Issue 95. I Say The Royal, You Say Valentia

FIREPIT, CHESS, MARBLES, GOLF

February 20, 2026

Good Afternoon and Welcome,

To issue No.95. In the words of the great Jesse Jackson, I’m keeping the hope alive that one day, a morning newsletter will return. Until then…

South Kerry by the numbers

  • 31: New dwellings were completed in the V23 Eircode area in 2025.

  • 71: Dwellings were sold.

  • 8: Of these were bought by first time buyer owner occupiers.

  • 25: Of these were bought by non-occupiers.

  • 290,000: € was the median property price in V23 as of December 2025.

Apologies to all of you who are of a V93 persuasion, blame Killarney.

First, a word from this week’s sponsor

This marble tower is one of those toys children can’t resist. They pop a marble on top and watch it race, spin, and whirl its way down, building excitement with every turn until it finishes with a cheerful chime.

It encourages focus, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills, all through hands-on, active play. Kids love the speed, the movement, and the satisfying sound at the end, and they’ll want to send the marbles down again and again.

It’s The Signs of South Kerry 🎺🎺🎺

After what feels like months of readers doing my job for me, here’s one for the purists. Where is it?

Congratulations to last week’s winners

  • Katie 

  • Elizabeth Lynch

  • Patsy Lynch

  • Niamho

  • Mairead

  • Mollie O’Sullivan

  • :) 

There I was thinking people had got bored of the sign game… Well done all of you! Must be the most winners we’ve had, even had a couple of no names too. I would say I’d send you all a magnet, but I’ve a bit of a reputation as far as that’s concerned. Well done also to Ger for submitting the photo.

Auntie Agnes’ Angle

Dear Reader,

Anyone sick of the rain ⛈️ ?

I have been thinking this week about all the rain we have had - my dear old Dad said that this is the wettest winter he can remember!
Of course, there are worse conditions to live with, I imagine dry drought to be harder to manage. However, we still need tools to keep mentally and physically functioning through all this water & grey clouds that carry it across the sky. For me, it’s about what we can do to bring some colour into our days.
I saw some daffodils this week and was reminded that spring is on the way. I noticed how their beautiful yellow flowers gave me an internal lift. The colour ignited a feeling of happiness & joy. After this, I went and got some flowers for the kitchen. This makes my day a bit brighter.


How can you bring some colour into your day?
It is difficult these weeks to get out for a walk without getting drenched to the bone! I still preserve and get some air in but some days it feels like just not enough. I’ve discovered a playlist of remixed 80’s classics on Spotify that have me bopping and hopping around the house. This really helps me move and lighten my mood.


What songs would your playlist include?

Let’s keep going, friends, we are nearly there, halfway to sunshine.

Thanks Agnes.

The Oracle Cartoon

This week, Tim invokes his inner Jackson Pollock…

Thanks, Tim.

The Royal, Valentia, has been sold, new owners, delighted.

The Royal Valentia hotel, as you’ve probably heard, has been sold to a US boutique hotel group. The CEO of said group told Jerry on Radio Kerry that they will “cherish everything that ever happened in that building.” They will also “make small investments over time to make the guest experience a little better”, including (I’m imagining not limited to) better wifi, a firepit, sauna & a coffee truck. Revolutionary.

Interestingly, to me at least, this sale also uncovered something I’d not noticed before. Did you know that The Royal Hotel, Valentia, is actually The Royal Valentia Hotel? Now I appreciate I’m very much in on the wind in these parts, but I can’t have been the only one? According to Google I’m not anyway:

  • Royal Hotel Valentia circa 300,000 results

  • Royal Valentia Hotel circa 120,000 results

Data-driven journalism at The Oracle.

Everything Else

  • There’s an intro to Chess course starting in the O’Connell centre next week, more here

  • The Beachcove, Waterville, will be back open from the 4th March.

  • The Ring Lyne, Valentia, hosts the Mags Lynch memorial doubles pool tournament tomorrow night

  • 5km Fun Run in Dromid on Sunday is cancelled.

  • Celebrate Mholly Coffey’s life in song on the 7th March, more here

  • Tionol are back in Tech Anergin on Wednesday, more here

  • Darts, Sunday, Anchor. More here

Thanks

1pm is pretty much midday, isn’t it?

Thanks again to Tim & Agnes.

I met Tim in the week, can you believe even he hasn’t got a magnet? They do definitely exist, honest.

Good luck, be well.

Dave