Cathedral could be new viewing tower
BY MARY MURPHY
ONE of Killarney’s most historic buildings could offer a viable alternative to plans for a controversial new one, it has been suggested.
Planning for an observation wheel – similar to the London Eye – was recently ruled out by Killarney Town Council because the height and scale the proposed development would be visually obtrusive, incongruous and dominant in the immediate townscape.
The planners also insisted that the wheel – planned for the main New Street car park – would be detrimental in the wider context to highly scenic landscape setting of the town.
A previous proposal to erect a 270ft viewing tower at the site of the historic Malton Hotel was also refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.
But now Cllr Tom Doherty has proposed a possible alternative that could turn one of the town’s most beautiful historic structures into a more popular visitor attraction.
"Killarney has a natural viewing tower situated in St Mary’s Cathedral. Throughout Europe many churches are open to the public offering panoramic views of their locality and hinterlands. This opportunity may also be viable here in Killarney," Cllr Doherty told The Kingdom.
"A feasibility study should be undertaken to ascertain if such a proposal could be achieved," he said.
The landmark cathedral was designed by Augustus Pugin and constructed in the neo gothic style with the tower and spire reaching up to 86 meters.
Under Cllr Doherty’s plan the tower at the site of the church could provide a ready-made viewing platform for the town.
"From such a spiritual and historic structure, the view of heavens reflex would be breathtaking," Cllr Doherty remarked.
THE KINGDOM NEWSPAPER
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Monday, 17 May 2010
Killarney outlet hands over €100k in newly-illegal substances
Killarney outlet hands over €100k in newly-illegal substances
by Breda Joy
An estimated €100,000 in so-called 'legal highs' were handed over to gardaí by staff of the Funky Skunk headshop in Killarney on Tuesday, just hours after the Government announced new measures to criminalise substances sold in over 100 similar nationwide.
Gardaí called to the shop in High Street, Killarney, and to the Happy Hippy outlet in Bridge Street, Tralee, at about 6pm, on foot of existing anti-drugs legislation and a newly-drafted bill from the Department of Justice.
The shelves of both shops had been cleared. An investigation is continuing into the Tralee shop, where a lesser amount of substances were handed over to gardaí.
The Happy Hippy is now closed but the Killarney shop, which sells clothes and artifacts in addition to the products handed over to the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit members, remains open.
Detective Garda Inspector Dan Keane, who has responsibility for the Drugs Unit, said the shop owners had given an undertaking that they would be putting nothing from the new list of banned substances on the shelves.
Det Keane said the Tralee shop was closed when gardaí called at around 6pm on Tuesday, but the owner was contacted and access was gained.
Practically all of the Tralee shop, which had been closed throughout the day, had been cleared.
“The owner, who has a number of shops in Clare and Dublin, handed over a sizeable bag of products, now illegal,” Det Keane said.
He estimated that the substances handed over in Killarney were worth in the region of €100,000.
In relation to the possibility of a black market evolving in the wake of the crackdown, Det Keane said there were hefty fines and prison sentences in relation to the newly-banned substances which had been sold as an alternative to illegal drugs.
The new penalties include up to seven years' imprisonment and/or a fine for unlawful possession and, on indictment, up to a maximum period of life imprisonment for unlawful supply.
Det Keane said that, in June, new legislation will be introduced in relation to any illegal substances which had a psychiatric effect. He said gardaí would be able to apply to the District Court for a closure in relation to any shop selling illegal substances.
“We will be very active if there is any emerging problem,” he said.
He encouraged anyone with illegal products bought in head shops to bring them to the Garda stations in Tralee or Killarney where they would be destroyed.
“There's a whole new generation of people who would not have gone to a dealer to dabble in getting some sort of a high and who had this opportunity open to them to go into a shop to buy a product with no implication from a legal point of view,” Det Keane said.
“A whole new generation were taking these products and were sucked into becoming dependent on them,” he said.
“We know from A&E units and psychiatric services that there have been increased admissions out of all these.
“The best outcome of the new measures is that they take it off the streets and prevent a new generation of kids from being introduced to these products in such a cavalier fashion,” he said.
Killarney Councillor Tom Doherty, a former chairman of the Killarney Drugs Liaison Committee which petitioned the Minister for Justice about headshops, welcomed the action taken this week.
“Young people believed that the legal highs had no harmful side-effects which couldn't be further from the truth,” Cllr Doherty said.
“I'm sure a lot of parents will be able to rest easy after this. There was a fear factor among parents because kids could get easy access to products that could cause psycho-active episodes.”
