An Baile / The Home Place: Editor, Eamon Fleming with the book which is to be launched at the County Library in Tralee on this Thursday night at 7pm. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Mayor of Kerry Cllr. Pat McCarthy will launch a new book on the disappearing legacy of Kerry’s vernacular architecture. The launch will take place at the County Library in Moyderwell, Tralee on this Thursday night, March 10th at 7pm.
Castleisland native and former Kerry County Council Conservation Officer, Eamon Fleming is the editor of The Home Place. The book is an inventory of the traditional, rural architecture of North and East Kerry.

Fallen Into Ruin
“County Kerry has a rich heritage of vernacular/traditional buildings. Unfortunately over the past two decades many of these structures have either been demolished to make way for new buildings or simply fallen into ruin,” said Mr. Fleming.
“It is important that we protect what remains of our vernacular heritage and record it for posterity.
This publication has come about as a result of a survey of vernacular/traditional architecture in North and East Kerry, which was carried out in early 2013 during my time as conservation officer with Kerry County Council.

Appeal to the General Reader
“The survey, which was conducted by Lotts Architecture and Urbanism, Dublin, was finalised in November 2013.
“It was funded in the main by North, East and West Kerry Development with some assistance from Kerry County Council.
“It was intended that the results of this survey would be published in a form which would appeal to the general reader. This publication has been funded entirely by Kerry County Council.
It is anticipated that similar surveys will be carried out in South and West Kerry in the near future,” Mr. Fleming concluded.

James Gerard O’Mahony, RIP- in a portrait before he left for Australia in 1963.

The death took place in Sydney Australia on December 29th of James O’Mahony, late of East Camp, Castleisland. James, (11-2-1940 – 29-12-2015) is sadly missed by his daughter Zoe, his sons Fintan and Gerard, spouses and grandchildren.
He was son of the late Mai and Martin O’Mahony and was educated at: Castleisland Convent Primary and Boys’ Primary School; Castleisland Secondary School; Rockwell College and at UCD.
He emigrated to Australia in 1963 and returned to Ireland many times over the years. His son Brendan died in a tragic accident in 2010 and his sister Eileen (Mc Carthy) passed away in Sydney in 2003.
James was a larger than life person and was blessed with a very positive outlook on life and all it entailed and he achieved many goals in his lifetime.
However, failing health was a struggle in these last couple of years and he was eventually taken during Christmas.
The announcement of James’ passing and his funeral arrangements appeared as follows:
The death has occurred of James ‘Jim’ O’Mahony, Camp East, Castleisland Co. Kerry and Sydney Australia.
Sadly missed by his wife and family, brother, Timmy, sisters: Rosalie, Monica, Nuala, Kitty and Cecilia, sister-in-law Breda, brothers-in-law Michael and T.J., all extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.
His funeral took place in Sydney, Australia. A Memorial Mass was celebrated in Castleisland Parish Church on Monday evening, January 18th, 2016 at 7pm. May God be good to him.

The late Tom ‘The Cobbler’ McCarthy (centre) pictured with Michael Murphy (left) and Johnny Foran on Main Street as they watched the 1990 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-1990

If you thought there wasn’t a connection in the world between Pound Road, Castleisland and Nelson’s Pillar – you’d be right.
However, not everyone you’d meet here would agree with you. This is because a local man had a lump of rock on the mantle piece of his house – close to where Pound Road meets the Market Cross – and it stated so.
Tom McCarthy was a great shoe-maker in his day and he plied his trade at the top-of-the-town and across from Hartnett’s Corner.
His workshop and house there were open at all hours to ramblers, rumour mongers and rogues and often to people who simply wanted their shoes made or mended.

Same Class of Clientele
Tom retired to the other end of the town in the  late 1960s and the house there also attracted the same class of clientele.
People coming to mass left their bicycles up against the front wall of the road-side house and they changed into their Sunday clothes in the house itself before – and back into their duds ahead of the homeward journey.
Later on in his working life, Tom or ‘The Cobbler’ as he was affectionately known, served at Radiac Abrasives as a general operative and genial go-for.
One day as he was cycling in the Tralee Road for the messages for the boys on the factory floor, a lorry load of limestone hardcore went past him.
A fist-sized rock fell off the lorry after it had passed him and, curiously, he stopped, picked it up and brought it home. He found a suitable piece of timber and made an even more suitable base for his rock.

