Status Yellow Wind Warning Issued For Kerry

Posted in Kerry News, Tralee, Weather by Fergus Writes Things

Met Eireann have issued a wind warning for Kerry.

IN news that you’d certainly not want to hear in these (last few shopping) days leading up to Christmas, Met Eireann have issued a ‘Status Yellow Wind Warning’ for Kerry for Wednesday, December 23rd.

The warning will be in place from 1pm tomorrow until approximately midnight on Wednesday.

The statement on their website reads that:

“Southerly winds of mean speeds of 60 to 65km/h gusting 100 to 110km/h are expected Wednesday evening and early Wednesday night.”

This warning has been issued to a number of areas including Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.

18Dec2015

PHOTOS: Tralee Is Looking Well In The Run Up To Christmas

Posted in Christmas, Tralee by Fergus Writes Things

IT’S HARD to believe that it’s only a week until Christmas Day, 2015 has (in this writers humble opinion) just flown by.

With the festive spirit well and truly imbued in all of us, we took a trip around town in the early hours of yesterday evening and captured what we think are some truly beautiful images of Tralee, all lit up.

While many among us will have been out and about in the evenings and soaked up the wonderful atmosphere around the town, spare a thought for those amongst us who can’t make it back this year and might need a little taste of home.

These photos are for those guys (and everyone else of course) to enjoy…

Christy is in fine festive company as the big day approaches. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The Square was silent and beautiful late last evening. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Looking well, again. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The rest of the Square certainly scrubs up well also. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The blue on the Christmas tree is just something we had to share. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The Mall is certainly getting into the festive spirit. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

There’s a real ‘winter feel’ about the decorations on Denny Street. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Again, from a different angle, they really stand out as a highlight of the decorations. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The intersection at the Mall is wonderfully bright. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Castle Street is looking well. Photo by Fergus Dennehy

Ashe Street is tranquility personified here in this festive picture. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

These trees on Denny Street are a wonderful addition to the Christmas decorations. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

The Kerry County Museum is all lit up for Christmas. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

Finally, Denny Street in all its festive majesty. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

17Dec2015

PHOTO: Tralee Sign Answers One Of Our Most Asked Questions

Posted in Something Cool, Tralee by Fergus Writes Things

LET’S face it, while we all love that bit of fun and craic’ on our nights out, there still comes a time when we just need to take that bit of time to ourselves and just just sit in our little bubble.

With this in mind, one of the most frequently asked questions when one enters any establishment is to inquire about the WiFi situation and true to this, one restaurant’s sign here in Tralee has preempted this question by assuring would-be customers of what they can expect inside.

Check it out below…

The wonderful ‘tongue-in cheek’ sign spotted in Tralee today.

Hat-tip to Paul Bowler for spotting this out and about on his travels.

17Dec2015

PHOTO: Tralee Mother Sends Customs Officers A Lovely Note

Posted in International, Something Cool, Tralee by Fergus Writes Things

One of the best things to receive when living away from home.

THERE’S NOTHING worse than missing a family member or loved one around the holidays and it can be especially hard when that loved one is living halfway across the world in Australia.

This was the situation facing Tralee mother, Jacinta O’ Mahony whose son Brendan has been living down under in Perth, Australia for the past four years.

As all ‘Irish Mammies’ are prone to doing, she decided to send a care package down to Brendan to help getting through those holiday blues just a little easier.

However, worried that some of the items in the package wouldn’t make it through the notoriously strict Australian Customs, she decided to write a genuinely lovely note for the officers there.

Jacinta O’ Mahony left this note for the customs officers in Perth.

It reads:

“Customs in Perth Airport. Happy Christmas from Ireland, just some goodies for my family. Please have a sweet and we will see ye in August when we hopefully get to visit your lovely country. Thanks for letting my gifts through.”

A lovely thing to read and something guaranteed to get you through to the weekend.

Hat tip to JOE.ie and Danny Roche.

