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
Free entry for under 18s at Ross Castle
Young people and families can explore Ross Castle free of charge throughout August as part of a national Office of Public Works (OPW) initiative.
The 15th-century stronghold on the shores of Lough Leane will waive admission fees for all visitors under 18 from August 1 to August 31. The scheme aims to make cultural and historic sites more accessible to young people and families during the summer holidays.
Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. The promotion applies across fee-paying OPW heritage sites nationwide, excluding Kilmainham Gaol and Brú na Bóinne.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin “Boxer” Moran, said the initiative offers young people a memorable way to connect with history, nature, and culture over the summer break.
Killarney judoka gain international experience in Bath
Eight members of Killarney Judo Club travelled to England last weekend for an international training camp at the University of Bath, with club member Ciara Forde competing at the West of England competition.
Accompanying five families, the young athletes joined 120 competitors from across the UK for two days of training and sparring in a high-performance environment.
The trip provided many of the judoka with their first opportunity to train alongside international athletes. It also offered members a look at a purpose-built facility, supporting the club’s push for a dedicated dojo at the Derreen Sports Project.
Coach Tim Kelly said:
“This camp gave our players the opportunity to test themselves in a challenging environment. Bath University has a proud history of producing Olympians, and we hope the experience inspires our young judoka to aim even higher.”
The club takes a summer break before returning on August 13 to prepare three members for their Black Belt grading later this year. Children’s classes resume on Monday, September 7. New members can contact Tim Kelly on 086 260 1591.
Free entry for under 18s at Ross Castle
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Killarney judoka gain international experience in Bath
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