Connect with us

News

Historian disputes place name

Published

on

B

By Sean Moriarty

A well-known local historian has questioned a recent article which named the tunnel on the Moll’s Gap road as the Newfoundland Bay Tunnel.

Published by the Killarney Advertiser last week, the article referred to a Kerry County Council press release which named the tunnel as Newfoundland Bay Tunnel.

However, local historian Damien Switzer disputes the name.

He accepts that the bay in Upper Lake, just below where the tunnel sits on the Moll’s Gap Road, is called Newfoundland Bay.

“Any local fisherman will tell you that but the tunnel has no official OSI name nor is it named on any map going back to when the tunnel was built and I have them all, I collect them,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “Admittedly you got your information from an official source but this is rewriting history and that cannot happen on my watch.”

The disputed statement was issued to advertise a proposed road closure for road works, works that have now be postponed following the closure of the Kilgarvan to Loo Bridge road following a recent landslide during Storm Ciara.

‘The purpose of the road closure is to allow repair works to be completed on a section of partially collapsed retaining wall on the N71 in the townland of Gortroe which is located approximately 100m south of Newfoundland Bay Tunnel. The road is narrow at this location so a road closure will be required to complete the works safely’, the statement read.

Mr Switzer added that the Council official is most definitely one hundred percent wrong.

“It's not Gortroe, it's Gortderraree. Last time I checked, Gortroe was in Fossa and yes the bay on the Upper Lake is called Newfoundland. The famous engineer Alex Nimmo is responsible for its creation, he also built the suspension bridge in Kenmare.”

The historian went into fascinating detail to reveal, what he believes, is the correct name for the tunnel.

“The tunnel was on the Prince of Wales route, blasted from Cromaglaun Mountain, which the old Irish used call it. They referred to the tunnel as 'through Cromaglaun’,” he said.

“Anyway, local lore aside, the official provable name that has featured in numerous books for about 200 years is ‘The Heading’. From Westminster to Derrynane it was known as 'The Heading', and it also gained notoriety and was made famous by a local robber called Martin Mahony who used to hide there.”

Advertisement

News

New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

Published

on

By

A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

Continue Reading

News

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Published

on

By

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

Attachments

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport