A Listry resident has slammed Kerry County Council’s latest safety funding for Listry Bridge, labelling the repeated small-scale spending as “insanity.”

The criticism from Brendan O’Shea follows last week’s announcement that €100,000 has been allocated for interim safety measures at the notorious bottleneck.

The Council confirmed the funds will cover a reduced speed limit, upgraded signage, new road linings, extended anti-skid surfacing, and parapet repairs.

However, Mr O’Shea, a long-time campaigner for safety improvements at the site, argues that these measures fail to address the core issue: that the bridge remains the only point between Killarney and Dingle where two cars cannot pass.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” Mr O’Shea said. “Over the years there have been announcements of funding of €30k, €50k, €80k, €100k on a number of occasions, €250k one time before an election, and the latest is another €100k. Each and every time, it’s for new signage, anti-skid surfacing, and repairs.”

He pointed out that the Council has encouraged significant residential development in Milltown, leading to a major increase in daily commuters using the bridge to reach Killarney.

Mr O’Shea also questioned the county’s infrastructure priorities, contrasting the lack of a bridge replacement with the €7 million refurbishment of Ashe Hall in Tralee.

He suggested that Killarney is being left behind in terms of major projects compared to neighbouring counties.

“If the Killarney bypass eventually gets completed, then perhaps we’ll have a few euro left over to replace Listry bridge. Let’s stop with the ridiculous sticking plaster spending in the meantime,” he added.

The Council maintains that the current €100,000 spend is necessary for “interim safety measures” to manage traffic flow and improve grip on the approaches to the bridge.

Killarney-born actress Jessie Buckley has made history by becoming the first Irish woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The 36-year-old secured the honour for her performance as Agnes Hathaway in Hamnet, the film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s celebrated novel directed by Chloe Zhao.

Buckley was visibly emotional as her name was announced, breaking into tears before taking the stage. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the win to the “beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart,” a nod to the film’s exploration of a couple navigating the profound grief of losing their son.

Beyond thanking her team, she paid tribute to the women who “create against all odds,” stating: “Thank you to the incredible women that I stand beside. I am inspired by your art and your heart.”

The win has sparked celebrations across her home county. Norma Foley TD said: “What a night in Hollywood! Congratulations to our leading lady Jessie Buckley—the first Irish woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. A phenomenal achievement by a phenomenal woman. Proud of you Jessie. Ciarraí Abú!”

Local councillor Maura Healy-Rae added: “It’s a massive achievement and we are all very proud of her. We really appreciate the exposure she has given to Killarney, Kerry and Ireland all over the world.”

The actress’s roots in the town’s arts scene remain a point of pride. Her mother, Marina, is a well-known singer and harpist, and Jessie was a dedicated member of the Killarney Musical Society. Former Mayor of Killarney and long-time society member Marie Moloney described the local atmosphere as “electric.”

“She came to us in the year 2000 and she was in the children’s chorus in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat,” Moloney said. “She came again in 2008 at 17 years of age and auditioned and got the lead role in Carousel as Julie Jordan.” That performance earned Buckley a best actress award at the AIMS amateur music awards, foreshadowing her future success.

President Catherine Connolly also congratulated the star, calling the win “an historic moment.” The President said: “This achievement is a thoroughly deserved testament not only to Jessie’s outstanding performance in Hamnet, but to her performances both in film and on stage across her career to date.”