New book records historic Kerry to Cork Butter Road

The history of one of East Kerry’s most significant historical trade routes has been documented in a new book by local historian and publisher Joe Harrington.

Titled Once Upon A Road: The History and Times of an Irish Butter Road. The 1747 Turnpike from Listowel to Cork, the publication traces the route established in 1747 by Castleisland man John Murphy. Built to connect the dairy lands of North and East Kerry to the Cork Butter Market, the 60-mile turnpike carried commercial and social life across the region for over two centuries.
Drawing on parliamentary records, estate files, and local folklore, Harrington details the events and communities along the route—from Castleisland and Cordal through to Millstreet and Cork. The book covers a broad spectrum of history, including the Penal Laws, Land League agitation, hedge schools, and the War of Independence.
Harrington, a former Mayor of Limerick who edits the Lyreacrompane and District Journal, spent years researching the route prior to publication.
An official launch for the book will take place at the Cork Butter Museum on October 2. The hardback edition is published by Mercier Press.

Paint recycling scheme launches at Coolcaslagh

A new circular economy initiative designed to recycle leftover paint has launched at the Coolcaslagh Civic Amenity Site in Killarney

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The ‘ReLove Paint’ scheme allows householders to drop off leftover water-based interior paint at the site for a nominal fee. The collected paint will be filtered, re-coloured, and re-mixed into new shades by a social enterprise branch of the South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP).

The project operates as a joint collaboration between Kerry County Council, the EPA, the Rediscovery Centre, the Paint Reuse Network, and the SKDP. The initiative aims to divert waste from landfills while supplying affordable, remanufactured paint to local households and community groups.

Cathaoirleach of the Killarney Municipal District, Cllr John O’Donoghue, welcomed the launch.

“Many households have old, half-empty paint cans lying around in attics and sheds and this is a really simple way to get rid of them while benefitting the environment,” Cllr O’Donoghue said.

SKDP Chief Executive Noel Spillane said the project will deliver significant environmental benefits by diverting unused paint from landfill and giving it a new lease of life.

“It will also provide community groups with access to affordable paint, while creating valuable employment opportunities within the local community. We look forward to collecting unused paint from Coolcaslagh and preparing it for reuse, with the first paint expected to be available from October 2026,” Spillane said.