Nelson’s Pillar 1966
On the base he inscribed, with all the roguery he could muster, Nelson’s Pillar 1966. There were people who believed that it was as stated.
Nelson’s Pillar was blown up in Dublin 50 years ago today.

I was listening to Joe Duffy’s Liveline today on the topic of the ‘taking down’ of the pillar and I thought of ‘Tom the Cobbler’ and of Seán Brennan – who loved to tell the story of the Pound Road connection to Nelson’s Pillar. May God be good to them – if He does He’ll get it back in abundance.

The late Philip Griffin. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The death has occurred of Philip Griffin (75) of 9 Barrack Street, Castleisland and Griffin’s Newsagents, Lower Main Street, Castleisland and late of Kilasser, Swinford, Co Mayo.

On Tuesday March 8th 2016 . Sadly missed by his nephews. Don, David, Michael and John; Sister-in-law, Sheila; nieces-in-law: Geraldine and Julie and all extended family, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. R.I.P.
Reposing at Tangney’s Funeral Home, Castleisland on Wednesday evening from 5pm to 7pm followed by removal to Castleisland Parish Church. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 11am.

Burial afterwards in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Killeentierna, Currow.
Date published: Tuesday 8th March 2016. Date of death: Tuesday 8th March 2016.

The New Historians: Sixth Class Knockaderry National School pupils who collected and compiled family histories as part of their school project. Front: Darren Deniel, Brian Burke , Michael Brosnan and Andrew Moynihan. Back row: Katie Brosnan, Evelyn Daly, Eibhlín O’Leary, Olivia Gleeson and Ruth Daly.

Proclamation Day is a Department of Education and Skills led initiative designed to promote time for schools to commemorate and reflect on the events of 100 years ago.
It will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in every educational establishment in Ireland. In preparation for the day the pupils of Knockaderry National School, Farranfore, have each undertaken an ancestry project looking back to 1916 and beyond.
Working as historians the children and their families researched their family trees from oral, pictorial and documentary sources.

Presented in Book Format
Each family collated the resultant material and compiled a family tree, which is presented in book format. These books represent an historical document not only for each family, but also the wider community.
They were encouraged to read the proclamation and to write their own individual proclamations. As the project progressed the children also researched material relating to the village of Farranfore in the early part of the 20th century.
The complete ancestry project will be on display on Proclamation Day. In preparation for the day each school in the country has been given a tricolour.

Safe Keeping
This was delivered to Knockaderry National School, last September by two members of the Defence Forces and has remained in safe-keeping ever since.
On Tuesday March 15, at 10 am, it will be raised by the youngest and the eldest pupils of the school. Its significance will be explained, the children will sing the national anthem and the proclamation will be read. It promises to be not only a very significant morning in the life of the school, but also the life of the village and surrounding community.
All are invited to attend the ceremony and view the ancestry project when family trees, extracts from the schools register dating from 1903 to 1916 and material relating to the village in general will be on display.
Proclamation Day coincides with the Knockaderry National School’s Open Night – which will run from 6.30-7.30pm.
The exhibition of historic material will continue with entertainment, music, dancing and drama which will be provided by the children and light refreshments will be served.
Again, all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Enrollments are now being taken for the 2016/2017 school year.

The Student Council Body from St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Castleisland who attended the National Flag Presentation Ceremony for Post -Primary Schools in Croke Park on Monday. From left: Paddy Flynn, Art O’Mahony, Darren O’Donovan, Ronnie Mallon, (front) and Ethan Reidy with Owen Hayes, teacher.

