newly designed clinic provides two treatment rooms, a bright and spacious exercise studio and a waiting area. The studio whilst designed to be suitable for various classes, is also fitted out with gym flooring and specialist equipment for a range of rehabilitation needs.

Ramone holds a BSc in Sports Rehabilitation & Athletic Therapy and is member of the Register of Orthopaedic and Soft tissue Therapist’s Ireland.

Kenmare Clinic offers a range of treatments to cater for sports, physical and occupational injuries, so whether your goal is to get out of pain, rehab an injury, return to your job, resume training, to improve your physical activity or simply to have a deep tissue or sports massage, then we have you covered. We also provide supervised programs to promote bone health and to increase the level of physical strength that is often challenged by conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and back pain.

As an ongoing commitment to provide a full range of services, there is also an opportunity for an Occupational Therapist, Naturopath, or Womens Health Physiotherapist to join the clinic.

Please call in or get in touch through kenmareclin@gmail.com, by calling 087 2823674 or pop in to see how we can help you.

It’s never too late to improve your strength, so don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for upcoming classes, events and special promotions!

Kenmare Patchwork Group is looking for new members, and you don't need to be an expert - just enthusiastic! If you would like to learn the basics Anne is starting a six-week course on Saturday March 2nd, to book just call 086 8343155 or 064 6689184.

Patchwork and quilting is a great way to meet new friends while learning new skills.

Kenmare Locality Animal Welfare Society A belated ‘Happy New Year’ to everyone, and already it has been a very busy one with several stray dogs being taken into care, along with other re-homing issues that happen at this time of year, especially after the excitement of the new Christmas pet has subsided. Every year there is a huge advertising campaign ‘Adopt, don't shop’ and yet people still choose to ignore it, leaving animal welfare groups like KLAWS, to pick up the pieces. Before even considering taking on a kitten or a puppy, it has to be taken into account that for the next 14 years at least, you will be responsible for that pet's every need. It will be like having another child so ‘don't do the committing, if you can't do the babysitting.’

Spring is coming, and so are the kittens! If you have cats or kittens over the age of five months it is time to get them neutered.

Otherwise, you could be responsible for up to 60 kittens before 2019 is over!

Cats mature sexually from about 5 months old and the females can come into season every few weeks until they are pregnant. As soon as these kittens are weaned and start to eat solid foods the mum can get pregnant again. By the end of the year she could of had three litters of kittens and the first litter born would also be old enough to have kittens of their own! So the cycle would begin again.

KLAWS cannot express how important it is that you get your cats neutered, which for a male cat is a very simple procedure.

In conjunction with All Creatures Vet Centre, Kenmare, we are promoting cat neutering which will be available during the month February for only €20 per cat. Please take advantage of this offer to help prevent unwanted kittens. You must book with the practices directly and tell them that you are using this offer.

KLAWS held its annual street collection on Christmas Eve, and in spite it being an expensive time of the year, members of the public were very generous and boosted funds by an incredible amount.

Thank you so much to those people who popped money in the collecting buckets. KLAWS would also like to say a big thank you to Whyte's Centra andPhoto Aldi in caption Kenmare here... for allowing KLAWS members inside their shops.

If you have any animal welfare issues, or wish to adopt or foster or volunteer for KLAWS in any way, please call 087 970 4480.

Kenmare News | 23

Visual Arts February Exhibition Canvas Club.

Once again we will see a display of Mixed Media work from the very talented local children from The Canvas Club. All Welcome The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago.

The second best time is now.

“Our vision is to establish tree cover and woodland in rural and urban areas that will grow for many years and provide valuable resources, beneficial ecosystem services and a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The wonderful Kenmare Tidy Towns group planted 100 hedge trees along the boundary fence on the Peninsula on February 9th, a stunning mix of hawthorn, blackthorn, crab apple, hazel, oak and rowan. Thanks to all the volunteers and a special thank you to the volunteers from The Atlantic Lodge who made the job seem so easy! Thanks also to Simon Linnell, Willowfield for his hedge planting and all his advice!

Thursday 21st February @ 8pm

Peterloo (Film) - Tickets €8/Students€6

Friday 22nd February @ 8pm

Liam O Maonlai in concert.

An Irish musician best known as a member of the Hothouse Flowers, Maonlai formed the band in 1985 with his school mate Fiachna OBraonain. His solo releases include ‘Rian’ and ‘To be Touched’. Tickets €20/Students €18

Thursday 28th February @ 8pm

A Star is Born (Film) - Tickets €8/Students €6

Saturday 2nd March @ 8pm

Don Stiffe in concert One of the greatest singer songwriters to have emerged on the Irish folk scene in recent years, receiving critical acclaim and rewards both at home and abroad. Tickets €15

Thursday 7th March @ 8pm First Man (Film)

Friday 8th March @ 8pm

Classical Music ‘The Lir Quartet’ playing music by Britten and Mendelssohn. Pre concert talk by the musicians at 7pm.

Tickets €15/Students €10

Thursday 14th March @ 8pm

Bohemian Rhapsody (Film) - Tickets €8/Students€6

Friday 15th March @ 8pm Motions: At this month’s meeting of Kerry County Council I raised the need for students who are out on work placements be given some form of subsidy/ payment for their work. I also asked that Kerry County Council write to the relevant minister to look at the possibility of driving instructors who carry out a learner drivers 12 lessons be allowed to examine them which I feel would reduce driving test waiting times.

Roads: I am delighted to see the road improvement works being carried out on the Sneem-Kenmare road at Dromquinna, I want to thank people for their patience during these works.

Teagasc: I am honoured to be speaking at the Teagasc hill sheep marketing conference in Co Wicklow, it will give me an opportunity to highlight the difficulties within the hill sheep sector.

