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New online directory of businesses which are open or reopening in Kerry

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With many businesses reopening or preparing to reopen as part of the phased easing of COVID-19 restrictions, Kerry County Council is inviting businesses in the county to register for a new online directory of shops, trades and services which are currently open and operating across Kerry.

 

The directory will include an online map allowing people to identify shops and businesses which are open and operating in their area and those that are either physically open or have an online service or delivery offering.

Kerry County Council’s Interagency Business Advisory Team is leading out on the initiative as a practical support for businesses in Kerry by offering an additional way to communicate with customers through the Council’s website and social media platforms.

 

“This is another initiative being taken by Kerry County Council and our partners as we begin the phased reopening of the local economy under the Government Roadmap for easing the COVID-19 restrictions,” said the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Niall Kelleher.

 

“The Council has identified a number of practical supports for businesses and enterprises in Kerry. We have launched a new freephone helpline for business who are looking for advice and support, the Local Enterprise Office is offering a range of training and financial supports, and we are now inviting businesses to register for this online directory of businesses which are open or reopening.”

 

Director of Economic and Community Development, Mike Scannell said that the first stage is to have businesses register using a simple online form with their opening arrangements and other basic information and would encourage businesses to register as soon as possible.

 

“The information provided by shops, business and service providers will be quickly collated into an easily navigable online map and an online directory on the Council’s website and will be supported by social media and other campaigns to provide the public with information on businesses which are opening and reopening over the coming weeks,” he said.

 

The form for businesses to register is now available on the Kerry County Council website at www.kerrycoco.ie/kerry-open-for-business-initiative/.

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Sinn Féin to host public meeting on cost of living at Killarney Heights Hotel

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm. […]

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Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty will host a public meeting on the costs of living and housing crises at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Thursday, May 28 at 8pm.

The Donegal TD will be joined by Kerry TD Pa Daly to discuss the economic pressures facing local households and the policy changes needed to provide financial relief. The main focus of the evening will center on the barriers preventing local people from buying their own homes, alongside broader costs of living challenges.
Speaking exclusively to the Killarney Advertiser ahead of his visit, Deputy Doherty said workers and families across Kerry are being squeezed from every direction by rising weekly shops, high energy bills, increasing insurance premiums, and substantial housing costs.
“Young people are losing hope that they will ever own a home in the county where they were raised,” Deputy Doherty said. “And while all of this is happening, the government is sitting on billions in budget surpluses while telling struggling families to wait. It is simply not good enough.”
The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson highlighted specific regional factors making the crisis acute in County Kerry, particularly regarding home heating costs.
“Almost 59% of homes in Kerry rely on home heating oil, which is nearly double the state average of 34%,” he said. “That means families across the county are far more exposed to soaring fuel costs than households in many other parts of the state. Yet the government withdrew supports that were helping households keep the lights on and heat their homes.”
Deputy Doherty noted that the housing situation in Kerry has moved beyond a social issue and is now impacting the local economy and communities. He pointed to figures showing average rents in the county have reached €1,493 per month, with exceptionally low market availability.
“At the time of writing, there were only 27 properties available online to rent across the entire county. Only 19 were below €2,000 a month and just five were available for less than €1,500. A county the size of Kerry, and only five rental properties affordable to someone on an ordinary income,” he said.
He also raised concerns for first-time buyers, noting that average house prices in Kerry have climbed to €296,000, representing an increase of €33,500 in a single year.
During the meeting, the Sinn Féin representatives will outline their party’s alternative proposals. These include a state-led program of affordable home building, a ban on excessive rent increases, enhanced protections for renters, and immediate energy credits and tax relief for workers.
“The resources exist to do this,” Deputy Doherty added. “The government’s own figures show billions in surplus funds available to the state. The issue is not a lack of money. The issue is political choice.”
The meeting is open to all members of the public, and a discussion session will follow the main presentations.

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National Park hosts weekend Bioblitz for National Biodiversity Week

Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment. Today, Friday, […]

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Killarney National Park is taking centre stage for the final weekend of National Biodiversity Week, with the public being urged to get outdoor and explore the local environment.

Today, Friday, May 22, marks the UN International Day for Biological Diversity, and a series of free events will run across the park until the national celebration concludes this Sunday, May 24.
The highlight of the weekend is the Killarney National Park Bioblitz. This event brings families, nature lovers, and community volunteers together to find, identify, and record as many different plant and animal species as possible across the park’s diverse habitats over the next three days.
Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, encouraged locals and visitors alike to utiliSe the final days of the festival to experience the area’s unique wildlife, referencing Killarney’s native habitats as key areas the state is working to protect.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), noted that the week is designed to remind people that native plants, woodlands, and rivers are vital systems that make life possible. OrganiSers are encouraging anyone in the locality to head out to Killarney National Park before Sunday evening to participate in the species count and support local conservation efforts.

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