Members of the Student Council from St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Castleisland travelled to Croke Park on Monday, March 7th. to take part in the National Flag Presentation Ceremony which is part of the 1916 Clár Comórtha Céad Bliain Centenary Programme.
Five students and a teacher were invited to Croke Park for a special ceremony where they were presented with the National Flag and copies of the proclamation by members of the Defence Forces.
The ceremony included a special address from President Higgins and an actor portraying Thomas Francis Meagher gave a dramatic account of the story of his life.
A video was also shown which illustrated the peaceful message of the National Flag and the pride and affection felt by Irish people at home and abroad.
“This was a wonderful experience for the students and a great opportunity to be part of the historic commemoration of 1916. The National Flag that the school received will be raised in the school in the coming week as staff and students celebrate Proclamation Day,” said Principal, Denis O’Donovan.

Noreen Long, flagging the Open Day in The Mall.©

Knocknagoshel Women’s Group & Over 55s Club Open Day

Knocknagoshel Women’s Group and Over 55s Social Club will hold an ‘Open Day’ on Sunday, March 20^th at 12 pm. Refreshments will be provided on the day.

The occasion will be used as an opportunity to get everyone near and far to see what we do on our club days on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“We want to provide information on our meals on wheels and laundry service that’s being provided to residents of all ages in Knocknagoshel and surrounding areas.

The open day will hosted by staff and committee members of the group and will be held in Knocknagoshel Community Centre,” said spokesperson, Noreen Long.

