Killarney selected for €3m GAA museum

Killarney has secured a victory over Tralee for a new Kerry GAA museum, estimated to cost more than €3 million. A planning application has been lodged with Killarney Town Council to build a two-storey museum, with parking facilities for cars and coaches, at the town’s Fitzgerald Stadium. The neighbouring towns had engaged in a war of words in their claims as likely locations for the county’s major new sporting and cultural museum. But the fact that Killarney attracts a large number of visitors was a key factor in determination the location.

Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney

Fitzgerald Stadium, which opened in 1936 and which can accommodate more than 40,000 spectators, is also one of the country’s leading GAA grounds. The planning application, in the name of Kerry Gaelic Culture Museum Ltd, is for a 1,350 sq metre building to be erected on an under-used training field on the eastern side of the main pitch. Work will also involve the demolition of toilets, some of the boundary walls on the northern side, and all of the existing boundary walls, gates and entrances on the eastern side of the stadium. A decision on the planning application is expected on February 11 next and the aim is to have the construction completed in 2013, depending on funding being available from tourism bodies and the GAA.

Read the full article in the Irish Examiner

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Liebherr extension granted planning permission

Liebherr Container Cranes has been given the go ahead to expand its Killarney factory. Kerry County Council has granted planning permission subject to 11 conditions for a facility in which container crane components will be made. The proposed new building is to be located in the existing factory grounds in Gortroe, Killarney. This production facility will also have accompanying office and storage buildings.

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• Bord Pleanála criticises Council’s 1km rule (kerrynews.wordpress.com)
• Major Fenit Harbour development to go ahead (kerrynews.wordpress.com)

Major Fenit Harbour development to go ahead

Plans for a major development at Fenit Harbour have been given the go ahead. Kerry County Council has granted Tralee and Fenit Harbour Commissioners planning permission for the expansion and development project, subject to 19 conditions. The plans involve the provision of a new 210 berth marina expansion, a new boat lift, oyster training bays, and additional car parking. They also include the extension of existing and development of new break waters.

Killarney Rugby Club relocating to Aghadoe

Aghadoe (Image via Wikipedia)

Plans to relocate Killarney Rugby Club to Aghadoe have been given the go ahead. Last year, the club was refused permission to establish a new base in Kilcummin. Since 1993, it’s been leasing land from the HSE in Ballydribeen, but it was due to have left the site by August last year.

Kerry County Council has granted Killarney Rugby Football Club planning permission to develop pitches and a clubhouse at Caher, Aghadoe, Killarney.  In 2009 the club applied for permission to establish a new base in Kilcummin, however that was refused last year because of concerns over percolation, its proximity to an area of archaeological interest, and issues over sight lines.

These latest plans for Aghadoe, which also include flood lights, parking, an access roadway, footpaths, an entrance wall and signage, have been given the go ahead by Kerry County Council subject to 22 conditions.

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Kerry Beating the Burglars

The following points are according to the 11th annual eircom PhoneWatch annual report:

• Burglaries in Kerry have remained the same year on year, however nationally they have risen by 4.12%
• 2011 report reveals March as the most burgled month of the year in Kerry, whereas nationally it is November
• In addition, Kerry makes up just 1% of burglaries nationwide

 

Top 5 Tips to make your home less attractive to burglars.

1. Ensure front door does not just display 1 cylinder lock. Ideally the front door should have a deadlock and a secure chubb lock.
2. Be sure it’s not possible to look through the letter box. Install a cage or a box around the inside of your letter box.
3. Make sure your window locks are prominent.
4. Make it hard to see in the front window.
5. Watermark your items with a watermark pen, and display a sticker saying your items are watermarked on the front of your house.

Top 5 Tips to avoid the most common methods of entry for burglars.

1. Chain up plastic wheelie bins as they can be used as ladders or even for carrying the stolen items.
2. Chain patio sets and ladders as they can be used to gain entry to first floor.
3. Make sure your shed is locked with a secure padlock.
4. Do not rely on one lock for the back door, install bolts on the inside.
5. Make sure your window locks are prominent and don’t clearly display a calendar in the kitchen as this will alert the burglar to holidays etc.