Tractor run: Well done to all who took part and organised Kenmare Macra’s tractor run recently to raise funds for Kerry Parents and Friends buy a bus campaign.

Campaign trail: I have started my canvassing for the local elections which will be taking place on the 24th of May, I look forward to meeting you all at your door step. If you require a form to register to vote or if you need to transfer your vote please give me a call.

Clinics I am available every day in Kenmare Mart. I also hold clinics in south and west Kerry throughout the month. Cllr Dan Mc Carthy, Kilcurrane East, Kenmare Co Kerry 087-6846513 087-2224411 (work number).

The Trials of Oscar Wilde performed by Centre Stage Theatre Company.

For reservations contact www.carnegieartskenmare.ie

Blackwater Tavern Live Music & Dancing / Set Dancing

February

Friday 22nd: Blackwater Sound

March

Friday 1st: The Two Mikes

March

Friday 8th: Singing Jarvey Friday 15th: Ui Bhriain Sunday 17th (St.Patrick's Day) Premier Blue Boys Friday 22nd : Autumn Gold Friday 29th : O'Connor Trio

O’Neills

BLACKWATER TAVERN LIVE MUSIC & SET DANCING EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT 064 - 6682003

FOODSTORE, POST OFFICE, FILLING STATION & FARM SUPPLIES

24 | Kenmare News

pics Mary O'Neill and Niamh Breen

Davy Breen's Loughbrin Walk on St Stephen's Day raised €2,655 in aid of Kerry Palliative Care Services, and Davy presented the cheque to the Kerry Hospice Foundation representatives in the Blackwater Tavern. Davy thanked Mary and Teddy O'Neill of Blackwater Tavern for their support, Timothy Clifford who helped Davy with the event, members of Templenoe GAA Club who sponsored raffle prizes and everyone who supported the charity so generously. Davy had a barbeque and refreshments at Loughbrin Lake for all the walkers, and announced that the Loughbrin Walk on St Stephen's Day is to become an annual event. A further €1,155 was raised by Paudie Kelleher at Kenmare Golf Club who organised a whip around at Kenmare Golf Club for the charity, in a spin off fundraiser inspired by Davy's Walk. In total €3,810.00 was raised.

The Kerry Hospice Foundation (KHF) is a voluntary organisation, founded in 1990, which helps provide funding and support for palliative care services in Kerry and to support patients who are living with an advancing illness.

Kerry Hospice Foundation (KHF) raised, €3.6 million to complete the Palliative Day Care Unit /Suaimhneas centre which opened at Tralee. General in 2007 and KHF built a 15 bed Inpatient Unit in 2017 at a cost of €6.5 million euro.

Since Kerry Hospice Foundation was set up in 1990, Kerry People have raised 11 million for Palliative Care Services.

The Kerry Hospice Foundation (KHF) is a voluntary organisation which helps provide funding and support for palliative care services in Kerry. No member of KHF is paid for any of their work, time, effort or any costs incurred while helping the charity. All money raised in the county is spent locally. It costs €10,000 per week to cover specialised nursing, equipment and complimentary therapies needed to run the Tralee unit along with palliative care services in the wider Kerry community and in all the community hospitals in Kerry; Dingle, Killarney, Listowel, Kenmare etc.

Kerry Hospice Foundation provides funding for, Extra nursing care, including night and twilight nursing in people’s homes.

Refurbishing hospice rooms in some of the community hospitals. Patients who require palliative care beds/care in designated nursing homes. Palliative Care equipment, aids and appliances to enable people to live more comfortably at home. Extra support for patients and their families.

Ongoing education of nurse specialists and members of the multidisciplinary team in Specialist Palliative Care. This is a Photo here... very worthy charity andcaption brings great comfort to patients and their families.

Kenmare News | 25

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING? SHERRY FITZGERALD DALY KENMARE, 34 HENRY STREET, KENMARE

T: 064 6641213 E: elaine@seandaly.com The Lake House Tuosist Asking Price €420,000 On the market as a going concern Pub, restaurant & accommodation 4162 sq ft approx.

Former dance hall, tea rooms and boats for fly fishing.

14 km to Kenmare town

Driftwood, Killowen, Kenmare. Asking Price €599,000

Kilmurry, Kenmare.

Luxury 4 bedroom detached residence.

4 Bedroom detached Family Home

2 Studio apartments.

1711 sq.ft approx

3486 sqft (323.80 sq.mts)

1.7km from Kenmare Town

Within walking distance of Kenmare Town

6 Finnihy Woods.

Asking Price €215,000

Semi detached 3 bed house.

1224 sq ft. approx.

Asking Price €275,000

Ring of Kerry, Kenmare.

Asking Price €165,000

Detached 4 bed house view of Kenmare Bay

High standard of finish.

1,611 sq. ft.

(149 sq.mts) (approx.)

1.5km from Kenmare Town.

7.5 km from Kenmare Town

on houses was strictly

Now it’s 24 hours.

It’s not just about property. It’s about people.

PSRA No. 002809

26 | Kenmare News

Connor-Scarteen Auctioneers

5 Main Street, Kenmare

Kenmare

t: 064-66 41263

e: connorscarteen@eircom.net

PSRA No: 002272

w: www.connorscarteen.com

Kilmurry – Asking Price: € 275,000 – Currently Under Offer • Comfortable 4 bedroom 1800 sq ft house.

• Situated on 0.6 of an acre.

• Located within 1 mile of Kenmare Town.

•

Kenmare

Beautiful views of Kenmare Bay

• and surrounding mountains.

No. 7 The Residences, Gortamullen - Asking Price €190,000 •

Nicely maintained 3 bedroom semi detached house

•

Minutes walk to the Square, Kenmare

• Fantastic for an Investment/Family home •

Kenmare

Rear patio & lawn.

