Issue 6-Packed full* of South Kerry Goodness

Good Morning and Welcome,

To issue No. 6, the first and most likely only, early issue of the South Kerry Oracle

This week we have a last word from some of our election candidates. A campaign to repatriate a Glenbeigh Goat & a look at the big plans for the Reenroe hotel redevelopment. Not forgetting all the best of what’s going on and what will be going on around the place. A bit of wool & cloth too.

South Kerry by the numbers:

• 334: People per day expected at the proposed new Reenroe Holiday Park in its first year of operation.

• 2: New faces (at least) will be representing our LEA on the council next week.

• 600: Metres of swimming circuit now available in Kells Bay. Togs on.

Candidates Respond

Avid readers will of course remember we’ve heard from our local election candidates in previous weeks. At the beginning of this week, I asked our candidates;

Is there anything you have heard from South Kerry constituents while canvassing that has changed your priorities for the campaign?

Their answers, in the order they responded are as follows;

• Johnny Healy-Rae Independent: “I have heard a lot of issues while canvassing over the last 6 months.  I try to keep on top of the issues as best I can.  We deal with people on a daily bases, not just at election time but the main issues I see at this time are: availability of health care and services, housing roads, and immigration.”

• Michael Cahill Fianna Fáil: “Immigration is a big issue for many voters in this election, even more so than Health and Housing in a large percentage of cases. But I am sure that local issues will be a major factor in how voters make up their minds about who they choose to vote for come Friday.“

• Cleo Murphy Green Party: “People are asking for footpaths, street lights, and safe crossings. It tells me they want to walk more. I’ll be making active travel a higher priority if I’m elected.”

• Tim Clifford Social Democrats: I guess the one thing on doorsteps that came up a few times and increased in priority for me, was non-sporting activities for teenagers. I wrote an article on it on my website here

• William O’Brien Irish People Party: “My canvassing campaign confirmed to me that my priorities are right.”

Election Advertising

The G.O.A.T of Goats

This is an ad in The Boston Globe courtesy of artist Duke Riley’s latest exhibition ‘The Repatriation of Skellig Mór’ South Kerry’s most famous goat. Many of you may know of the acclaimed goat from Duggan’s folk song, archived on the gem of the internet that is binneas.ie.

For those of you less familiar, Skellig Mór was a goat crowned King Puck in 1904 but obviously found its way to Boston and became embroiled in legal proceedings. A bitter battle in the courts over the rightful ownership of the goat ‘Skellig Mór’ was fought by the Knights of St. Brendan and a splinter organisation. This was some goat for one goat. “This noble animal has been the source of more fighting than any living being since the days of Helen of Troy,” Said the Suffolk District Attorney at the ceremony where it was presented to the crew of the battleship Vermont.

Unfortunately, a sailor’s life was not for Mór and found itself under taxidermy in 1909. The artist Duke Riley is looking to repatriate it but I suspect it’s already found its way home. If you are in the possession of a stuffed goat of unknown provenance you can contact Duke here.

So what exactly are the plans for Reenroe/Rinn Rua?

So, looking at the application notice in isolation it might seem a bit intensive. I would walk this beach regularly so have kept a close eye on opinions, which seem to sit in three camps;

• Employment. Any development that brings jobs into the area is a good thing.

• Unsustainable: Too many people, wastewater issues, environmental impact, traffic, etc.

• Eyesore: Whatever happens it will be better than what’s there.

Rinn Rua by the numbers

• 80: The amount who will be employed at the height of construction.

• 55: Expected to be employed in peak season once the park is fully developed.

• 334: People per day in peak season expected at the proposed new Reenroe Holiday Park in its first year of operation.

• 933: People per day expected in peak season at the proposed new Reenroe Holiday Park when fully operational 2029.

• 2: There are at least two hotels in the area just as defunct, one in a much more prominent position.

Best of the rest;

• Congratulations to all involved in getting Ballinskelligs Beach funding for facility upgrades. Showers!

• Join Atlantic Irish Seaweed for one of the most informative and tasty walks you are likely to have at midday on Sunday, more here

• Naad Japa, a returning multi-instrumentalist French band returns to the Ring Lyne, Valentia on Saturday

• Tickets released for the upcoming Wool & Cloth festival here 

• Derrynane’s new yoga and sauna combo continues (yoga first apparently) more info here

Just Announced;

Gavan Ring is coming home to Cahersiveen and bringing with him Puccini’s La Boheme on August 4th all power to him.

Thanks

*Wasn’t very full this week.

If I’ve missed anything, you’d like to contribute or have news you think should be covered, just hit reply. Alternatively, you can just tag your posts #skoracle and I’ll pick them up.

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Next week we’ll have less politics and more about hotels…

Good luck, be well

Dave

southkerryoracle.ie