16Dec2015

VIDEO: Tralee Student Meets Her Swedish Doppelgänger

Posted in Something Cool, Tralee by Fergus Writes Things

Shannon Lonergan from Tralee met her almost identical twin, Sara in Dublin recently.

A YOUNG TRALEE student has recently had the very surreal experience of meeting her almost identical twin thanks to the team over at the TwinStrangers.com website.

Shannon Lonergan, a student from here in town signed up the website a while back and received an email from the site telling her that her doppelgänger had been found in 17 year old Swedish girl, Sara.

The video below details the very first meeting between the two with both girls exhibiting slight nerves before the big moment.

“I gave her a hug and then we just stood there like ‘Oh my God, this is so weird’,” said Shannon in the video.

“Our noses, our eyes… we have the exact same ears… lips, expressions, pout, smile… it’s just weird,” she finished.

Check out the pretty amazing footage below…

15Dec2015

Tralee’s Alanna Will Be Back On Our Screens This Thursday Night

Posted in Kerry News, National, Tralee by Fergus Writes Things

Alanna Diggin will be talking about how the show impacted her life this week. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

TRALEE’s Alanna Diggin is set to grace our television screens again this coming week when the follow up show to her acclaimed fly-on the-wall reality show ‘Connected’ airs this Thursday, December 17th.

Alanna was a mainstay in our living rooms in October and November of last year when she starred, along with five other women, in the reality show in which she filmed her life on a daily basis for over nine months.

It was at times a hard and tough watch, with the then 21-year old talking in detail about the sadness that she has suffered so far in her life.

Tears, along with moments of complete honesty and vulnerability were shared for the entire country to see.

The follow up show, aptly titled ‘Re-Connected’ will catch up with Alanna and the rest of the women in the show as they reflect on the shows impact on their lives.

It [my life] has changed in a big way. I grew a lot more confident in myself and my abilities. I would never have gone out filming myself in public a few years back, I had to with this. Being on camera isn’t so intimidating to me and it was something I always wanted to try. I grew as a person as I got to watch myself back and see what I did/didn’t like, got to see what I was like through the same way viewers saw me so I learned more about myself in that sense,” Alanna said, talking to this writer earlier on.

“It has made me want to work in the media, I’m not sure what section yet, but I have continued doing videos for YouTube in my spare time and I am currently part taking in a yearlong radio course,” she finished.

Re-Connected will air at 10pm on Thursday, December 17th on RTÉ 2.

12Dec2015

VIDEO: Strangers Band Together To Buy Struggling Man A Car

Posted in International, Something Cool by Fergus Writes Things

Mr Ford was overcome with emotion after hearing the good news.

IN NEWS that is almost guaranteed to warm your heart and restore your faith in humanity, a generous young couple recently took the kindhearted step of purchasing a car for a stranger after hearing about his struggles to get to work each day.

Sean Merrill and his wife Darilyn are the couple in question and who were driving home late one night when they saw a man walking along the side of the road, looking quite weary and carrying what looked to be a lunch box in his hand.

This man was school caretaker Robert Ford and who after accepting a drive from the obliging couple told them how he had missed the bus home that day and how his commute to and from work could sometimes take close to three hours.

Touched by his story, the couple decided to try and help raise a little money for the school caretaker to help buy him a car and so recruited Mr Ford sister-in-law Kathy into their scheme.

They set up a GoFundMe account and soon found themselves working with close thirty people who all helped to raise enough funds to not just buy a car, but also to help pay off a large chunk of the first years insurance.

All that was left after this was for the couple to go and surprise the unsuspecting Mr Ford with the keys to his new transport.

You can watch the emotional scenes in the video below, you might want to grab the tissues for this one…

11Dec2015

Tralee Troop Pays Respects To Dublin Scout Who Passed Away Today

Posted in National, Scouting Ireland by Fergus Writes Things

The Irish Coast Guard were on the scene quickly to try to save the young scout.

