News
Local historian and author opens new chapter on Milltown
I
IT PROMISES to be a night of memories and nostalgia in Milltown on Friday, July 14, when a memoir of life in the mid-Kerry village is published and launched by a local retired teacher and historian. Gwin for the Blue by Pat McKenna from Milltown recounts the happenings and characters of his native place in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s and is a lively and entertaining read.
Recounting stories and anecdotes from the first twenty years of his life, the memoir charts an Ireland barely recognisable to the young people of today and tells of life in a rural village from the War years to the Swinging Sixties. The self-published book is described as a tribute to local people who survived the ups and downs of life “in spite of dungeon, fire and sword”.
Pat’s stories include references to local landmarks like the Godfrey Estate and the formidable last member of that landed gentry family, Miss Phyllis, as well as recollections of the railway line through Milltown, school sports days, and the dominant position of the Catholic Church at the time.
Pat McKenna was born in Milltown in 1943 and was educated locally. Having graduated from University College Dublin, he became a secondary school teacher and taught in Dublin, Tralee and Africa before retiring to his native village.
“This memoir deals with my memories of Milltown from 1943 to 1963. It has stories from my childhood and tells of what life was like in the locality in those years. In the 1950s there were huge changes locally with the opening of the Liebherr factory as a major new employer, the closure of many branch railway lines, and the replacement of the street fair by the cattle mart,” said Pat.
“I hope it will bring back memories for people and I hope everyone will enjoy it. At the launch in the Muintir na Tíre Hall on 14th, we will share memories over a cup of tea, hopefully, and I would encourage all my neighbours and friends and anyone with an interest in local history to come along.”
The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs taken by Tralee photographer, Michael Diggin and includes images of Milltown landmarks like Killagha Abbey, the White Church, the local Mass Rock, the Bridewell, and Spout Lane, which was the 12th century road between north and south Kerry. There are also historical images of life in the community including events like the Corpus Christi Procession and local social occasions.
Gwin for the Blue by Pat McKenna will be launched at the Muintir na Tíre Hall, The Square, Milltown, on Friday, July 14, at 8pm by local author Owen O’Shea, and all are welcome.
Planning timeline for N22 upgrade moves toward 2027
The N22 Farranfore to Killarney Road Project remains the most critical long-term infrastructure requirement for Killarney town, offering the only sustainable resolution to gridlock and town centre traffic congestion
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At a recent meeting of the Killarney Municipal District, Kerry County Council officials confirmed that the proposed bypass and strategic route upgrade is actively moving through the essential design and environmental evaluation phases.
Officials said that this detailed technical work will run through 2026 and 2027 to prepare the necessary documentation for a formal statutory application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
For years, the Killarney Advertiser has highlighted the crippling effect of traffic bottlenecks on the existing N22 network.
Peak morning and evening commutes regularly cause major tailbacks at key junctions such as Coolcorcoran, Lewis Road, and Lissivigeen.
The current road infrastructure handles daily traffic volumes well beyond its intended capacity, blending traffic travelling the Kerry-Cork economic corridor with local commuter traffic and high volumes of seasonal tourist vehicles.
While recent smaller-scale infrastructure proposals such as the Strategic Link Road connecting Park Road directly to the existing bypass could offer localised relief once its completed, council engineers have consistently maintained that only the full N22 Farranfore to Killarney bypass will permanently divert through-traffic away from the urban area.
The project’s advancement into the design phase follows major field developments, including topographical mapping and ground investigation works carried out along the preferred route corridor.
Reaching the statutory planning phase represents the most significant administrative step in the capital project’s lifecycle. A statutory application to An Coimisiún Pleanála entails a comprehensive legal process under national planning legislation.
The submission requires a complete Environmental Impact Assessment Report detailing ecological, noise, air, and heritage impact studies currently being compiled across the route. Furthermore, the council must submit a formal Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) framework to acquire the necessary land along the designated corridor.
Once submitted, An Coimisiún Pleanála will launch a formal public consultation period, allowing landowners, local residents, and civic bodies to lodge statutory submissions or objections. The planning authority may also convene an oral hearing to examine technical evidence before issuing a final binding decision on whether the scheme can proceed to procurement and construction.
With the project included under the National Development Plan’s major infrastructure list, local representatives continue to press national authorities to ensure project timelines remain on schedule through the upcoming planning phase.
Optometrist to speak at HeartBeat meeting
Optometrist Diarmuid O’Sullivan of The Optical Suite will address the next monthly meeting of HeartBeat Killarney on Tuesday next (September 29).
The gathering takes place at 8.00pm in the Parish Centre on Park Road. O’Sullivan will outline modern eye-care services and lead a question-and-answer session following his presentation.
The session follows a recent talk by hearing aid audiologist John O’Mahoney, who addressed members on hearing health and its links to cognitive wellbeing.
Preparations are also accelerating for HeartBeat’s primary annual fundraiser, the Rid and Bid event, which takes place from October 23 to 25.
Donation drops will open at the Killarney Outlet Centre car park on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout October, running from 10.00am to 1.30pm. Organisers are currently seeking volunteers to assist with logistics, alongside donations of sturdy bags with reinforced handles for packing sold items.
A public blood pressure and pulse check clinic staffed by a HeartBeat nurse will run on Saturday, October 24, from 11.00am to 2.00pm at the same venue.
HeartBeat Killarney will also hold its Annual General Meeting in mid-October, with audited accounts for the 2025/2026 financial year set to be distributed to members in advance
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