News
Black Valley mobile phone service “not fit for purpose”
By Sean Moriarty
Poor mobile phone coverage in the Black Valley area is putting lives at risk and hindering mountain rescue operations a Kerry County Council meeting has been told.
Killarney Municipal District councillor John O’Donoghue wants the Council to write to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan to seek an upgrade to phone services in the area.
“This is particularly important in the Black Valley due to the incidence of people requiring the emergency services to rescue them on the nearby mountains,” he said at the meeting.
“The Black Valley was one of the last, if not the last place, on mainland Ireland to be electrified in 1976. That brought light to contradict its name, as well as a phone service, but unfortunately only a partial one. To think that in an area of such majestic natural beauty is without a proper phone service in unthinkable, when one considers an average of two fatalities per year unfortunately have been reported on the nearby MacGillycuddy’s Reeks each year since 2000,” he said.
“To have locals telling tales of having to drive further out of the Valley to make urgent phone calls is simply unacceptable in this day and age. Our emergency services do a wonderful and often thankless job in such areas, and I believe that situations such as this are creating unnecessary obstacles in their path," he added.
“I am aware that there are other areas in the county in a similar situation, and I would like us, as a Council, to contact the Minister and ask him to intervene immediately, even if it means subsidising a company to run a phone service into such areas, as the current service is not fit for purpose.”
FESTIVAL HIT: Local accordion virtuoso Liam O’Connor pictured performing alongside his family band members, daughter Saoirse on vocals and keyboards, and sons Oisín on guitar and Cillian on drums, during their high-energy set on the Salty Dog Stage at Electric Picnic in Stradbally last weekend. Photos: Paul Dargan
Camera Club exhibition opens at Killarney House
Killarney Camera Club’s 25th anniversary exhibition is open to the public at Killarney House until Sunday, October 4.
Mayor of Killarney Councillor John O’Donoghue officially opened the event, which features a wide range of work from local photographers capturing landscapes, people, and moments from home and abroad.
Speaking at the opening, Mayor O’Donoghue highlighted the rich natural surroundings available to local photographers. “We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world, with dramatic mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and a vibrant town centre, as well as beaches and open sea just a short distance away,” he said.
In a lighthearted admission, the Mayor admitted to storing hundreds of photos on his phone, adding that seeing the standard of work on display inspired him “to finally print some of my own photographs for posterity.”
The club was founded in 2001 as the Photographic Society of Killarney at the Park Place Hotel before adopting its current name in 2006. Founding member Seamus Long recalled starting with just eight members, contrasting it with today’s membership of over 30 photographers who meet at the ANAM Arts and Cultural Centre.
“There is nothing better than seeing your images in print, mounted and framed and hanging on a wall,” Mr Long said, referencing the club’s shift from traditional darkrooms to modern digital photography.
To mark the anniversary, the club has published a commemorative booklet featuring 25 select images from members past and present. The limited-edition booklet is available at Eason’s and directly from the club.
The exhibition runs daily at Killarney House until October 4. Admission is free and all are welcome.
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