Concern at Poor Attendance at Cordal Community and Resource Centre AGM

John O’Connell – AGM poorly attended. ©

The AGM of Cordal Community and Resource Centre was held on Monday, March 7th. The following officers were elected: Chairman, Charlie Farrelly; Vice chairman, John O’Callaghan; Secretary, Martina O’Donoghue and Treasurer, Siobhan Kearney.
“This meeting was again very badly attended with no names going forward for committee or officers. The people of the parish and, in particular, the youth should be getting involved and making more use of our excellent facility. It was also discussed whether or not to continue with the Wednesday night card game for the coming winter as this is also badly attended, so please come out and support the local centre,” said centre spokesman, John O’Connell.
Castleisland Golf Club
Seniors Results 12 Hole Competition from  Monday, March 7th: 1st. Mike O’Connor 23 points; 2nd. Patsy Sweeney 21 points; 3rd. Domhnall de Barra 20 points.  Competition every Monday at 10.30am. Visitors welcome.
Macra to Hold Mid Kerry Tractor Run
Mid Kerry Macra will hold a tractor run in aid of Down Syndrome Kerry on March 20th. starting at Miltown Mart.
Registration is from 12 to 12.45 in the mart yard. Entry fee is €20. For more information contact 087 76 14 560. Click on the flyer for details.
Annual Macra Social
Kerry Macra Na Feirme will hosting its annual social on March 16th in the Killarney Oaks Hotel. It promises to be a great night with a four course meal followed by music by Uí Bhriain and a disco until late.
There is a door prize and lots of raffle prizes to be won on the night. Tickets are €30 and can be booked by calling Louise on 086 44 61 540.
River Island Hotel Cards
Results of the card game held in The River Island Hotel on Sunday night last.
1st. Nuala O’Shea and Denis Clifford, Tony Marshall & Denis McCarthy, Eamon O’Connor and Ned O’Callaghan, Paul and Joe Geaney.
Ladies: Ann Walsh and Jane Colfer. Gents: John McMahon and Dave Mahony, John O’Sullivan and Jermiah Kerins. Mixed: Mary Barrett and Timmy Brosnan. Spots: Bill O’Sullivan and Mick Leahy, Hannah Hickey and Donie Cremins. Cards continue next Sunday night at 9pm sharp.
Ballymacelligott GAA Club Notes
LOTTO
The lotto was held in Glenduff House, on Monday 29th February 2016 for a jackpot of €1,900.  Numbers drawn were 16,19,20,22. There was no winner. Lucky Dips: 1. Deirdre McDonnell, Rathanny; 2. Myles Sheehan, Maglass; 3. Eamon Donovan, c/o Tom Leen; 4. Dave Slattery, c/o Paula Silles; 5. Robert Harris, c/o Paula Silles; Sellers Prize : Pat McDonnell. The lotto now stands at €2,000 and can be played at www.ballymacgaa.com
SENIORS
Our Senior team went down to John Mitchels on Sunday last in a Coiste Tra Li/St. Brendans Board fixture. Mitchels ability to punish some of our mistakes with goals proved to be the difference between the teams.
The Seniors take on St. Pat’s of Blennerville in the next round of The St. Brendan’s Board League this weekend. This fixture is subject to the availability of a pitch. Please check our Facebook and Twitter accounts for further updates.
MINORS
Our minors take on Churchill in the next round of the County Minor League. Due to the recent poor weather this fixture is subject to change. Please check the club website etc. for updates.
ALL IRELAND INTERFIRM
Congratulations to Senior Player Eanna Reidy who is part of the Liebherr team which won the All Ireland Interfirm Final against Galway opponents in Tuam on Saturday last.
BWILDERED 2016
Registration is now open for BWildered 2016 which will take place on April 30th 2016 at 11.00am.  This year participants will have a choice between a 7km or 10km route.  Ballymac GAA Club and Lee Strand are once again joining forces for the promotion of this event.  Full details on www.bwildered.ie and on the dedicated facebook page.
FEILE TABLE QUIZ
In order to defray some of the costs associated with hosting teams for Feile a fundraising table quiz will be held in O Riadas bar on Friday 18th March at 8.00pm.  €30 for table of 4 and lots or prizes on the night.  If you are interested in entering a team please text Dave Slattery on 0872201042.
ACADEMY
Unfortunately due to the recent inclement weather the Academy which was due to start on Sunday last did not take place hopefully with an improvement in the weather we can get going on Sunday next.  U6s boys and girls continue to train in St. Brendans Community Hall at 11.00am on Sunday mornings.
SCOR
Scor na bPaisti district final will take place in Knocknagoshel on Sunday next 13th March 2016 at 7.00pm.  Anyone interested in taking part please contact Scor Officer Anthony Curran on 087 2713507.
The Kube
CBS The Green are running ‘The Kube’, as seen on television, this March 16th in The Brandon Hotel in an effort to raise funds for a new All Weather Pitch. There are six categories of contestants taking part, names of those taking part include Alan Brogan of Dubin, James O’Donoghue of Kerry, Colm Cooper, Kieran Donaghy, John Brassil TD and many more. Our own club secretary Fionnán Fitzgerald is also a contestant. There is a prize of €2,000 to be given to charity up for grabs. Fionnán’s chosen benfactors are Ballymac GAA Club & Ballymac Community Alert Group – both organisations in which he is very much involved. It would be great if some support from Ballymac could be at the Brandon on the night. Tickets are on sale at the following outlets: Terry’s Butchers, Oakpark, Nolan’s Garage Tralee, Foley’s Spar Castlemaine Road, Claude Monte The Square & The Grand Hotel Denny Street and at The Green School itself. Adult tickets cost 15 Euros and Student tickets cost 10 Euros.
SYMPATHY
The Club would like to extend its sympathy to the Lowe Family on death of Mrs Joan Lowe, Mitchels Road, Tralee. Joan’s son Martin is a mentor with both our minor and U12 teams for 2016.

The enterprising Pres students, front: Lauren Butler (left) and Grace Daly with Pierce Dargan, teacher; Siobhán Brosnan and Cáit O’Mahony with Principal Katerina Broderick after their win on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland were victorious in the Student Enterprise Awards County Final. They picked up the overall winner in the junior category in Tralee IT on Friday.
‘The Candle Corner’ was the idea of the triumphant group of four girls: Grace Daly, Siobhain Brosnan, Lauren Butler and Cait O’Mahony. Their enterprise was homemade, scented candles in a variety of colours. The girls now go forward to the Student Enterprise Awards National Final 2016 which will take place on Wednesday, April 20th at the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin.

The Candle Corner

“Presentation Secondary School entered three teams in the Student Enterprise Awards. Along with ‘The Candle Corner’ were ‘Once in a Blue Cupcake’ and this group made delicious blue icing cupcakes with tiny white pearls on top. The third group ‘Zippys’ designed and ordered personalised school half-zipped tops, with the school crest with initials optional,” said teacher Pierce Dargan.