No. 3 Gortamullen – Asking Price € 240,000.00

· Charming 4 Bedroom Corner House · 700m to Kenmare Town ·

Completely Extended & Renovated

AUCTIONEERS, VALUERS Photo caption here... & LETTING AGENTS

Kenmare News | 27

Gardening with Willowfield It’s hard to get going at the moment with gardening jobs but a small bit of sunshine would make a huge difference to the motivation. It has been a strange winter so far with the mild weather encouraging unseasonal growth in the grass in the lawn and shrubs are beginning to shoot well in advance. The seasons are mixed up a bit. The recent short cold spell did slow growth down a bit and there is still time for winter to arrive before we can say that spring is here. Extra heavy rain in January has made it hard to work in the garden but we need to make a start on it ! This will ease the pressure later on.

1.

Working on the Lawn is certainly very difficult at the moment due to the rain but it needs to be raked to remove unwanted winter debris of twigs and leaves and the first mowing is necessary due to the grass growth which hasn’t stopped all winter. Once the lawn has recovered from this first cut spread some Lawn feed with moss and weedkiller.

There appears to be more moss than grass in the lawn at the moment and the sooner this imbalance is tackled the better.

As it warms up the grass will have a helping hand to try and outgrow the moss which will be in retreat after the fertilizer application.

Apart from this try and stay off the lawn so as to prevent it turning into a mucky mess! If you really want to launch a major attack on the moss in the Lawn use ‘Lawn Sand’ or ‘Sulphate of Iron’ and this will really blacken the moss fairly quickly and give the grass a bit of breathing space to fill in and will green up as spring growth commences.

2.

Now is a good time to do some fairly hard pruning. Shrubs which have grown out of control can be reshaped and the regrowth will start in just a few weeks’ time and the new growth will look fresh and uniform.

Don’t prune back spring flowering shrubs until after they have finished flowering.

Apply a shrub fertilizer over the coming weeks to help boost this regrowth. Pelleted Poultry Manure or Seaweed Feed both provide a good balance of fertilizer for most shrubs.

3.

Spring is a good time for adding shrubs to your garden and Forsythia, Witch Hazels, Camelias, Viburnum , Skimmia and Purple Plums are just a few of the early flowering shrubs actually coming into flower now which could be added now for instant colour. This is also the time for planting up Hedges. Laurel, Beech, Boxus, Griselinia are all available until the end of March for creating hedges around the garden. So if you are in need of creating a shelter belt

or screening off a part of the garden, now is the time of year to do it.

4.

Patio containers, window boxes and hanging baskets can be planted up with a mixture of spring flowering bulbs like narcissi tete a tete, hyacinth or crocus together with primrose, bellis daisies and the small flowering violas. Dwarf conifers, euonymus, or trailing ivy can be added to provide a contrast. This mixed planting will provide colour from now until summer....great value !

5.

Seed sowing of early vegetables can now take place in polythene tunnels (or on kitchen window sills). Peas, Beans, lettuce and early brassicas can be sown in the protection of a tunnel. Give extra warmth by placing a sheet of polythene, fleece or an old window frame directly over the seed bed or trays to provide extra warmth and protection. Tomatoes, Peppers ,and Cucumbers would require additional heat and a kitchen window sill will encourage quicker germination. Outside sowings of vege can start when it’s a wee bit warmer towards the end of March. Onion sets and shallots on the other hand can be planted now and they will start rooting out surprisingly quickly.

So, until next month, let’s hope there is a positive change in the weather by then, Happy Gardening !

Simon

28 | Kenmare News

A Promise Come True

MICHAEL HEALY-RAE TD

Report by Heike O’Sullivan

Please forgive me for possibly coming across as terribly excited in this month’s report of mine. Amongst all the doom and gloom of dull winter weather (at point of writing, at least), looming Brexit and the disaster that is the massive National Children’s Hospital cost overrun, what has lifted my spirits was a news item that has come to me from – of all places – across the border in West Cork. Gasp!

Regular readers of the Kenmare News may remember me telling you early last year about the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme (BEWHS) which, in our area of South Kerry, is administered by our Bantry based friends, the West Cork Development Partnership (WCDP). Just to remind you, the BEWHS aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of homes occupied by low-income households. It is a means tested scheme which covers the entire cost of certain home energy saving measures for qualifying buildings, not just a small percentage grant towards a house owner’s overall cost of improvement works.

Although more than 3,000 West Cork homes (and quite a few South Kerry ones, too) have already benefitted from the BEWHS since 2008, up until recently services under the scheme did not include external wall insulation or internal dry-lining. When I spoke to WCDP’s Finbarr O’Sullivan last year, he told me that the acceptance criteria for eligible houses would likely broaden for 2019. You know what? Our Government has actually kept that very promise. Better one than none, huh? Hence my delight at this dreary time of year.

In a bid to bring more of the country’s older housing stock into the fold, the Government are now also inviting applications from owners of mass concrete and hollow block built houses constructed after 1940 which, obviously, cannot be improved by the likes of cavity wall insulation. Whilst, sadly, stone-built cottages or farm houses such as my own are still excluded from this very successful scheme, the relevant Department and the EU are definitely moving into the right direction and, I suppose, they have to start somewhere.

So, in addition to previously available energy saving measures such as cavity wall and attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets and low energy light, the BEWHS now also covers external wall insulation (with single-glazed window replacement where applicable), internal dry-lining, heating system upgrades where no central heating exists, and mechanical ventilation where necessary. Any or all of these measures are carried out at no cost whatsoever to the qualifying home owner. I would think that many properties in the greater Kenmare area, perhaps particularly owned by elderly persons, could greatly benefit from this fabulous opportunity.

To be eligible for the scheme, you must own and live in your own home which must have been built and occupied before 2006. You must not have received works previously under the BEWHS, and you must be in receipt of one of the following: Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme (for instance as part of the State Pension or Farm Assist); Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age; Working Family Payment; One-Parent Family Payment; Domiciliary Care Allowance; or Carer’s Allowance (and live with the person you are caring for).

