News
Ballyfinnane cycle is gearing up to return
By Michelle Crean
The wheels are in motion for the return of the ‘Tour de Ballyfinnane’ Cycle with proceeds going to local education.
After an absence of two years, Ballyfinnane National School are delighted to see cyclists gearing up for the April 2 date with funds raised for the facilities and activities for the children attending the school including reading books, computing and science equipment, sports coaching, music coaches, special needs resources.
This is the seventh year of the cycle which is organised by the parents of the children at the two-teacher, co-educational, rural Catholic school, with the support of the school board, the local community and local businesses.
Built in 1965, it is situated in Kiltallagh Parish, between Farranfore and Castlemaine.
This year’s cycle was launched by Brendan Griffin local TD at Divanes Volkwagen Showroom Castleisland, Anne Marie Crean explained.
"We are delighted to have this long established local business as our host sponsor," she said.
"We want to take this opportunity to thank the community, local businesses and not least the cyclists who take part in the event. We do all we can to ensure the event is enjoyable and run to a high standard, this year will be no different and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Ballyfinnane."
There are two routes on offer; 70k and 45k both commencing from Ballyfinnane Community Hall at 10am. Refreshments will be provided along the route and again at the finish with the now infamous complimentary BBQ and entertainment at The Shanty Bar, Ballyfinnane.
Route 1 is 70km and €25. It takes you west to Castlemaine, Inch, Annascaul, Gleann na nGealt, Camp, Tonevane, Caherleaheen, Farmer’s Bridge and over the final climb of the day at Garraun on the return to Ballyfinnane.
Route 2 is 45km and €20. It goes east to Currans, Castleisland, Ballymac, Tralee and back to Ballyfinnane via the Killarney Road and Gortatlea.
Participants can pre-register or find out more on www.tdb.ie or on the day from 8am. Also see Facebook: 'Ballyfinnane Cycle' for updates.
News
Developing St Finan’s “cost prohibitive” – Council
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials. The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012. […]
Converting the idle St Finan’s hospital into social housing is cost-prohibitive according to Kerry County council officials.
The historic building has been lying idle since it closed in September 2012.
The hospital and adjoining lands are up for sale by the Health Service Executive (HSE) since then.
So far no realistic offer has been made on the site despite suggestions that it could be used for social housing, a catering college and a hotel.
Each year the building, which was built in the 1850s, falls into further disrepair.
There were fresh calls again this week as local councillors called for some sort of action to redevelop the site that is fast becoming an eyesore.
At last Friday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting councillors called for action at the site .
Mayor Brendan Cronin wants the building’s protected status to be removed or at least reduced to speed up potential development work which ties in with Cllr Marie Moloney’s idea that the old hospital could be converted into apartments or flats.
Cllr John O’Donoghue wants the HSE to find a way to hand over the property to Kerry County Council either by way of reduced payment or an intra-government agency ownership change.
A Kerry County Council official told the meeting that any works to potentially convert the old hospital into social housing “would be cost prohibitive.”
News
Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]
A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney
The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.
Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.
He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.
At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.
“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.
“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”
In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.
“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.
“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”
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