Issue 37. Imagination Wanted

Rain, Bees, FRAUD, Dancing

January 10, 2025

Good Morning and Welcome,

To issue No.37: This week, Tim is back with a beauty, Agnes heals in stereo & a chance to highlight our local heroes.

South Kerry by the numbers:

  • 1652.3: mm of rain fell at Valentia Observatory in 2024, making it Ireland’s wettest weather station.

  • 220: Wet days were recorded, more than anywhere else in the country.

  • 53: Very wet days recorded, placing us at joint ‘first’ with Newport Co Mayo.

  • 1963: Was the last time we had a wetter March.

  • 9.25: °C Was our mean temperature for February making it our warmest February since records began, so it’s not all gloom & doom. 

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

Meet Eric & Ernie

Doesn’t this sound fascinating? Exactly how they plan on doing this I don’t know, so it’s very much worth going along and finding out. I do know, it’s something that very much needs doing, so go do it.

Should we celebrate the Open in Close Season?

So, as with most weeks, I’ve just spent the morning trawling the internet for anything at all of interest and I’ve drawn a blank. I did briefly consider talking about the likelihood of the Healy Rae’s being part of our new government, but as it looks as likely as them being joined in coalition by the Almighty himself, I thought we’d focus elsewhere.

Specifically, where is open. As many of our local businesses close for a well earned rest, I wonder should we highlight those that remain open? Considering the cold spell we’ve just had I’d say they’ve earned a bit of praise, I’ve no idea what form this will take, but am always open to suggestions. So;

The Oracle’s Fifteenth Cartoon

Wonderful stuff again from Tim. A talent matched only by the landscapes he depicts.

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

Yet another week off this week. Will we have a new game for the new year? Suggestions welcome, quiz maybe? Just hit reply.

Auntie Agnes Answers

This week Agnes heals TWICE

Hi Agnes

I was lucky enough to receive excess Christmas presents this year. What’s your opinion on re-gifting and have you any advice on how to reduce the excess next Christmas in a social acceptable way?

Yours,
Drowning in kindness

PS there was no button to ask Agnes in this week’s newsletter

Dearest Reader 

Thank you for your woe. It brings a smile to my lips and eyes to read that you feel lucky, being grateful is a gift in itself! 

I absolutely believe in re-gifting especially when the motivation is coming from a less waste perspective.  I believe it is an ethical response to excess. 

I feel experience gifts like cinema vouchers, tickets to a show, dinner voucher will help to avoid the gift excess going forward. These kind of gifts also help make meaningful memories. 

Hope this helps 

Thank you for letting me know about the missing button - I’ll talk to the admin department!

*Admin Dept: Yes, not only was the button missing last week, but the week before too. Won’t happen again, I promise.

Dearest Agnes

A publication has been set up called the South Kerry Oracle. It's a free online publication. But now it's seeking financial contributions and, by extension, access to our credit card details. How can we be assured that this isn't all an elaborate scam by the Oracle to fleece all gullible contributors and empty their bank accounts? Seeking reassurance from she who seems to have the answer to everything.

Dear Reader 

Thank you for your woe. This is a genuine worry for us all in today’s world. Who and what can we trust? There is so much information, misinformation and subscriptions out there, it really is difficult to know what to do. You have done the right thing by reaching out and seeking to confirm what and who is asking for your money. 

For me, the Oracle is aiming to connect our lives and issues within our communities in South Kerry. Letting us all know what is going on. There was a time we would have all found this out through word of mouth after Mass and in the Pub. Sadly, these spaces and with them the connections to each other have shrunk. This leads to isolation and loneliness. We all miss the chat, gossip and craic, I know I certainly do. The Oracle is beginning to bridge the gaps we all experience living in a rural place like South Kerry. 

In these kind of situations, people feel under pressure to financially support when asked, however, I really urge you to do what feels good for you. 

I am happy you felt able to express your concerns here. 

Keep questioning, it’s really important.

Stay safe in this cold spell 

*Admin Dept: All card information is collected securely by Stripe and transmitted over HTTPS connection to their processing servers. Those Stripe-collected details are not stored on the southkerryoracle.ie website, making it fully SCA compliant. SCA is a requirement of the EU Revised Directive on Payment Services which by definition ensures all transactions that take place on said website are as safe, as houses. I wasn’t going to mention it again, but if people will keep bringing it up, you can support your local newsletter & keep Agnes in green ink, here.

If you have a problem that needs solving, just;

Everything Else

  • Ger Healy - The Singing Jarvey will be playing for another fundraiser at Foilmore Community Centre on Saturday 18th January. Dancing at 9.00. Raffle with great prizes. Contact Mary 0876279573 for more info.

  • Conversational Irish classes start in Ballinskelligs next week, more here

  • SKDP have a call for interest for any community group looking for outdoor recreation funding, more here 

  • A warm welcome to the Black Pitbull Internet Cafe/gaming space, recently opened in Cahersiveen, more here 

  • Bridie is running social dance classes in Dromid from next week, more here

  • Southern Gaels have their AGM Thursday, 8.15pm Reenard clubhouse.

  • Sneem Beekeepers have just announced their 2025 beginners course, book here

Thanks

For those of you generous enough to support the Oracle, I assure you your magnets are on the way and it’s positively, definitely, 100% the weathers fault, nothing to do with me whatsoever. Honest. You’ll have them this week.

If you have any ideas, events, suggestions, feedback, stories, characters, or dramas that you think should be in this email, just hit reply.

Good luck, be well

Dave