If you live anywhere in South Kerry and think you and your home might qualify for the scheme, get in touch with the friendly, dedicated people at Bantry’s WCDP. They will explain all about the scheme to you without using off-putting jargon and will even help you to fill in the application form if you like. When your application is received by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who organises the works, one of their surveyors will get in touch before calling to your house to assess it. If your home is considered suitable for the scheme, he or she will explain the recommended works to you.

Then, a specialised contractor will be appointed, will explain the procedures to be carried out and will complete them according to SEAI regulations and best practice. At the end of it all, you’ll be given the relevant warranties, your house will receive a BER assessment, and you can sit back and enjoy life in a warmer, cheaper to run home. What’s not to like?

For more information, contact West Cork Development Partnership’s Warmer Homes Scheme Team, Finbarr O’Sullivan or Helen Shannon, on 027 52266, call into their office just off Barrack Street, Bantry, or email finbarr@wcdp.ie or helen@wcdp.ie.

Kenmare News | 29

Inter Kenmare FC

Inter Kenmare would like to congratulate Ben O’ Callaghan & Barry Fitzsimons on being selected for the Kerry U13 Airtricity League squad while Boki Nikic has again been selected for the Kerry U19 Airtricity League squad. While this means that they can no longer play with Inter we wish them all the very best of luck as they progress onwards.

This month also saw Inter Kenmare’s Neal O’Shea, Darragh Murphy, Barry Fitzsimons, Yago Cornide, Sean Treyvaud, Lucy Burton, Katie Cronin, Chloe Cremin and Grace Roberts White representing Kerry. It is a great achievement for the club to have our players representing their County and showcasing the talent in our area. While not every player wants to move in that direction it is great to see that there is a path of progression for those that do.

Our U10 Girls teams were out in strength in Fossa where they played in the MEK United Blitz Lots of fun had by all the girls on a cold day with some great play and goals scored.

Inter Kenmare’s U16’s were also out in force and took on Tralee Dynamo’s in the League winning 5:3

30 | Kenmare News

Kenmare Kestrels Basketball Kenmare Kestrels Basketball Club had Final Fever for the month of February, we were extremely proud and delighted with the effort of our 5 teams who made it to their respective cup and plate finals.

On February 3rd our U16 Girls travelled to Killarney and put up a strong fight against St.Marys of Castleisland. Mary’s lead at half time 23-9. Our girls showed great team spirit, pulled together and were chasing Mary’s well finishing the third quarter 35-20.

Unfortunately too much damage was done by St.Mary’s in the first half and our girls were unsuccessful in securing the W. The team and coaches should be extremely proud of the team effort and camaraderie that persevered throughout the game - Well Done!

At the time of writing, Sunday the 17th was a triple header for Kestrels Basketball Club.

To start the festivities, our U16 D3 Boys took on Glenbeigh Falcons.

The Senior Men were facing Killarney Cougars to fight it out for the W at 12:30pm. And to wrap it up our Senior Ladies were looking to (finally!) bring the Cup back to Kenmare as they also take on a strong Glenbeigh side at 1:45pm.

U16 Boys coached by Gráinne Brown and Shirley Cronin; Aidan Crowley, Tommy O’Sullivan, John McCarthy, Fearghal O’Sullivan, Luke Scanlon, Dylan Wallace, Séan Brown, Aodhán MacGearailt and Paul Cimpoies.

The U16 Girls team alongside coaches Montse Salvado and Caroline Taylor with Rebecca O’Sullivan of Simplicity Boutique who kindly sponsored the new black kit for the team. 7 Robyn Mayhew, 13 Abby Littlejohn, 5 Ava Wiley, 11 Laurie Adams, 12 Aoife Crowley, 14 Serena O’Sullivan, 8 Amy Harrington, 15 Clionadh Daly, 10 Tania Salvado McCormack, 8 Sarah Taylor.

One of the best finals on February 10th saw Denis O’Shea’s and Dermot Healy’s U12 Boys take on St.Joseph's in a nail biting plate final! The team put in a strong defensive game and it was all square at half time at 14 points a piece. At the end of the third quarter St.Josephs’ took the lead by 3 points but with some sharp shooting and perseverance our Kenmare team brought the score level on the final whistle. Extra time was a battle for both teams and unfortunately St.Joseph’s pulled away winning on a score line of 28-24. It was a thriller of a match, well done to all!

Senior Ladies coached by John Adams: 4 Montse Salvado, 23 Caroline Taylor, 11 Annie Cooper, 15 Julie O’Sullivan, 5 Katie Cooper, 7 Emma O’Sullivan, 22 Michelle Casey, 6 Amy Riordan and Emma O’Regan (not pictured).

Senior Men coached by Séan Hussey: Senan Sheehy, Eoin Murphy, Kane Reidy, Paraig Cronin, Brian O’Sullivan and Jason O’Shea.

In other news, new league games have started up and our U16 Boys have taken the jump up to Div 2 and are certainly rising to the challenge and playing some serious basketball! All teams have stepped it up in the New Year, are looking strong and doing great this season. Well Done to all involved and many thanks, it wouldn’t be Kenmare Kestrels without all of you!

The U12 Boys; Liam Browne (Capt), David O’Brien, Charlie Guest, Ronan McCarthy, Liam O’Sullivan, Chulainn Hussey, John O’Sullivan, Michael Tagney, Frankie O’Shea, Jack Wiggins, Diarmuid Healy, Conor Galvin, Cathal Sweeney and Donnacha O’Sullivan.

“Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”

Helen Keller Go Kestrels!

