Issue 55. Glorious out there, still, isn't it?

Skelligs, Karate, Surprise, Sharks

May 16, 2025

Good Afternoon and Welcome,

To issue No.55. I’m sure you’ve all got ice-cream to be eating, so lets get to it

South Kerry by the numbers:

  • 7.4: mm of rainfall has been recorded at Valentia Observatory so far this month.

  • 97.4: mm was April’s total rainfall.

  • 192.4: Was February’s total. It’s like a different world entirley isn’t it?

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

Best Beach in South Kerry?

Cuas Crom getting a whole lotta love over the last week. Derrynane also labelled best for “EVERYTHING” Is it?

Skellig Michael Surprise

For those of you looking for a scoop on the latest actions of the OPW, you’ll be disappointed, many, many other media outlets will be a much more authoratative source on all of that. Jerry O’Sullivan himself, would be one of your better options.

As you’ll be well aware, we aim to go deeper than your standard publication here at the Oracle. To delight in the detail, marvel at the minutia, to the extent that a story might no longer be a story at all.

Anyway, this week, I had the good fortune to catch Waterville’s very own Cllr. Norma Moriarty being interviewed on Jerry’s excellent Kerry Today Programme. As the story has been well publicised by local groups there wasn’t much news, that was new to me, but how it was said, well that’s a different matter entirely.

Cllr Moriarty made many pertinent points around the situation & importance of getting Skelligs Michael open for the season & my interest was piqued. Skelligs Michael? Must have been a slip of the tongue. The Councillor continued & said it again. Then again. Having listened back (and you can too) I think it’s 6 or 7 times, the Councillor refers to Skelligs Michael. Not for a moment am I suggesting there’s anything incorrect in this, the good Councillor would have generations of knowledge beyond my own, but it’s interesting, isn’t it? I turned to Google, there are 1420 results for Skelligs Michael, versus around 1.5 million for the alternative, the Irish Times archive has a single mention of Skelligs Michael, in 1939, definitely a typo…

So, good people of South Kerry, are you a Skelligs Michael or a Skellig Michael(er), just hit reply, I’m fascinated.

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

Now, knowing how seriously many of you take your sign spotting, I know you’ll know where this sign is, but what’s it for?

Congratulations to last week’s winner

  • David Fitz

Two weeks on the trot, quite simply outstanding in his field, well done David! Last week It was of course, The Climbers Inn, Glencar (not O’Carroll’s Cove, as a dozen or so of you thought).

We will start a directory

It’s coming, It is, honestly, next week at the latest! The eagle eyed amongst you will notice, I said the same last week… If you want your business to be top of the list, click that button below

Auntie Agnes Answers

Finally, a reader reaches out;

Dear Auntie Agnes,


I hope you're well.
As a blow in from the country that won the 6 Nations this year, sorry not sorry, I have a question regarding Irish customs on the times to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've been there for 2 years now and I can't seem to get it right! Should we have dinner at 5pm with football practice at 6.45pm? If you have dinner at 5pm, at what time should be lunch then, and breakfast? Aren't you starving at 9pm if you had your dinner at 5pm? It's so confusing cause now I want to eat at French and Irish times and have around 6/7 meals a day! I hope you'll be able to give me some pointers so I feel less bloated on a daily basis! Bon appétit.

Agnes Answers:

Dearest Reader 

Thank you for your woe, this indeed is quite the conundrum. There are big differences between the two eating timetables but do we have to chose?  For me, it depends on the time of year. In autumn /winter, I tend to stick to the Irish timetable. This allows for an earlier bedtime, snuggling up early.

In late spring and summer, I go with the French way. Eating small sweet breakfasts, long lazy lunches and midnight feasts! 

Why choose? Good idea not to do both at the same time!

Stay fed reader 

Are you suffering similar conundrums? Now you’ve been reminded of her healing power don’t you want to

The Oracle’s 30th Cartoon

Topical as ever is our Tim. Beautiful stuff.

Everything Else

  • Our very own Aquapeople, Sea Synergy, have a bonus big beach biodiversity survey directly before their big beach clean in Bunavalla, tomorrow 10am.

  • Noreen Ashe plays a Tea Dance at Glencar Community Centre, Sunday afternoon 3-6pm.

  • A fundraiser dance for CRITICAL Emergency Medical Response with Eddie Lee is at Foilmore Community Centre on Saturday, 17th May. Raffle with great prizes. Doors open at 9.00. Dancing 9.30. Everyone welcome.   

  • Tech Amergin have an Irish premiere tomorrow evening of Skellig Michael: The Monks Island, more here

  • The Kerry Sub Aqua club has a talk on breaching Basking Sharks at The Royal, Valentia tomorrow at 8pm, more here

  • Máire & Étáin Ní Churraoin, Sean-nós singers from Ráth Chairn, the Gaeltacht of County Meath are at Driftwood, tonight 8pm. More here

Thanks

Warm enough now, isn’t it?

As ever, anything strange or wonderful, just hit reply. To the other reader who’s woe didn’t make it in this week, it’s my fault entirely, be safe in the knowledge Agnes will heal you next week.

Good luck, be well,

Dave