Issue 52. What's Another Year?

Reenroe, Greenway, Country, Market

April 25, 2025

Good Morning and Welcome,

To issue No.52: That’s a year, isn’t it? Is it? Well, it might be down to me spending most of my week inhaling epoxy resin, but I don’t think it is. I sent the first one on May 3rd last year, so in my mind, a year is up next week, so we’ll have the absolute shemozzle of fanfare next week, first bonus post for supporters, party hats, the lot.

South Kerry by the numbers:

  • 2011: The South Kerry Development Partnership compiled a feasibility study into the South Kerry Greenway, noting it could be open by 2014.

  • 2014: The first sod was turned on the South Kerry Greenway, with hopes the Reenard to Cahersiveen section could be open by 2016

  • 2025: The Reenard to Cahersiveen section has yet to go to planning, a local TD advised “Construction works are progressing well on The South Kerry Greenway”. a local concillor “The more difficult sections of the works have yet to be awarded by Kerry County Council to a contractor. Therefore the completion of the greenway in my opinion is years away.”

Can you guess what next week’s bonus article is about??

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

Calling all South Kerry girls aged 8-14, complement your existing sports or find something new with Iveragh Eagles Give It A Try programme. So sign up to learn some new skills without any boys annoying you

Best Beach in South Kerry?

Are these the top 5 beaches in South Kerry? Disgaree? Just

Any News On Reenroe?

Eager Oraclers that you are, you’ll remember that the planning application was granted an extension to provide further information, an extension that expires, remarkably unfavourably for a weekly newsletter, tomorrow. I can tell you that no further documents have been uploaded to the Council’s planning portal. Also, as it’s been a while, it might be handy to remind ourselves exactly what the planning application is for:

  • Partial demolition, extension and redevelopment of the existing derelict hotel

  • 4 self-catering studio apartments

  • 3 one-bed self-catering apartments

  • 15 two-bed self-catering apartments

  • Bar, dining room, rooftop restaurant, shop

  • ESB substation, switch rooms, standby generator room, bin stores

  • 6 hobbit huts, 21 glamping pods, 25 holiday homes, 144 mobile homes

  • 20 campervan stands, 0.8ha tent camping area

  • Washroom/toilet facilities (58m²), maintenance building (618m²), leisure complex with swimming pool (1,339.5m²)

  • Surf shop (191.7m²), café (126.5m²), natural play area, central park area

  • 151 car parking spaces including coach parking, 40 bicycle spaces, EV charging points

  • Internal roads, footpaths, waste storage areas

  • Widening of beach access road to 6m for two-way traffic, pedestrian/cycle pathway, upgrading of existing cliff walk

  • New access road and service lines to two neighbouring dwellings

  • New wastewater treatment system with clear water pump station and UV system

  • Drainage and percolation areas, 2 standby generators, water services and landscaping

No wonder it’s taking a while.

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

A belter this week, even if I do say so myself. You’ve all walked past it.

Congratulations to last week’s winners

  • Elaine O Leary 

  • Dave Shortall 

Well done both of you! It was of course, An Siopa Dubh, Castlecove.

We will start a directory

It’s coming, It is, honestly. If you want your business to be top of the list, click that button below

Auntie Agnes Answers

This week, a reader asks;

Dear Agnes

I don’t know if this is in your purview but I am continually confused by which head is which. I’ve lived here nearly ten years but never remember which is Bray, which is Emlagh (is that even a head?), or which one is Bolus. Is there an easy way to remember? They don’t always seem to be marked on maps. Have I got the wrong maps?


Dear Miss D Fide, 

Thank you for your woe, because of my love of all things local, I will attempt to resolve this for you, hopefully! 

My attitude towards many situations in life is KIS, keep it simple 😀 

I am not a seasoned map reader so I depend on linking places up. Bray head is Valentia, Emlagh’s starting point is Reenroe and Bolus is the back of Ballinskelligs on the Glen side. 

Hope this helps, and I’d like to offer a gentle reminder of letting someone know when walking so you can be found if needs be. I was going to suggest bringing a fully charged phone but I’m trying to get away from using them unnecessarily, especially in nature! 

Enjoy our locality friend, it offers us all we need.

Wonderful to have her back, isn’t it? Keep asking to keep her answering

The Oracle’s 27th Cartoon

Tim’s back

And aren’t we lucky to have him?

Everything Else

  • Stephen O’Dowd’s Ber Lingus tour stops off in Cafe Cois Tra Ballinskelligs tomorrow evening

  • There’s a country market on Sunday at the same venue

  • Have you broken any yoga stereotypes lately? Well, you can next week at Foilmore Community Centre, more here

  • Congrats to all involved with the Home from Home film for winning a Radharc Trust Award, more here

  • Congratulations to Valentia’s & Iveragh Eagles RFC’s own Michael O’Sullivan, who represented the Ireland u19’s this week.

  • Are you a woman, aged over 55, who grew up in Ireland? Then a German podcast wants to hear your story, more here

Thanks

As ever, If you have any ideas, events, suggestions, feedback, stories, characters, or dramas that you think should be in this email, just hit reply. Specifically music, there must be more than 1 gig this weekend in South Kerry?

A reminder, if you want to get your eyes on the feature length South Kerry Greenway bit next week, you can become a supporter here

Good luck, be well,

Dave