Kenmare Shamrocks GAA 2019 Kerry Senior Football Club Championship

The draw for the Kerry Senior Club Football Championship took place recently in Austin Stack Park in Tralee. There were 8 teams in the drum and Kenmare were picked in Group 1 with recent All Ireland Intermediate winners Kilcummin, Austin Stacks and Dingle.

Fixtures, dates and venues will be announced shortly.

Kenmare News | 31 www.facebook.com/ kenmare shamrocks gaa Membership

Kenmare Shamrocks GAA Club member registration is now open ONLINE for 2019 season. Just go to the Kenmare Shamrocks web page on www.clubforce.com and fill in the details. Our club registration day will be announced shortly.

Senior Football League Division 2

Our senior footballers kick off the new season in division 2 with an away trip to Annascaul. We have 2 league fixture in March followed by the club championship. All support for home and away game would be greatly appreciated.

Fixtures in March: Away to Annascaul - Sunday March 10th at 2pm Home to Beaufort – Sunday March 24th at 2pm

Kenmare Shamrocks Weekly Lotto Draw

Our current Lotto Jackpot is €7,400 and still growing! Weekly tickets can be purchased from local businesses in Kenmare town.

You can also play online by visiting our Kenmare Shamrocks GAA Facebook page and clicking on the blue ‘Play Game’ button.

If you prefer to buy an Annual ticket that automatically includes you in 52 weekly draws (7 of which are free), please contact a member of the committee or call 086 2265164. Annual tickets are €90 each and remember “If you’re not in, you can’t win!”

Child Protection Course

There will be a GAA Child Protection Course held in the GAA hall on Monday the 25th February starting at 7pm. This is very important from the coming season as coaches who have not completed the Child Protection course or Garda Vetting will be unable to coach for the 2019 season.

New Senior Football/Hurling Jersey Design 2019

Over the past few weeks we ran a vote on our Kenmare Shamrocks Instagram page which gave our followers the opportunity to select their preferred jersey design for 2019. We had a huge response and “Design B” won by only 6 votes.

Results for 10th February – Jackpot €7,300

Lotto Numbers Drawn: 2, 4, 14, 23. Jackpot Result: No Winner €50 ‘Lucky Dip’ Draw; David Cronin (Annual ticket) and Una McGillycuddy €25 Vouchers for O Shea’s Main Street; Margaret o Sullivan (Atlantic Bar, Annual Ticket) and Elisa Beudin

Make time for yourself in 2019 Kenmare Mindfulness & Yoga

DESIGN B

Make time for Mindfulness and Yoga with Darina this year to Recharge.

Time to look after yourself and work on your physical and mental wellbeing . Yoga and Mindfulness give you the strength, flexibility and clarity which empower you to feel energized and live life to the full. This practice provides you with tools and skills, which enable you to stay strong and centred when life gets challenging.

Yoga Timetable Monday 11.00 -12.00 (over 65,s ) Monday 18.30 -19 45 (mixed levels) Tuesday 19.30 - 20.30 BEGINNERS Wednesday 19.30 - 21.00 (mixed levels) Thursday 10.00 -11.30 (mixed levels)

Yoga & Mindfulness with Darina: 085 167 3800

www.kenmaremindfulnessandyoga.com

5 WEEK MINDFULNESS COURSE STARTING MARCH 14TH Thurdays 19.30-21.00 Call or Text Darina to book ( 085-1673800) www.kenmaremindfulnessandyoga.com

.ie

32 | Kenmare News

Eclipse will be running their 2019 Survival camp from July 14th to 20th. Last year they perfected fire-making, foraged for their own food and built their own shelters from scratch. There are limited places for this camp so if you're interested, book well in advance!

Call on 064 66 82965 or email info@eclipseireland.com

Well done to Luke Merrigan who won two National titles last weekend at The National Aquatic Centre in Dublin representing his school Realt Na Mara Tousist in the 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly at the Irish Minor Schools Championship.

In January some of our competitive swimmers attended the prestigious Gerry Ryan memorial gala in UL. The swimmers strongly competed in numerous events over the weekend.

Personal bests, medals and numerous division 1 and division 2 National times were achieved! Well done to the team of Holly Arthur, Luke Merrigan, Tommy Arthur, Ciara Harrington, Tommy Meagher, Ben Merrigan and Joshua Foley.

Coláiste Íde Scoil Chónaithe Iar-bhunoideachais Lán Ghaelach do Chailíní All-Irish Post Primary Boarding School for Girls

Our impressive U16 Kenmare Community Games basketball team that weren't far off the medals at the Country Final recently.

Lá Oscailte - Open Day 9 Márta/March 2019, 13.00 - 16.00

100% of students placed in third level in 2018

(Sunday Independent)

Irish Language Immersion 5th year Transition Programme Enroling for School Year 2019/2020 Breis Eolais - Further information Coláiste íde, Baile an Ghóilín, An Daingean, Co. Chiarraí 066 915 1211 - info@colaisteide.com www.colaisteide.com

Kenmare has four county champions in community games swimming! Jessica Merrigan in free, Joshua Foley in backstroke, Luke Merrigan in breaststroke and Tommy Meagher in fly. They will represent Kerry in the All Ireland in UL at the end of May. Also well done to everyone whocaption participated on the day. Kenmare also Photo here... brought home three pewter county medals, Lucy Daly in fly, Cillian Meagher in breaststroke and Leahanna Foley in backstroke.

Kenmare News | 33

Golf in Kenmare

Ring of Kerry Results.

Feb 3rd 2019, Men’s Singles: 1st Jack Maye (19) 42Pts, 2nd John Maye (12) 40Pts, 3rd Daniel Taylor (18) 40Pts. Sun Jan 27th 1st Jason Taylor (21) 40Pts OCB, Dermot Murphy (12) 40Pts, Kevin McGrath (11) 38Pts. Sun Jan 20th 1st Junior O’Sullivan (12) 28Pts, 2nd David Keirns (7) 36Pts, 3rd John O’Keefe (15) 38Pts.

Inbhear Scéine Gaels Ladies Football We’d like to thank the outgoing committee for all their hard work and dedication throughout 2018, it was greatly appreciated by all. Coming into a new year we hope to bring even more young girls to join our teams, giving them a chance to improve their skills and to help them work their way up the ladder.

Following our recent AGM all positions on the committee were filled. Our club officers for 2019 are; Chairperson Betty Cremin Vice Chair Clara Brosnan Secretary Helen MacDywer Treasurer Norma O’ Connor Registrar Johanna Bhamvra PRO Katie McCarthy Children’s Officer Denise Tangney We recently held two registration days, this brought in many of our numbers. But if you missed out, we’ve extended the date for late registration fees to February 16th. After the 16th, all age categories have a price increase of €5, check out our Facebook page Inbhear Scéine Gaels Ladies Football Club for more details.

There has been a very successful start to the new year on the Kerry team side as we’ve four talented girls on three different teams. Julie O’ Sullivan and Katie Palmer have been reselected onto the minor panel for the second year in a row. Amy Harrington has moved up to the U16 panel, after she captained the Kerry U14s all the way to an All-Ireland semi-final. Where they fell short in the end after making a serious comeback. And lastly, Ayla O’ Neill has been selected to play on the U14 panel for this year, this is a huge achievement for Ayla as she took part in development squads previously. Having four Kerry players, is a massive achievement for our club, and we are very proud of all of them and wish them and their teammates success for the year ahead.

To finish up, senior ladies training will take place every Friday from 8.30pm to 9.30pm in Kenmare astro field. Can all players please bring €3 to cover the cost of lights. New players are always welcome! For all other age groups, we hope to begin training soon, so please watch out for updates on our Facebook page.

Interested in training or helping with any of our teams, please contact our Chairperson Betty Cremin on 086 3820529.

Kenmare Golf Club Results

Feb 3rd Men’s Results. 15 hole Singles.

1st. Paudie Kelleher (21) 34pts. 2nd. David O'Dwyer Jnr. (17) 32pts (OCB) 3rd. James Murphy (9) 32pts.

Ladies Results Sun 3rd. Feb. 12 hole 3 Club & Putter Competition. Sponsor Lady Captain Grainne Crowley. 1st. Joanne Bhamvra (27) 26pts 2nd. Grainne Crowley (32) 23pts Congratulations to Colette Bradshaw, winner of 2018 Birdie tree with a total of 12 birdies last year. A big thank you to sponsor Mary Rogers Sunday 20th. Jan. 18 Hole Singles.

1st. Dave Burke (10) 40pts. 2nd. Eoin McSwiney (23) 40pts (OCB) 3rd. Sean Daly (Killarney) (18) 39pts.

Thursday Autumn Gold Winner – Sean Finn 19 Ladies Results Sunday, 20th January.

15 Hole Stableford Singles with Mystery hole no. 9 1st.

Mege Dalton (20) 30 pts. 2nd. Colette Bradshaw (13) 27 pts.

Thanks to sponsor, Laura Hatton.

Jan 13th Men’s Results. 18 Hole Singles sponsored by Johnny and Noreen Allen. 1st. Sean Finn (20) – 42pts. 2nd Johnny Duggan (6) -41pts.

3rd. Gavin O’Shea (14) – 39pts. Massive turnout, great win for Sean Finn and congratulations to John Duggan who had the first eagle of the season on the 16th.

Thursday Morning Autumn Gold Winner - Paul Browne 20pts

Spring is in the air!

Despite some inclement weather, the golf season is well and truly up and running, with lots going on. Kenmare Golf Club are running mens and ladies Spring Leagues through February and March. The Spring League is great – nothing like a league table and team spirit to get people out.

We hosted a rules night open to ALL golfers in Kenmare on Feb 10thwith Moira Lynnott of the ILGU. This and the (slightly controversial) rules quiz afterwards were a great success.

Our ladies club had an Abba night in January also.

Thanks to all the members who donated at the Men's Christmas Party, and the Ladies Grannies vs Non-Grannies competition, and to Davy and Carmel for their great fundraising work.

On top of this we’re starting to get ready for inter-club golf, and getting ready for the 2019 Junior Season. And Kenmare GC are getting ready for March 5th, when we are officially installed as host club for the Kerry Federation of Golf. Busy times!

Over Christmas Kenmare Golf Club raised €1055 towards the Kerry Palliative Care Unit at Tralee General Hospital, adding to the funds raised by Davy Breen's Monster Walk for the same cause.

Davy and Carmel Breen accepted the cheque from Kenmare Golf Club Captain Paudie Kelleher and Lady Captain Grainne Crowley.

34 | Kenmare News

The Brosnan’s Centra Fastnet Triathlon is a firmly established annual event in Schull in beautiful West Cork that attracts a lot of visitors to the area, making for a fun and lively atmosphere around the village. This year as well as having the Sprint distance race there will be a Try-A-Tri wave for people who would like to try out a triathlon and see what it’s like. So whichever camp you fall into the race is ideal for you as there is enough of a challenge to make it interesting and it’s a relaxed enough atmosphere to make it enjoyable. The race takes place on 8th June so there’s plenty of time to get in peak shape no matter what level you are at.The Sprint Triathlon begins with a 750 metre swim within the sheltered confines of Schull Harbour. The undulating 20 km cycle takes in some terrific West Cork coastal scenery. The 5 km run off the bike is fairly flat and has magnificent views out over the harbour to several of the islands. The cost for individuals is €42.50 You can choose to do the whole sprint distance yourself or it can be done in teams of two or three which costs €85. For people having a go at the Try-A-Tri there will be a separate start to the 200m swim making it easier on any first timers. Then there will be a 9km cycle with a mix of hills and flat and a flat 3km run to finish with. There is no relay option for the Try-A-Tri, cost is €30 per person. Wetsuits are compulsory but any sort of bike will do as long as it is road worthy. For spectators, the transition area is all contained in the grounds of Schull Community College, making it ideal and safe for families and children to see the action.