KERRY'S EYE NEWSPAPER
by Breda Joy
An estimated €100,000 in so-called 'legal highs' were handed over to gardaí by staff of the Funky Skunk headshop in Killarney on Tuesday, just hours after the Government announced new measures to criminalise substances sold in over 100 similar nationwide.
Gardaí called to the shop in High Street, Killarney, and to the Happy Hippy outlet in Bridge Street, Tralee, at about 6pm, on foot of existing anti-drugs legislation and a newly-drafted bill from the Department of Justice.
The shelves of both shops had been cleared. An investigation is continuing into the Tralee shop, where a lesser amount of substances were handed over to gardaí.
The Happy Hippy is now closed but the Killarney shop, which sells clothes and artifacts in addition to the products handed over to the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit members, remains open.
Detective Garda Inspector Dan Keane, who has responsibility for the Drugs Unit, said the shop owners had given an undertaking that they would be putting nothing from the new list of banned substances on the shelves.
Det Keane said the Tralee shop was closed when gardaí called at around 6pm on Tuesday, but the owner was contacted and access was gained.
Practically all of the Tralee shop, which had been closed throughout the day, had been cleared.
“The owner, who has a number of shops in Clare and Dublin, handed over a sizeable bag of products, now illegal,” Det Keane said.
He estimated that the substances handed over in Killarney were worth in the region of €100,000.
In relation to the possibility of a black market evolving in the wake of the crackdown, Det Keane said there were hefty fines and prison sentences in relation to the newly-banned substances which had been sold as an alternative to illegal drugs.
The new penalties include up to seven years' imprisonment and/or a fine for unlawful possession and, on indictment, up to a maximum period of life imprisonment for unlawful supply.
Det Keane said that, in June, new legislation will be introduced in relation to any illegal substances which had a psychiatric effect. He said gardaí would be able to apply to the District Court for a closure in relation to any shop selling illegal substances.
“We will be very active if there is any emerging problem,” he said.
He encouraged anyone with illegal products bought in head shops to bring them to the Garda stations in Tralee or Killarney where they would be destroyed.
“There's a whole new generation of people who would not have gone to a dealer to dabble in getting some sort of a high and who had this opportunity open to them to go into a shop to buy a product with no implication from a legal point of view,” Det Keane said.
“A whole new generation were taking these products and were sucked into becoming dependent on them,” he said.
“We know from A&E units and psychiatric services that there have been increased admissions out of all these.
“The best outcome of the new measures is that they take it off the streets and prevent a new generation of kids from being introduced to these products in such a cavalier fashion,” he said.
Killarney Councillor Tom Doherty, a former chairman of the Killarney Drugs Liaison Committee which petitioned the Minister for Justice about headshops, welcomed the action taken this week.
“Young people believed that the legal highs had no harmful side-effects which couldn't be further from the truth,” Cllr Doherty said.
“I'm sure a lot of parents will be able to rest easy after this. There was a fear factor among parents because kids could get easy access to products that could cause psycho-active episodes.”
KERRY'S EYE NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Fitzgerald Stadium
Council rejects call for other sports in stadium
BY IAN HOWARD
A PROPOSAL to launch a political campaign to open up Killarney’s GAA headquarters Fitzgerald Stadium to other sports has been emphatically rejected by Killarney Town Council.
Cllr Tom Doherty got little support for his motion which, he maintained, would have been of great benefit to the GAA, other sporting codes and the entire community.
Only Cllr Seán Counihan, a former Kerry team selector, voted in favour of the proposal when it was raised at town council level.
Cllr Dohery said an example could be taken from the action of Cork GAA kingpins Nemo Rangers who allowed the Munster rugby team to use their facilities for preparations ahead of their recent Heineken Cup quarterfinal clash.
The GAA sought clarification following the incident but Cllr Doherty has said that type of reaction belongs in the past.
"Time moves on. Opening up Fitzgerald Stadium would be hugely advantageous for all concerned," he told The Kingdom.
"We are seeing inter-county GAA players losing their jobs and some of these players are emigrating which is going to damage a lot of inter-county teams and the GAA as a result. Those players could benefit out of the extra money the GAA would generate as a result of opening up the stadium," he said.
"Likewise the GAA would increase revenue and keep players by possibly offering them employment opportunities. They could also direct some of this money towards training in national schools which would help safeguard the GAA’s future."
Cllr Doherty said keeping GAA facilities closed to other codes was justified in the past but he now believes a more modern approach to the situation is in order.
"Such an approach was right when Ireland was fighting for its freedom but now an alternative approach is needed. I think we are all proud to be Irish now and we don’t need to be making gestures to protect our heritage, language and our sport," he stated.
"All great facilities we have can be shared and I don’t think our founding fathers and the founding fathers of the GAA would have anything to fear by this," Cllr Doherty remarked.