The competition began at 9.30am and concluded at 2 pm. The day involved setting up a stand for each group and the presentation of their enterprise to the attendance which included a judging panel.

Entrepreneurial and Business Skills
This year, the school chose first year students as the year group to be involved in the Student Enterprise Awards for 2015/2016. This competition gave students the opportunity to develop a range of entrepreneurial and business skills required to create a new business.

Students went through the various stages involved in setting up an enterprise, including market research and segmentation and the preparation of a business plan.
The students worked on their enterprise ideas with the help of their business teacher, Pierce Dargan and their mentor from the Local Enterprise Office, Maeve Townsend.

“At the beginning of the year, the business department decided to assign one lunchtime per week to an Enterprise Club.
Here, students worked with their enterprise teams to develop their ideas. This club allowed students the time to work on their projects without infringing on class time and it gave them a space to seek help and advice from their business teacher, who was present,” Mr. Dargan explained.

Focus Throughout the Year

“The students were given targets to focus towards throughout the year. The targets were in the form of exhibitions. These were held in the school’s social activity area and gymnasium. These events gave the girls the opportunity to showcase their enterprises and sell their products.
“Two exhibitions were held this year. The first was held in November and the second was held on the day of the Christmas holidays in the school gymnasium and was on a bigger scale.

“It was a day of awards and celebration for the hard work completed by the students. Eight enterprises were on show. On this occasion parents, family and friends joined the school staff to browse and buy from the eight stands on display.
“Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland encourages an entrepreneurial mind-set in all its students and this year their excellence in enterprise has been rewarded,” Mr. Dargan concluded.

Is there anyone out there who can put names on the people in this photograph. Click on the Image to enlarge.

Members of the Michael O’Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project Committee have issued an appeal for historic or old photographs which may help to illustrate the wide-ranging research findings now coming to light.

Committee members will facilitate the collection of photographs and the information behind them on St. Patrick’s Day from 12-30pm at Tomo Burke’s old shop beside Hannon’s Fashion Shop at Lower Main Street.
Committee chairman, Johnnie Roche also feels that there is a story or two in the number of Castleisland natives who have made an impact in several countries abroad in the world of business and industry.

Landmark contributions in the continents of Africa, America and Australia stand out but others may well feature if a flow of information on the topic can be triggered. Any such information would also be welcome on St. Patrick’s Day.

The photograph here was stuck to a card and the names were printed on that card but someone had cut off all but the tip of the first line of the caption. From that scrap of information it seems that the people in the picture were members of a choir. Alice O’Shea, standing on the left of the picture, had a shop where Mrs. Quin’s Charity Shop is now. Fashion historians may be able to put a more accurate date on it than a 30s/40s guess.

Teacher Elaine Murphy with students: Tommy Boyle, Alannah Butler, Laura Foran and Robbie Carroll after they had collected their precious gift from the government in Croke Park on Monday. Photograph Courtesy of Castleisland Community College.

As part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, a special ceremony for post primary schools took place in the presence of President Michael D. Higgins in Croke Park Stadium.
It was run in conjunction with the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation.
Thomas Francis Meagher flew the Irish Tricolour for the first time on March 7th.1848 at the Wolftone Confederate Club, The Mall, Waterford.
He hoped that one day the green, white and orange would be Ireland’s national colours.
After many intervening developments this wish came true. The Irish Tricolour was flown from the roof of the GPO by the insurgents of Easter 1916 as a symbol of an Irish Republic founded on freedom and equality of rights.
The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation aims to promote pride in and respect for the Irish Flag and its true meaning for peace on this island. Events included an address by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and a speech by Reverend Michael Cavanagh, Chair of the Thomas F Meagher Foundation.

Click on the Image here to see the work of Castleisland Community College students and teachers in the compilation of their ’1916 Commemorations Kerry ETB Competition Film Entry.’

