Good Morning and Welcome,

To issue No.38: This week, A chance to help the sea, Tim & Agnes continue to delight & a look at the businesses who are still in business.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Michael Healy-Rae on his appointment as Minister for Forestry, making a mockery of my predictions last week. For my next prediction, I’ll go with Putin & Zelensky jointly presenting this year’s South Kerry Championship trophy thanks to Danny Healy-Rae’s unrivalled negotiating skills.

South Kerry by the numbers:

• 12: Ministers of state from the Kerry Constituency/ies since the formation of the state.

• 2020: Was the last time we had a government minister.

• 1982: Was the last time we had a government minister in charge of forestry.

• 5: Ministers from South Kerry. Yes, I’m counting Kilgarvan as South Kerry, it’s not North Kerry, is it?

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

As part of her TOCHAIL residency with Cumas Ceantar, musician Síomha Brock will be hosting creative art workshops to imagine community-owned solutions to the housing crisis in Uíbh Ráthach. Using different creative methods, these workshops will create space to go beyond identifying the challenges of housing and into the realm of imagining how community ownership can empower residents to shape our future. All are welcome to join these collaborative sessions, where creativity meets community action. Register here.

 Book this slot next week here.

Pairc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, Public Consultation Closing Shortly

On the one hand, it’s great that the powers that be want our opinions, on the other, without expert knowledge it’s difficult to know what we should be telling them. Fortunately enough for us in South Kerry, behemoth of marine knowledge Lucy Hunt of Sea Synergy, has been generous enough to put together some pointers that we should consider when submitting to the public consultation. You can find these here and submit to the public consultation here.

Thanks Lucy, we’re lucky to have you.

We Should Celebrate the Open in Close Season.

Thanks for everyone who got in touch last week. To all of you out and about this week, do call in to one of these brave businesses still serving our towns & villages.

Extra special shout out to The Bridge Cafe in Sneem, who are offering free coffee and discounted soup with bread for over 65’s throughout the cold season. As our contributor quite rightly put it “How fabulous is this”.

Add anywhere missing by clicking below

The Oracle’s Sixteenth Cartoon

There Tim goes again. Proving definitively that Ballinskelligs is not just about International drug smuggling rings.

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

Yes, it’s back, yes it’s back, yes it’s back, yes it’s back, yes it’s back, yes it’s back, yes it’s back.

Easy enough isn’t it?

Auntie Agnes Answers

This week Agnes has an issue faced by any committed beach based dog walker, of which I know, there are many.

Hello Agnes,

Although the question I have is not directly something that keeps me chewing on my pillow at night, I'd like to hear your opinion.
Almost every early morning I walk my dogs on one of the fabulous Kerry beaches. Time to enjoy the silence, the scenery and do some long overdue thinking. Even when it's storming, pouring rain or snowing I find this one of the great pleasures of living in South Kerry. (I know for a fact the dogs couldn't agree more.) Now for the "problem": most of the few people I encounter while walking are dog-owners too, and while I think a heartfelt "good morning!" or waving is enough, some of them come over or wait on a narrow passage dying for a chat.
That really brings steam out of my nostrils.
Do you think I'm socially handicapped as my wife seems to think?

Dearest Reader 

Thank you for your woe. Yes, this beautiful morning ritual is one of the wonderful gifts living here has to offer.  Like you said, this is a popular pastime! I have had similar experiences,  some days I love an auld natter and more days I don’t want to talk to a sinner.

I’ve developed some tactics for the days when I’m feeling more introverted:

- I wear a baseball hat, pulled low over my face, this does work like the movies

- I walk at a faster pace, face to the ground when I pass chatters 

- if someone does nab me, I apologise that I can’t chat as I’m caught for time and can’t stop. 

You’ll only need to employ these tactics a few times for the chatters to get the message. 

Hope this helps and you get to enjoy some peaceful walks!! 

If you have a problem that needs solving, just;

Everything Else

• Tech Amergin have an absolute kaboodle of courses available for registration, from Computer Skills to marquetry & veneering, they have you covered. More here.

• There’s a series of Nurtured Parenting mornings @ Cahersiveen library, starting 25th January, get in touch with the South West Kerry Family Resource Centre to book.

• The geniously named Wild Atlantic Play are starting a Youth Choir in Castlecove more here

• Get yourself some Sana Gaeilge this evening @ Cuas Crom 6-6.30pm.

• Ón dTalamh Amach' is a monthly music session in memory of singer Seán Garvey, starting 9pm Tuesday 28th of January in Mike Murts

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% not the weather’s fault. They are on the way, slowly, honest.

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

southkerryoracle.ie