By Sean Moriarty

A Spanish construction firm has this week been appointed to build the town's newest €235,000 amenity - and it's left skateboard lovers very happy.

Last week, Kerry County Council revealed Brown Brothers from Cork in partnership with Spanish company, Vulcano, have been awarded the contract to build the Killarney skatepark project.

Construction is expected to commence in the spring with the new facility ready for operation at a site adjacent to the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre by early summer.

Members of the Killarney Skatepark Committee are currently on a tour of Southern France.

They are there to honour Tralee man Bruce ‘Ox’ Kelliher who died suddenly last January. Bruce was one of Ireland’s most prolific skateboarders and the newly opened Skate Park in Tralee was named in his honour.

He regularly organised trips to France and his sporting colleagues organised this trip as a homage to the man who did so much for the sport in Ireland.

The sport is very popular in France and large cities boast several skateparks.

This week the group took park in skateboard sessions at the Skatepark de Fontainieu in Marseille, which was designed and built by the same Spanish construction firm that has been appointed to the Killarney project.

“We are excited that the tender was awarded to a skater-owned and skater-run company, this means that the end result is going to be top tier for the park's users,” Sean Murphy of the Killarney Skatepark Committee told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Bruce used to come here a lot and he mentioned he wanted a group trip this year so this trip is a homage to him. Skateparks are everywhere in every city in France. It has been a long jaded process but finally Killarney will be able to get its skates on. We are thrilled it's going ahead, and that it is being built by the same company that built a park we visited this week in Marseille.”

Sean also thanked Cllr Donal Grady who has been pushing the project for years at Council level.

The Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Niall Kelleher welcomed the announcement.

“This is a facility which the Killarney Skatepark Committee and local councillors have been pursuing for many years. It will offer a very high quality facility for skaters of all ages.

“I want to pay tribute to the Skateboard Committee for their perseverance and to thank them for working so closely with Kerry County Council to make this progress. I look forward to the development of the skatepark over the coming months," he said.