Search for Schull Triathlon Club on Facebook and sign up online on www.triathlonireland.com There is a great team of organisers and local volunteers making it one of the best run events on the triathlon calendar. As a previous winner once said "Come for the triathlon and stay for the craic!”

Adventure racers from all over Ireland to descend on Kenmare for action packed weekend Quest Kenmare returns for a second year running on Saturday 2nd March and will see more than 1400 adventurers traverse roads, hills and waterways around Kenmare.

The countdown is on to the hotly-anticipated Quest adventure race. The event is a complete sell out for the second year running with many would-be participants still on the hunt for spots for the event. Kicking off in the Square in Kenmare, participants will run, cycle and kayak their way around Kenmare Bay, Bonane and on down to Glengariff and back again.

Elite Event Management who produce the Ring of Beara Cycle Kenmare also run the Quest Adventure Series. Race Organiser, Oliver Kirwan, says the popularity of the event is testament to people’s love for Kenmare and adventure racing, he said, “This event has proved really popular to date and the support we’ve received locally is just brilliant. We’ll be bringing more than 1400 adventure racers to town and we know Kenmare will put on a great reception as always. It's going to be a great day and I would encourage anyone in the vicinity to come out and support the racers and join in with the finish line craic."

There are three routes participants will traverse, the 28km ‘Challenge’ route, the 43km ‘Sport’ route and the 72km ‘Expert’ route.

Sarah Durkin of Kenmare Marketing and Events Group (KMEG) said, “It’s fantastic that Quest is coming back to Kenmare, particularly at a traditionally quiet time of year. Last year’s event went really well and it will be great to have adventure racers coming from around Ireland and abroad to experience all that Kenmare has to offer both in terms of the outdoors but also in the local hospitality in and around the town.”

Road users are to be advised that road closures will be in place for the Square Kenmare from 6am to 6pm on Saturday 2nd March.

Some parking restrictions will be in place in Kenmare town from 6pm Friday 1st March to 6pm Saturday 2nd March. Roads in Bonanne and the N71 will also be in use but no road closures apply. Road users are asked to please drive with caution as there will be a large volume of cyclist will be on the roads. Thanks to all for their cooperation to help facilitate this event.

Quest Adventure series has five Irish events in 2019, Quest Photo caption here...

Kenmare (2nd March), Quest Glendalough (6th April), Quest 12/24 – Sneem & South Kerry (31st August), Quest Lough Derg (14th September) and Quest Killarney (12th October).

Kenmare News |35 Why a credit union car loan is better than a PCP Close to four in ten consumers in Ireland will buy a new car in 2019. Over half plan to spend more than €10,000 on their new set of wheels, according to the most recent Carzone Motoring Report (2018). The study also found that one in four consumers who spent between €10,000 and €20,000 on their previous car, used a credit union car loan to fund the purchase.* Credit union loans have always been popular amongst car buyers for their straightforward terms and conditions and flexibility, and look set to be a top choice again in 2019. Indeed, credit unions, such as Killarney Credit Union, are lent out over €5.5 million in car related borrowing in the past 12 months.

Helen Courtney Power, Business Development Officer of Killarney Credit Union explains why she feels there has been a renewed interest in the traditional car loan. “A credit union loan is transparent and carries no hidden fees or charges. The buyer owns the car outright once they buy it, while with other more complex finance options, such as a PCP agreement, the buyer has effectively hired the car for a period of time while they make payments. At the end of the PCP agreement, they will have to make a balloon payment in order to actually own the car, which can prove to be quite the financial sting in the tail if it hasn’t been budgeted for.”

The Carzone report however also found that 72% of people who had spent more than €20,000 on their last car had used a finance options such as a PCP agreement. So while PCPs can be complicated, have a raft of additional charges and a good deal of inflexibility, they are proving popular with car-buyers in the over €20,000 market. Could this be down to the fact that a lot of consumers don’t fully understand what they are signing up to with a PCP? “For many people, headline rates on PCP agreements can at first look more attractive, but these can easily distract from the fact that essentially PCPs are lease schemes and the buyer will need to be conscious of the mileage they are racking up, because the balloon payment, or guaranteed minimum future value (GMFV), of the car will have been calculated with their annual mileage in mind” Helen explains.

“In contrast, with a car loan from the credit union, the buyer simply borrows the money to pay for a car, which they own immediately, and which they can drive as much as they please.

They can also sell the car on at any time they wish, should they need to, whereas they do not have this option with a PCP. Credit unions are ethical lenders. We will work with our members to structure repayments that suit their individual circumstances. At Killarney Credit Union our car loan is available at an affordable APR rate of 7.8%**, and is typically approved within 48 hours. We also offer car insurance to make the whole process as convenient as possible for our members. I would really encourage anyone thinking about going the PCP route to have a chat with us first at Killarney Credit Union before making the final decision. We are happy to see all our members, no matter how long it has been since they did business with the credit union, and of course we are always happy to chat to anyone who has never been a credit union member.”

Helen also says potential buyers should familiarise themselves with the below checklist before signing the dotted line on a PCP agreement: Be aware that to extend the term of a PCP you may be charged a rescheduling fee. Take note of the cap on the number of miles/kilometres you are allowed to clock up over the period of the contract.You may be requested to commit to certain car servicing agreements.

Ensure you always enquire about additional fees and charges, you are entitled to a list of all additional charges so ask the garage for this before you sign any agreement. *Carzone Motoring Report 2018 ** For a €10,000, 5 year variable interest rate loan with 60 monthly repayments of €200, an interest Rate of 7.49%, a representative APR of 7.8%, the total amount payable by the member is €12,019.

