Issue 44. Tis' the Season... Isn't it?

Good Morning and Welcome,

To issue No.44: This week, there’s an Agnes omnibus edition, a trophy brought home & another opportunity to show off your business.

South Kerry by the numbers:

• 1/4: Is the official start date of the tourist season according to Fáilte Ireland.

• 17/3: According to a prominent South Kerry Publican.

• 15/4: According to the Oracle’s resident restaurant guru.

• 31/3: According to this extensive research, the tourist season in South Kerry begins on the 31st of March. Mystery solved.

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

Ads now €20 p/week for the close season. €50 p/month to be seen at least 2000 times by South Kerry’s greatest movers & shakers. I’m doing you a favour really.

More Silverware for South Kerry

A giant round of applause for Lucy Hunt and all at Sea Synergy, who last night won the Eco Hero Professionals & Companies Award in the Outsider Awards sponsored by Sport Ireland. Having recognised their heroics previously, it’s great to see the belief is held nationally as well. Well done all!!

We Should Celebrate the Open in Close Season.

Thanks to all of you who are still getting in touch, this week, a new category & everything. To all of you out and about this week, do call in to one of these brave businesses still serving our towns & villages.

Where’s missing? Add them by clicking below

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

So, I’m all about inclusivity & balance. Last week, it was really very easy, this week, well…Where’s this?

Congratulations to last week’s winners

• Jerry Clifford 

• Noreen K

• Therese Crotty

• Sue Bowden

• Dave Shortall 

• Val

• Niamh O Shea

• Lucy Henehan

• Maureen

• Siobhán Clifford

• David fitz

• Ger Deasy

• Craig

• Padraig Ceol Na Mara

• Eileen Murray

• Martha Fitzgerald  

• Jill Coffey 

The most ‘winners’ we’ve ever had? Well done all of you.

We will start a directory

I met two tourists on the beach this week, which made me wonder, are we now in season? (see the numbers section) The first, asked as the place is surrounded by sheep, where would he get the best lamb? As you may have noticed, I’m rarely short of an opinion, but having been a veggie for 20+ years this was one of those rare occasions. The second would you believe, asked about seafood…

I think, with your help, I can build a thing that can usefully answer these questions. So, first things first, add your business below

Auntie Agnes Answers

This week, it seems problems are like buses; wait weeks for one & three come along at once. Are you sitting comfortably?

Dear Agnes

It has been a grey, grey Winter & I’m struggling. I’m impressed by people continuing to walk the beaches for “ fresh air “ ( hail in the face & a good soaking to the backs of their trousers) but when will the sun arrive Agnes? And what can we do in the meantime? Should the council subsidise flights to the Canaries?
Yours sincerely
Miss E Rable

Agnes Answers;

Thank you for your woe, Miss E Rable ( love it 😆). It has indeed been a grey, grey winter. I am sorry to read you are struggling. Please refrain from comparing yourself to the folk still walking the beaches in the refreshing wind and hail. This may only compound a sense of hopelessness. My attitude to these long winter spells has changed over the last number of years. 

I no longer wring my hands and despair at the length/intensity of the winter. I now try, as much as possible, to look at it as a period of rest and nourishment so I have the energy and enthusiasm to embrace the sunshine fully when it comes.  Invest in your wellbeing by giving yourself permission rest and sleep guilt free as this is what we are meant to do. Enjoy slow afternoons with a book, movie or some games with friends.  Look at how you can support yourself through this harsh season: book a regular sauna, join a class that brings you joy. Read those books that gather dust beside the bed. Spend time being you. And maybe book yourself a sun holiday in November to help you through until the sun shines here again.

Take Care Reader. hope this helps

Another of you has an entirely different issue:

Dearest Agnes
Why is there no nightclub in the whole of South Kerry? What are the young, and the, ahem, not so young, meant to do for wholesome entertainment? Have you any recommendations on where and how to spend the wee wee hours?

He who do be dying of thirst late on a weekend night after the pubs do be closed.

Agnes Answers;

Thank you for your woe, he who do be dying of thirst late on a weekend night after the pubs do be closed.

This is a genuine concern of mine. I feel very sad for the young & not so young who do not have a place to dance into the late hours. There was a time when we had the Harp, the dance in Keane's and a disco in Waterville too. Many buses ferried crowds from Portmagee, Valentia, Ballinskelligs and Waterville in and out of town every Saturday night. They were great days! I did hear a rumour that the Kerry Coast Inn is to open in the near future, I am praying that this will mean a nightclub or in the least a late bar with music for local people. It is an important part of the development of young people to test their social limits before we send them off to the big smoke. And us, of a more mature vintage, could do with a dance and some craic, vital to our mental health. What to do in the meantime? Are house parties also extinct these days? 

 Maybe start your own gatherings with a speaker and spotify playlist? Sorry to not have a more substantial solution Reader. just to say you are not alone with this woe. Be careful out there  

To the other reader who has been in touch, rest assured, you are not forgotten. If you are looking to apportion blame, then it’s all my fault. To be in a position to harness a great power such as Agnes, comes with it, great responsibility. I decided that there is only so much healing a rural population such as ours can take. You’ll be in next week.

For the rest of you, got a problem? Just

The Oracle’s 21st Cartoon

Aren’t we lucky to have Tim to remind us how lucky we are to be here?

Everything Else

• The Inny Tavern is going great guns with raising funds, close to 75% of their target, but still need your help, donate here

• There’s a gospel choir in Castlecove looking for new members. It's on every Tuesday from 8 to 9 in Castlecove church. If interested, please text 0876756131. Everyone welcome

• An Odd Few play The Villa, Waterville Saturday night

• South Kerry Connect Well - Weekly meetings every Monday from 10:30 - 11:30am (except Bank Holidays) beginning 10th March in the Cahersiveen Rowing Club building. Contact the Family Resource Centre on 066 9481000/ 087 4888983 more here

• Foilmore community centre have an active ageing festival that has already started. It’s on now; by reading this, you are ageing inactively, get down there and fix it. here

• Tech Amergin have a seed-to-table course this coming Thursday 10am-1pm, more here

• Noreen Ashe will be playing at Foilmore Community Centre on Saturday 15th March. Doors open at 8.30.  Dancing at 9.00. Raffle with great prizes. Looking forward to seeing you all. Contact Joe 0872875974.

• There’s a Boston Tea Party fundraiser for the Iveragh Eagles u16 girls team (there are no better women) in Caherdaniel Hall, 4/4, compulsory attendance for all subscribers. More here.

Looking for work?

Thanks

Quiet enough now, isn’t it?

For those of you generous supporters of the Oracle, still no bonus article but all of you now have magnets. I can’t describe how pleased I am not to have to make another apology. An apology does go to the reader who got in touch to ask how they could support, there’s now a link to do just that at the bottom.

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

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