Also eircom PhoneWatch have teamed up  with Michael Fraser, star of BBC’s Beat the Burglar to provide some video clips on how to make your home more secure:

Santa to spend December in Killarney

Santa is to spend a large portion of the month of December in Killarney. According to reports, Radio Kerry News understands that Santa and Mrs Clause will be spending time in the new Santa Village in the town. The good news is, the village will be open to the public and visitors will have the opportunity to meet Mrs Clause, the elves and of course the man himself.

via Radio Kerry News

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Launch of Irish language short story collection

A new short story collection by Irish language writer Helen Ó Murchú will be launched at Oireachtas na Gaeilge this weekend by Kerry author Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé.

Helen is a well-known visitor to the Kerry Gaeltacht, where she spends much time. Originally from Rathkeale in County Limerick, she now resides in Dublin.

There are four short stories in the ‘Scéalta an Luain’ series, which is aimed at adult native Irish speakers. Written in Munster Irish, the humorous yarns unfold in Johnny’s house where the locals gather on Monday nights … You will read about the English lady in the shower, the crazy goat and lots more! The collection also includes all four stories on CD, read by former Raidió na Gaeltachta presenter Aogán Ó Muircheartaigh.

The ‘Scéalta an Luain’ series won first prize in the Breacadh / Oireachtas na Gailge short story competition 2010. The launch takes place in the Gleaneagle Hotel at 1pm on Friday 4 November.

Fáilte roimh chách!

Plan to freeze 108 hectares of zoned lands in Killarney

An Irish Town Planner’s Blog: Plan to freeze 108 hectares of zoned lands in Killarney.

A plan goes before the public in Killarney this week to freeze more than 108 hectares of land zoned residential in the current town development plan which was drafted during the boom.

Rezoning of lands by the town council proved highly controversial in the past decade.

Killarney has 133.5 hectares of land zoned for residential development, when it needs just over 25 hectares for realistic population growth of 2,000 people by 2016.

The town has enough land zoned residential to cater for almost six times its realistic population growth, planners have found after carrying out an assessment to bring local policy into line with national guidelines.

The planners have selected the 25.4 hectares which they say should be allowed to be developed over the next four years in what they designate as “phase one” development, and they are putting on display the 108 hectares they intend to freeze or lock down for the next four years.

JRI America Inc. to establish a Software Development Operation in Tralee

Subsidiary of Japanese financial services company, SMFG, creating up to 100 new jobs

TRALEE, Friday, 30th SEPTEMBER, 2011: JRI America Inc., today announced plans to establish a Software Development Operation in Tralee, Co. Kerry which may create up to 100 highly skilled positions over the next 5 years, with recruitment already underway for a number of positions. The operation will locate on the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee.

JRI America, Inc., is a subsidiary of the Japanese IT financial services company, Japan Research Institute Ltd (“JRI”), which is the specialist IT subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (“SMFG”). SMFG which owns Japan’s second-largest bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (“SMBC”) by asset size and a Fortune Global 200 company offers a broad range of financial services, primarily banking-related. The group is also engaged in leasing, securities, credit cards, mortgage securitization, venture capital and other credit related businesses and employs 61,555 people (as of the end of March 2011) worldwide and has a stated strategic objective of further global expansion.

The Tralee operation will support the group’s Western Hemisphere IT operations including US, UK, Dubai and potentially other markets in due course. A range of functions including Java Software Development and Testing, Network Support, Data Centre Support, Testing and Helpdesk activities will be created. IDA Ireland worked closely with the company to secure this investment.

For more details see the Press Release in full.

Irish Times writer criticises planning in Kerry

The Environmental Editor of the Irish Times has criticised planning in Kerry. Frank McDonald says after a recent trip to the county, he witnessed unrestricted housing. There are 34,000 one off houses in Kerry which account for more than half the total housing stock.

He has also accused Kerry County Council of damaging the landscape, citing road widening coming into Dingle from the Conor Pass and what he calls ‘ugly’ concrete barriers at Coomakista. Mr McDonald hopes people will learn from their mistakes, but stops short of suggesting ghost estates should be bull-dozed to the ground.

Read original atricle @ The Irish Times