He said he was annoyed by the Nemo Rangers controversy and he insists the GAA should be concerning themselves with more pressing issues.
"To see the club getting hassled by the organisation to which it has contributed so much to just because the Munster rugby team trained in their facilities was absolutely ridiculous," he stated.
Cllr Doherty said opening up Fitzgerald Stadium would create significant employment opportunities in Killarney due to the influx of people attending extra events being held there.
"GAA stadia throughout the country are being under utilised. If Fitzgerald Stadium was to hold a sporting event of a different nature, Killarney would gain additional tourism as could GAA grounds around the country. This could lead to job opportunities in Killarney and elsewhere," he said.
The Kingdom Newspaper
BY IAN HOWARD
A PROPOSAL to launch a political campaign to open up Killarney’s GAA headquarters Fitzgerald Stadium to other sports has been emphatically rejected by Killarney Town Council.
Cllr Tom Doherty got little support for his motion which, he maintained, would have been of great benefit to the GAA, other sporting codes and the entire community.
Only Cllr Seán Counihan, a former Kerry team selector, voted in favour of the proposal when it was raised at town council level.
Cllr Dohery said an example could be taken from the action of Cork GAA kingpins Nemo Rangers who allowed the Munster rugby team to use their facilities for preparations ahead of their recent Heineken Cup quarterfinal clash.
The GAA sought clarification following the incident but Cllr Doherty has said that type of reaction belongs in the past.
"Time moves on. Opening up Fitzgerald Stadium would be hugely advantageous for all concerned," he told The Kingdom.
"We are seeing inter-county GAA players losing their jobs and some of these players are emigrating which is going to damage a lot of inter-county teams and the GAA as a result. Those players could benefit out of the extra money the GAA would generate as a result of opening up the stadium," he said.
"Likewise the GAA would increase revenue and keep players by possibly offering them employment opportunities. They could also direct some of this money towards training in national schools which would help safeguard the GAA’s future."
Cllr Doherty said keeping GAA facilities closed to other codes was justified in the past but he now believes a more modern approach to the situation is in order.
"Such an approach was right when Ireland was fighting for its freedom but now an alternative approach is needed. I think we are all proud to be Irish now and we don’t need to be making gestures to protect our heritage, language and our sport," he stated.
"All great facilities we have can be shared and I don’t think our founding fathers and the founding fathers of the GAA would have anything to fear by this," Cllr Doherty remarked.
He said he was annoyed by the Nemo Rangers controversy and he insists the GAA should be concerning themselves with more pressing issues.
"To see the club getting hassled by the organisation to which it has contributed so much to just because the Munster rugby team trained in their facilities was absolutely ridiculous," he stated.
Cllr Doherty said opening up Fitzgerald Stadium would create significant employment opportunities in Killarney due to the influx of people attending extra events being held there.
"GAA stadia throughout the country are being under utilised. If Fitzgerald Stadium was to hold a sporting event of a different nature, Killarney would gain additional tourism as could GAA grounds around the country. This could lead to job opportunities in Killarney and elsewhere," he said.
The Kingdom Newspaper
Student Maintenance Grants
That this Council supports the need for student maintenance grants for mature students.
It is important during these times of recession and lack of employment opportunity that education and up skilling is to the fore. Many PLC students are unable to continue their 3rd level education due to cut backs in mature student funding. The maintenance grant which is means tested after all is a vital cog in any up turn in our economy and the basic raw material in attracting new companies setting up here
Youth Cafe Funding
That this Council gets a update from the County Development Board about the “Youth Café” funding from POBAL.
Their is funding for small scale fit outs, refurbishment works, building enhancements projects to existing Youth Cafes and the start up of new youth cafes. It is important that those involved with youth groups are aware of this funding. It is important that Killarney Town has a full time representative on the development board. The present situation of a rotating member from the 3 Kerry Town Councils is not satisfactory because important information is not being received by Councillors.
Their is funding for small scale fit outs, refurbishment works, building enhancements projects to existing Youth Cafes and the start up of new youth cafes. It is important that those involved with youth groups are aware of this funding. It is important that Killarney Town has a full time representative on the development board. The present situation of a rotating member from the 3 Kerry Town Councils is not satisfactory because important information is not being received by Councillors.
Road Works; MAY
The following road works will be ongoing over the next couple of weeks:
Deerpark Rd - 14th and 15th of May.
Upper Pard Rd - 17t and 18th of May.
Countess Rd - commencing 20th of May for two weeks
Deerpark Rd - 14th and 15th of May.
Upper Pard Rd - 17t and 18th of May.
Countess Rd - commencing 20th of May for two weeks
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