Issue 105. Sorry it's late

FOLK FEST, MISSING CONSULTATION, SUBLIMINAL MESSAGING

May 01, 2026

Good Afternoon and Welcome,

To issue No.105. There’s a good bit happening, so I won’t keep you

South Kerry by the numbers

  • 30: Dwellings have been completed in the Kenmare Electoral Area in the first quarter of this year

  • 28: Were completed over the same period last year

  • 22: Were completed over the same period in 2024

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

Join us for an unforgettable weekend of live music across Cahersiveen! Enjoy three days packed with amazing free events. Be sure to drop in and take part in the open sessions.

It’s the recycling event of the year! Don’t miss it.

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

Where’s this?

Congratulations to last week’s winners

  • Elaine O 

  • Dave Shortall 

Congratulations to both of you for correctly identifying that it was, of course, the sign on An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove. Dave also advised that it may have been the third time we’ve had that sign & I have to confess that he’s bang on.

The whole newsletter, in fact, has just been a subliminal marketing campaign for An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove. Two years of weekly emails just to see how regularly I could make An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove, paramount in your subconscious mind. I should also explain that this was an endeavour I have undertaken entirely of my own volition & An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove, nor anyone associated with An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove, had any part in this subliminal, An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove, marketing campaign. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Also, you are all more than welcome to send in signs.

Also, An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove (The Black Shop, Castlecove).

Auntie Agnes’ Angle

She’s back.

Dear Reader 

It was so great to have sunshine this week; everyone was noticeably more positive and happy.  It is such a well needed boost. And it has really highlighted how the environment, by which I mean the spaces we live in impact our energy and how we feel. 

This experience has led me down a path of exploring how we can make some spaces in our daily lives that help us to rest & restore our bodies and minds. 

 A place or routine created to complete the stress cycles in our lives & decompress, let it go. Stress in itself is not the problem; getting stuck in it is. We live in a world where it is seen as normal to be stressed out and frazzled. We are bombarded by bad news, financial pressure & unrealistic body image bull. We have become addicted to the chemicals this stress creates. And it has been on for so long, we all think it’s normal! 

But it’s not! We need to find ways to shake off the stress responses and chemicals. We need to find ways to complete the cycle. 

Picture a wave that you see coming from afar. It gradually gets bigger, reaches its peak, then crashes to shore. If we get stuck at the peak, with nowhere to crash and flow onto, we will get injured, falling down through the waves and slapping off the ground. 

This is what is happening to many of us in our daily lives. Long term stress leads to IBS, alopecia, insomnia, sore muscles and many more ailments. 

How do we shake it off or roll it out? , I hear you ask. Physical movement is the most effective way, shaking, walking, dancing moving in any way. 

Nature is another de stressor. Trees, moss, seawater all absorb and neutralise stress. 

Sleep allows our bodies to reset and restores our zest. 

All these are free 

I’ll say it again, all these are free & on our doorstep!! 

Thanks Agnes. “Long term stress leads to IBS” could be a placard!

The Oracle Cartoon

This week, Tim has just gallavanted himself to Italy, so here’s a gem from the archives

Thanks Tim!

Best Coffee in South Kerry

This week, it’s the turn of Ahamore Tearooms to do a bit of leapfrogging up the charts. My AI assistant tells me that ‘positions are starting to solidify’ are they?

Only a couple of, well potentially three, weeks of voting left, who should be higher up the charts?

Also, on the topic of food & drink, is there anywhere in South Kerry where you can get an omelette? If not, could one, or preferably all of the many hospitality gurus reading this, get in touch to explain why not?

Everything Else

  • Folk Fest Cahersiveen is here, see you at the front

  • Music a plenty in Portmagee & Waterville & Ballinskelligs too

  • Before all that you can honour the body, land and the rhythms of nature this Bealtaine, Friday 1st of May at 6PM. With the Skellig Sauna crew, more here

  • Get your Jedi on all weekend, more here

  • 5km Fun run/walk in Ballinskelligs tomorrow at 11am, more here

  • Dana Winder speaks at Tionol on Wednesday, more here

Job?

Thanks

For reading.

To Tim, Agnes & herself for the sign.

A very late one today, I have no one or nothing to blame apart from this email software, which was having, what you might describe as, a disaster. There should have been a bit on the ‘new’ Greenway consultation, but there’s always next week. Enjoy the long weekend.

Good luck, be well.

Dave