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Pope’s astronomer to turn heavenly gaze on Kerry’s skies

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Nocturnal view during August Perseid looking southwest over McCarthy's Castle and Horse Island Ballinskelligs Beach, the only designated gold-tier International Dark-Sky Reserve in the Northern Hemisphere. PICTURE: DON MACMONAGLE

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THE Pope’s astronomer, Brother Guy Consolmagno, will visit the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve on Tuesday, October 17.

The director of the Vatican Observatory, Br Guy is due to deliver two talks – one to secondary school students at Coláiste na Sceilge, Caherciveen, and the second, a public lecture later that evening at 8pm, also at Coláiste na Sceilge, entitled “The Heavens Proclaim: Astronomy and the Vatican”.

He is visiting County Kerry at the invitation of Steve Lynott, chairman, Skellig Coast Dark Skies Committee, which is seeking to popularise South West Kerry and its pristine dark skies for astrotourism. He will be officially welcomed to the county by Councillor John Sheehan, Mayor of Kerry, and Kerry County Council. “It is a great honour for the county to have Br Guy Consolmagno visit. It demonstrates the importance that he and other world astronomers attach to the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve and our efforts to protect and promote it,” said Mayor Sheahan.

Br Guy is a Jesuit brother and a planetary scientist at the Vatican Observatory, who divides his time between observatories in Rome and in Arizona, USA. His work brings him around the world to dozens of countries and every continent, including a meteorite hunting expedition in 1996 to Antarctica.

He is the author of several books on Astronomy and Science and the Church, including “Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope – and How to Find Them” which he co-wrote with Dan Davis. This book is used by many amateur astronomers as their guide to the night skies.

Br Guy, who holds doctorates in Lunar and Planetary Science from the University of Arizona, Harvard University and MIT, joined the Jesuit Order in 1989. He believes in the need for science and religion to work alongside one another rather than as competing ideologies.

 


 
A nocturnal view during August Perseid over Ballinskelligs Beach, the only designated gold-tier International Dark-Sky Reserve in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pic: Don MacMonagle

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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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