News
One Killarney man’s 25-year Pretty Polly mission
Jerry O’Grady, former director of Pretty Polly in Killarney and a member of the board of trustees, has welcomed Kerry ETB’s decision to develop the site into a third level education building.
He was there when the factory closed in 1996 and returned when Pretty Polly’s parent company tried to make a second go of it.
He oversaw the sale of the site to Killarney Town Council under the strict caveat that the premises would be used “For the purposes of benefiting the general community of Killarney and its surrounding area”.
O'Grady was part of a three man group of trustees that also included the UK based Group Financial Controller Sam Sturgis and fellow former Pretty Polly Director, the late Tom O’Donohoe.
This week’s news is a very welcome development, he explained.
“There were a number of false dawns and disappointments while the fabric of the building and its facilities rapidly deteriorated,” he said.
“But all’s well that ends well and we are greatly heartened by Minister Harris’s announcement of the planned transformation of the Pretty Polly property into a Kerry ETB third level National Centre of Excellence for the hospitality and related sustainable energy industries," he said.
“Great credit is due to all involved in the Kerry Education and Training Board and the Local Authorities in arriving at this exciting and progressive plan. It is most appropriate that Ireland’s tourism capital should become the home for the industry’s future sustainable development.
"How gratifying to see that the long-running Pretty Polly property saga is finally coming to what appears to be a most welcome and very satisfactory conclusion."
Pretty Polly Timeline
1967 Pretty Polly opens in Killarney leading to a peak of 1,200 jobs
1991 Pretty Polly’s Global Operation bought out by Sara Lee
1996 Factory closes
1995 Factory offered to Irish Industrial Agency (IDA) in an effort to attract a new operation
1996 – 2000 A board of trustees actively promote the buildings to IDA
1999 Sara Lee, Pretty Polly’s parent company, returns offering 300 jobs
2005 Sara Lee closes
2005 Ownership transfers back to board of trustees
2006 A medical products firm creates 50 jobs on the site
2006 Killarney Town Council purchases factory from Board of Trustees
2009 Building emptied for final time with the closure of the medical firm
2015 Killarney Municipal District elected members apply pressure to Kerry County Council executives to do something with the site
2017 Plans to develop both the former Denny factory in Tralee and Pretty Polly in Killarney to get funding as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
2018 BNP Paribas fails to find a buyer on behalf of Council (crucially, before the 2019 local elections)
2021 In March the Council revealed it is to build houses on a portion of the sprawling acre site
2021 In May local councillor Marie Moloney, a board member of Kerry Education and Training Board reveals that the ETB are actively interested in the site as a potential training centre
2022 Kerry ETB announce plans to build a training centre on the site
News
Street Orienteering added to Wander Wild programme
By Sean Moriarty A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend. Kerry Orienteers will run a family-friendly Urban Orienteering event as part of the […]
By Sean Moriarty
A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend.
Kerry Orienteers will run a family-friendly Urban Orienteering event as part of the festival on March 25.
Participants can start at the Killarney Plaza Hotel Basecamp anytime from 2-4pm on Saturday.
Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass. And the Wander Wild Street Orienteering will have courses suitable for all ages and abilities.
“The aim is to navigate in sequence between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace. If you need any help or tips members of Kerry Orienteering Club will be available to assist during the day,” said organiser Brendan O’Brien.
Two routes are available: ‘Wander’ – 2km (easy, wheelchair and buggy accessible) and Wild – 4km (moderate), and bookings can be made via: https://t.ly/jHm2R.
News
Quiz helps to fund Easter pilgrimage
A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes, will be held in Killarney next week. The Tim Moore […]
A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes, will be held in Killarney next week.
The Tim Moore Memorial Table Quiz will be held in the Gleneagle Hotel at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 29.
The entry fee for tables of four is €40 and it is €20 for teams of four schoolchildren with great prizes up for grabs on the night.
All proceeds will go to the Irish Pilgrimage Trust which organises trips to Lourdes every Easter for children and young adults with additional needs.
They will be brought on the pilgrimage on Easter Sunday and all the volunteer helpers and medical staff that will accompany them will cover for their own travel costs.
The annual quiz, which is running for close on 30 years, is dedicated to the memory of the late Killarney accountant Tim Moore who was a tireless campaigner for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust. He passed away, suddenly, in 2002 and his friends have continued the quiz as a tribute to his legacy and to ensure the charity continues to be supported.
It hasn’t been held for the past two years due to the pandemic but all involved are thrilled that it is back for 2023.
Kieran Coffey, the retired principal of Fossa National School, is one of those who spearhead the Kerry pilgrimage to Lourdes and he has appealed to the public to support the very important fundraiser which helps offset some of the costs involved.
“We are delighted to be in a position to continue Tim’s great work and to dedicate the quiz to him. The event is always so well supported by the people of the greater Killarney area and we greatly appreciate that generosity,” said Kieran.
Street Orienteering added to Wander Wild programme
By Sean Moriarty A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend. Kerry Orienteers will...
Quiz helps to fund Easter pilgrimage
A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes,...
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