Information correct as at 19/12/2018.

now available

36 | Kenmare News Job Opportunities

Services Available

Relief bus driver wanted Please forward CV and details to, Company Secretary, Rockmount Care Centre, Kilgarvan.Closing date Friday 22nd February 2019.

Plant Operator wanted for quarry in South Kerry. Previous experience essential.

CV to info@glounstone.ie - 083 0571147

Kenmare

roles for February 2019 starts:-

/Warehouse t week ) Breakfast Chef (5 days per

Experienced Beauty Therapist

Duties will include unloading and loading trucks.

Stock management including the receipting of incoming stock as well as participating in stock taking.

Pickingroles and loading of customers orders. for March/ April 2019 starts:Good time management.

Ability to manage and anticipate change.

The following mix of experience and

attributes will be required by the person, Turndown Assistants - 6-10 pm daily A full clean driving Waiter/ess licence, is required.

Experienced

Experience of driving a forklift in a warehouse environment.

An ability to operate in a team environment and to be a team player. experience the role applied Excellentin communication andfor. All interpersonal skills are important.

applicants

Please forward you recent career details in the strictest confidence to Topline McCarthys, Gortamullen Business Park, Killarney Road, Kenmare, Co. Kerry or e-mail to info@johnrmccarthy.ie

Sheen Falls Lodge are currently inviting and accepting applications for the following roles: Duty Manager Fluency in English both oral and written is essential for this role (Previous experience in this role required, and a hotel and catering management qualification) Front office, guest services assistant Fluency in English both oral and written is essential for this role (Friendly, helpful Guest Services / Concierge persons required. Some of the duties include, welcoming guests, arranging guest itinerates, giving directions and planning with guests, booking restaurants, taxis and transfers and activities on behalf of guests etc. assisting guests and answering their queries.

Hall Porter Fluency in English both oral and written and a full Drivers Licence is essential for this role.

Experienced fully qualified Beauty Therapist (face and body) Breakfast Chef /Cook (5 days per week with the following shifts, 6.30 - 3.30 pm or 8- 5pm in the afternoon.

Night hours – Accommodation Assistant (For the purpose of public area cleaning during night time hours, 5 over 7 nights per week. * This role carries a night premium payment.)

We are also inviting applications for the following roles with a late March/ April 2019 start.

Accommodation Assistants: Turndown Assistants – 6pm - 10pm daily Experienced Waiter/ess Applicants for all the above positions must have experience in the role applied for. All applicants must be available to work over weekends and bank holidays to be considered for the positions. Interested applicants may apply in confidence by e-mail to careers@sheenfallslodge.ie

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087 7548075 for more details.

Thanksgiving Prayer to St. Jude.

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hope.

Please intercede on my behalf.

Make use of that particular privilege given to you to bring hope, comfort, and help where they are needed most.

Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven as I work with my challenges, particularly (here make your request). I praise God with you and all the saints forever.

I promise, blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen.

MD

Property

Sherry FitzGerald Daly Contact Suzanne Teahan 064 6641213 Property Available to Rent 1 Bed Apartment, Henry St, Kenmare €750 monthly 3 Bed Orchard Grove Kenmare €800 monthly 3 Bed Ceann Mara Court €750 monthly (Electric Heating) 3 Bed Semi Detached, Finnihy Woods, Kenmare €875 monthly 4 Bed Dunkerron Woods, Kenmare €950 monthly 4 Bed Detached, Lohart Kenmare €1650 monthly Urgently Required Houses for Sale / Rent in the general Kenmare area Majella O’Sullivan Auctioneer/Estate Agent Market Street, Kenmare Phone (064) 6642101

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Kenmare News | 37

Rio Electrical Ltd. Contact James Riordan

Ardtully, Kilgarvan 064 6685508 / 087 2458563 e: rioelectrical@mail.com

Barradu Memorial Works Memorials & Headstones

GAS & OIL BOILERS SERVICED Headford, Killarney, Co. Kerry (064) 7754021 / 087 2598664 tommurphymemorials@hotmail.com

contact Niall

087 988 7841

e: osheamaintenance@gmail.com

38 | Kenmare News

‘One Stop Shop’

For all your home renovation needs in 2019 Kitchen & Furniture Spraying, Interior & Exterior Decorating, Tiling, Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrics.

Visit topteampainters.net or contact 085 8120344 for your

before FREE Consultation/Quotation after • Domestic painting & decorating • Interior & exterior paintwork • General plumbing • Electrical work

Kitchens • Wardrobes • Sliderobes • Custom Made Furniture

087 6661700 www.dostp.ie

Contact Dave on 087 214 5195 holmesonhomesdec@gmail.com

Ploughing - Power Harrow - Land Level & Re-seed.

Cutting - Baling - Raking - Stacking

087 900 3865

Kenmare News | 39

SEÁN MURPHY Plumbing & Heating

Registered Gas Technician Full Bathroom Design & Installation Boiler Installation & Service All Plumbing Maintenance

Kenmare, Co. Kerry seanmurphykenmare@gmail.com

‘Local, Nationwide & UK removals’ ‘Storage facilities available’

066 718 1945

087 288 2578

Kenmare Dog Grooming Celine O’Connell (Professional Dog Groomer) Tel: 087 2564405 email: celineoconnell1@gmail.com

Killaha East, Kenmare.

• Laying Kerbs & Footpaths

40 | Kenmare News

NEW PEUGEOT PARTNER

INTERNATIONAL VAN OF THE YEAR PREVIEW NOW AT REEN’S RATHMORE

Call instore to Vodafone Killarney or call 064 6635050

PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® SURROUND REAR VISION* PAYLOAD INDICATOR*