FOLLOWING the tragic news earlier today that a young venture scout who had been rescued off Hook Head, Co Wexford after being swept out to sea last weekend had died, a local troop here in town took to social media to express their sorrow and sympathy.

14 year old Aoife Winterlich from Dublin had been on an expedition to the area with the 55th South Circular Road scout troop when she was swept into the ocean along with three others.

After being rescued unconscious from the ocean, she was brought to hospital where she died earlier this week.

The 1st Kerry Scout Troop here in town posted their own short message of support and sympathy on Facebook earlier today.

Scouting Ireland posted their own heartfelt statement today in which they stated their sadness at the tragic news.

“It is with the deepest sadness that we are sharing the news that a fellow scout, who was involved in a tragic accident near Hook Head last weekend has passed away in hospital.

In scout meetings up and down the country let’s think of her, her family & friends, her fellow venture scouts & scouters in the 55th Dublin Scout Group and the emergency services that arrived so speedily and did all they could to rescue her on that tragic day,” it finished.

9Dec2015

Dennehy Brothers On The Move As They Sign With St Patrick’s Athletic

Posted in National, Sport, Tralee by Fergus Writes Things

Darren and Billy Dennehy pictured together during their Cork City days. Photo credit: St Patrick’s Athletic Twitter

TWO OF Tralee’s most talented footballers are on the move again after it was announced this evening that they had both signed deals to join SSE Airtricity League side St Patrick’s Athletic.

The signing of both Darren and Billy Dennehy was announced this evening on the on the clubs social media and is sure to delight fans of the club.

Both joined Cork City in 2013.

Speaking to the official St Pat’s website, manager Liam Buckley said: “I’m very pleased that we will have both the lads in our group next season.

“They will strengthen our squad and help us compete for honours next season. Darren has really developed over the last few seasons with Cork City and is a real physical presence in defence, so we are excited to add him to the squad.

“Billy is a top professional and will be a good example to our younger players who can learn from him. He has vast experience of playing in the league and in European competition too, having been at Cork, Shamrock Rovers and Derry so we know he will be a great addition,” he finished.

They will no doubt be celebrating this Christmas and be raring to go when the new season of the league kicks off in March 2016.

We have signed Billy and Darren Dennehy for 2016. They move from Cork City #Saints2016 pic.twitter.com/1KXyoN7pLw

— St Patrick’s Ath (@stpatsfc) December 9, 2015

8Dec2015

Kerry To Receive Special Screening Of New Stars Wars Film

Posted in Kerry News, Something Cool by Fergus Writes Things

Star Wars will screen in Killarney next week.

THE PEOPLE of Kerry are set to receive an early Christmas present this year after it was announced that Killarney Cineplex will receive a special screening of the new ‘The Force Awakens’ film next week.

The Star Wars team are keen to thank the people of Kerry for their support while they shot parts of the new film on Skellig Michael and will be showing the film at lunchtime on Thursday December 17th in the Killarney cinema.

It will the first screening of the film in the area and is sure to draw a large crowd who will be eager to be amongst the first to see the highly anticipated seventh installment in the series.

“On behalf of Lucasfilm and Disney, we are delighted to gift the first screening of this movie in the area, as a thank you for all the help and cooperation received during the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Trish Long, Vice President and General Manager of Walt Disney Studios, Ireland said on RTE Ten’s website earlier today.

Also quoted in the RTE Ten article was The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys who said:

“The enchanting and mystical beauty of South Kerry caught the attention of the filmmakers, but it was the hospitality of the local people which helped to make the film shoot a success.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens will help to showcase the unique natural and built heritage of Sceilg Mhichíl and it will bring images of this beautiful region of South Kerry to an unrivalled global audience. The success of the shoot also helps to reaffirm Ireland’s capacity to support high-end film production,” she finished.

Check out the trailer for the film below.