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Macroom bypass finally gets the green light

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ABOUT TIME: Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin announced on Wednesday night that the long-awaited Macroom by-pass has been given the go-ahead.

By Sean Moriarty

The long-awaited €280m Macroom bypass – which will alleviate long travel times for Kerry motorists – has finally been given the go-ahead by Central Government.

On Wednesday night, news broke that the new 22km stretch of dual-carriageway from Ballyvourney village to Coolcower, east of Macroom, was confirmed.

It’s expected that construction will take around three-and-a-half years to complete.

The new road will reduce journey times between Cork city and County Kerry and will be welcomed by tourism and industry officials in both counties.

The proposed new road development will begin to the west of Ballyvourney, tying into the existing N22 on the main Cork/Killarney/Tralee route, bypassing the town of Macroom before crossing the River Laney and River Sullane and re-joining the existing N22 at Coolcower – relieving congestion and traffic jams at peak hours in Macroom.

Along the existing N22 there are many accesses and junctions which have inadequate sight distance.

Overtaking opportunities along the route are limited. In recent years, the high accident rates continued, with the N22 ranking as one of the highest fatal and serious collision routes in the country.

The section east of Ballyvourney is a mixture of single carriageway widths, with no hard shoulders or verges and prone to slow moving traffic.

“I am glad to have worked hard from within Government to help secure approval of this significant national road project for the South West region of the country,” Kerry TD, Minister of State for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin, said.

“The N22 project further opens up the National Road Network in the country, providing a better connection for traffic travelling between Cork and Kerry. I also welcome the benefits that this project will deliver, such as connecting rural communities and improved inter-urban accessibility for the South West region and my home county.”

 

 

 

 

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Network Ireland Kerry discuss sustainable success

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Network Ireland Kerry held their third annual collaboration event last Wednesday at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. The theme was: “The Journey to Sustainable Success” which brought three industry experts together to talk about their own journey to sustainable successful.

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and financial leaders came together for this highly anticipated event to learn about the journey from becoming a start-up, to a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), and a large SME.

The event was opened by AIB Branch Liaison for Network Ireland Kerry and AIB Castleisland Branch Manager, Colleen Shannon. It was MC’d by AIB Tralee Branch Manager, Stephen Stack.

Sarah Farrar of AINMHÌ, Garrett Dillon of Mr. Binman and Dillon Waste Ltd. and Susan Quirke-Crowley of Mounthawk Montessori School Group were among the speakers at the event.

These leaders spoke about their challenges, milestones, and breakthroughs they encountered, from launching an idea to scaling operations nationally.

Tara Elzingre of Tara Elzingre Consultancy, Zaneta Labuz-Czerwein of Rustic Boowa and Sharon Hartnett of U Coaching promoted their businesses for ‘Minute on the Mic’

Emily Reen, Network Ireland Kerry President, described the event as a testament to the power of partnership. She said: “The event underscored a powerful message: sustainable business success is not a solo journey. With the right partnerships, teams and financial tools, businesses of all sizes can grow with purpose, resilience, and long-term impact.”

Network Ireland Kerry will host their next monthly event on November 12 in Killarney and in collaboration with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, titled: “Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business”. This event will be MC’d by Karen Ronan, 2025 National Vice President of Network Ireland and CEO of Galway Chamber. This event is open to non-members and members, and everyone is welcome from 6 pm for networking and refreshments, with the event taking place from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

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Minor injury clinic to open by this time next year

The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home. […]

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The Killarney Local Injury Clinic is expected to be open by Q3 2026, according to the HSE. The proposed unit will be located on the grounds of St Columbanus Home.

The timeline was confirmed in response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill, who said the project will follow the relocation of the Community Nursing Unit from its current site to the grounds of the old St Finan’s Hospital. Once the transfer is complete, construction of the injury clinic can proceed.
Deputy Cahill described the two new health facilities as “a fantastic addition for Killarney and the wider East, Mid, and South Kerry regions” and noted they will help reduce waiting times at University Hospital Kerry A&E.
“I will continue to push for enhanced health services for our people,” added the Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Older People.
The new clinic is expected to provide urgent care services for local residents, easing pressure on hospital emergency departments and improving access to timely treatment in the Killarney area.

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