News
First phase of Tralee-Fenit Greenway officially opened

The official opening of the first phase of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway took place today (Friday) when the Fenit-Spa leg of the greenway was opened to cyclists and walkers.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD joined Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Johnnie Wall and Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Jimmy Moloney to launch the opening of the first 6.5km of greenway, allowing pedestrians and cyclists travel from Fenit to Spa and back again. The remainder of the greenway is expected to open in autumn.
The entire 11.3 km greenway will encompass the already constructed stretch from Tralee Railway Station to the Bracker O’Regan Road and will greatly enhance the local tourist economy, allowing locals and tourists to cycle safely in a healthy and scenic car-free environment.
It will also provide a new link between Fenit, Tralee and the surrounding townlands, thereby improving the social fabric of local communities and providing a universally accessible amenity which will attract families, the elderly and disabled persons and complement the range of existing tourism trails throughout Kerry.
Welcoming the project, Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Johnnie Wall praised the work carried out by Kerry County Council staff on the project.
“It is something that has been in the pipeline for many years and to see it coming to fruition is fantastic,” he said.
“Great credit must go to everyone involved, including the Council staff who built the greenway, the landowners for their cooperation, and the Department of Transport and TII for funding the project. This, along with current and future Greenway projects in the county will be hugely beneficial for locals and visitors alike and I look forward to the rest of the Greenway opening in autumn.”
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan added that “the Tralee to Fenit Greenway is another great example of the role Greenways can plan in connecting communities in a sustainable manner".
"This new infrastructure from Fenit to Spa is accessible to all and allows those living on this route to commute safely to school, work or other amenities by foot or bike. It also provides an attractive amenity for visitors to the area and I look forward to the delivery of the rest of the greenway which will further support tourism and sustainable transport in the region.”
Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said she too is delighted to join with Cabinet Colleague Minister Ryan to officially open the Tralee to Fenit Greenway "which will provide locals and visitors alike a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the delights of walking and cycling in beautiful, picturesque and safe surroundings".
"I would like to acknowledge the enormous effort put in by Kerry County Council, the landowners and the Department of Transport whose tireless endeavours have made all of this possible. Today’s launch marks a hugely significant day for Kerry and I look forward to the opening of the remainder of the greenway which will further enhance and enrich the visitor experience.”
WORKS
In September 2018 the members of Tralee Municipal District approved the Part 8 Planning for the construction of the Tralee to Fenit.
Kerry County Council were allocated funding under the DTTAS Greenway’s Funding Programme 2019-2021, in June 2019.
Construction works began in November 2019 however it was delayed for six months due to COVID restrictions.
The greenway begins in Fenit Village, close to the harbour, and travels along the corridor of the former railway line to the Bracker O’Regan Road, Tralee. It connects with the existing urban section of the route, from Mounthawk area to Tralee Railway Station. It will also link with the future extension of the North Kerry Greenway from Limerick County Bounds to Tralee.
The total length, approx. 11.3km, is 3.0m wide with an asphalt concrete finished surface. It includes 20 agricultural crossings, 10 private crossings, two public crossings and eight potential pedestrian access points.
Large structures include the Kilfenora Bridge which was re-instated, the greenway underpass of the local road in Ballymakegoge and installation of agricultural underpasses, accommodation works to local residential properties and farm holdings, including screening for privacy and accommodating agriculture operations.
News
Five questions to ask yourself before buying a stock
By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com When it comes to investing, nothing is certain. There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy. […]

By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com
When it comes to investing, nothing is certain.
There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy.
The truth is, investing is hard, and building a portfolio of top stocks that beat the market is something that even financial professionals have trouble doing consistently.
For most people, investing in index funds is the perfect hands-off approach, providing broad exposure to the stock market at a very low fee. Even my own personal portfolio is made up of roughly 70% ETFs despite the fact I invest in the market for a living.
But I believe some stock picking is a good strategy for many hands-on people.
Taking a small portion of your overall portfolio and diligently selecting a small number of companies to invest in gives you an opportunity to learn about the investing process and fully understand the businesses you are investing in, which helps to build conviction in your positions.
From a psychological standpoint “collector’s instinct” kicks in, enabling people to participate and invest more money over time.
Lastly, for Irish investors, there are tax benefits to consider. If you invest in individual stocks, you are taxed at the CGT rate of 33%, and the first €1,270 of your gains are exempt from CGT each year. When investing in index funds or ETFs, you are taxed at the exit tax rate of 41% with no annual exemption.
For those interested in picking individual stocks, here are five questions you should ask yourself before investing in any company.
Do I understand the business?
Too many people invest in businesses they don’t understand because it ‘sounds good’. If you have no idea how the company works, you won’t have the conviction needed to hold onto the stock when an inevitable downturn comes.
Can the balance sheet withstand severe, temporary adversity?
This seems obvious, but so many people invest in companies without understanding how much money a company holds and who they owe money to. Economic cycles are guaranteed. You must ensure that the company has enough cash-on-hand to avoid becoming obsolete when activity slows.
Will the company benefit from long-term trends?
Make sure the company will remain relevant into the future. If the stock is cheap now, it may be cheap for a reason.
Is the company enjoying profitable growth?
Not growth at all costs, but a combination of sustainable growth and value. All this information can be found online at sites like stratosphere.io.
What are the risk factors?
Is the company trying something new and untested? If yes, who are its competitors and how successful are they? If other players are more established, this company may have a tough time breaking into the market.
News
Ballyspillane staff open up mental health conversation
By Michelle Crean “Hello, How Are You?” that’s the question staff at Ballyspillane Community Centre will be asking next week as part of a new campaign. It’s all in partnership […]

By Michelle Crean
“Hello, How Are You?” that’s the question staff at Ballyspillane Community Centre will be asking next week as part of a new campaign.
It’s all in partnership with Mental Health Ireland (MHI) and the centre will host an information/coffee morning on Thursday next (March 30) at 12.30pm at their centre and all are welcome to attend.
The campaign initiated by MHI identifies the need for positive engagement and connections with the people around us.
It asks people to engage in open conversations about mental health and prompts us all to ask the question “How Are You?”
The word HELLO is a useful acronym to guide everyone through such conversations, H: Hello, E: Engage positively with the person, L: Listen actively, L: Learn about the person and O: seek options to assist the person if required.
“We all need a listening and compassionate ear sometimes to get us through some challenges in our lives and I think the pandemic has opened a new way of looking at the world, where we can all recognise the challenges that people experience more readily,” Derek O’Leary, Manager of Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre, said.
“Our team here are in the business of supporting families and individuals across the Killarney area and beyond and see the challenges that people face first hand. We also see the positive impact that a caring person can have in such circumstances and this campaign that encourages positive engagement, regarding mental health is a great reminder to us all, the role we can play is assisting others who are struggling.”
Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre provide a suite of support and intervention services including family supports, social prescribing/community connection services and physiotherapeutic services across the Killarney municipal area and beyond.
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