There was also an exciting performance by Seo Linn. The students were then presented with the National Flag and copies of the Proclamation. The day was most enjoyable for all who attended.
“It was a great opportunity to promote the powerful and positive symbolism of our national flag. On Tuesday, March 15th we will raise the National Flag in school on Proclamation Day,” said teacher Elaine Murphy who accompanied the students on their exciting and historic trip to Croke Park on Monday.

Students and teachers were also busy in the ‘film studio’ recently and you can see the hugely impressive results of their collaboration by clicking on the ’1916′ image here on the page.

As part of the Kerry ETB Commemorating 1916 Competition, first year history students from Castleisland Community College set to work to create an original song.

“The song is original lyrics to a well-known melody, Fast Car by Tracy Chapman.

The students spent a considerable amount of time in history class researching the events of 1916 from the reading out of the proclamation to who ordered the execution of the leaders,” said teacher Elaine Murphy.

“It was painstaking at times to come up with the words that suited the melody and remaining true to the events of 1916. A series of pictures and videos were then compiled to create a video for the song.

“It was great to see the drive and commitment the students had while undertaking the project. We are so proud of their achievement and hugely impressed with the innovation and compassion creating such original and meaningful lyrics.

“A special thanks to Ms O’Sullivan and Rachel O’Connor fifth year who worked with and fine-tuned the song with the history class. We wish them the best of luck in the upcoming competition,” said Ms. Murphy.

The often out of order lights at the Limerick Road junction are being replaced and upgraded for the protection of pedestrian and schoolchildren. ©Photograph: John Reidy

All my Life’s a Circle is a line – and may well be the title – of a song from years ago. Events, as they happen and re-happen and recycle, remind me of the song from time to time.
Take the debate these few days about the traffic lights at the Limerick Road T junction. There are questions and suggestions about the lights being replaced there at present.

It was a bit like that too when they were first placed there in the early 1990s. There were talks then about a simple roundabout and it’s even more pronounced now that the traffic levels through the town have dropped so dramatically.

The lights are needed now more that ever and while the need has changed from the volume of through traffic,  the foot-fall at that junction has increased.
Area engineer, Brendan Mulhern has heard all the suggestions for the traffic management at the Hartnett’s Corner dominated area of the town and he understands how and why they came about.

The late Ned Lyons, Cordal (left) and Paddy Foran, Currow chatting at Hartnett’s Corner, Castleisland on an August Friday morning in 2001. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17/08/2001

However, he has the responsibility for the safety of all motorists and pedestrians who use that junction on a daily and regular basis.

“We had to change the lights there because the supporting poles were corroded and were becoming a hazard and the new lights will be more disability friendly,” said Mr. Mulhern.

“The tones in the new push-button system will change to inform visually impaired users that the coast is clear to go. The junction is also heavily used by school children and that’s why the lights are the best and safest system for the area,” he said.

These particular lights will, in local folklore, be forever associated with the late Ned Lyons of Cordal.
Castleisland was a traffic-light-free zone up to the early 1990s. On the morning the lights were officially ‘launched’ a Garda from the local station was dispatched to keep an eye on the lights and our attitudes to them.

Enter Ned Lyons from the top-of-the-town, perched on his cart and drawn by his fine grey mare.
Straight through the red light they pranced and were going fine until the Garda stepped out and halted Ned and the grey mare.

“Did you see the lights Ned,” asked the lawman. “I did,” said Ned. “They’re nice faith.”

How could you answer that?

Cahereen Heights Childcare Facility has announced its participation in the new Community Childcare Subvention Programme 2016. This is a support scheme for community and private based, early childhood services. Its aim is to provide quality childcare at reduced rates to parents on low income or in receipt of social welfare payments.
The CCS Programme operates as part of the National Childcare Investment Programme and is administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

“We are delighted to announce we have just signed a contract for Community Childcare Subvention (Private) Scheme, which will subsidise childcare for certain low income parents. It will provide reduced weekly fees to certain parents,” said facility manager, Marguerite O’Sullivan.

Subvention Bands and Rates.

The table here outlines the weekly subvention rates for Bands A, AJ or B, based on the type of service the child is availing of.

Click on the table of categories and prices to enlarge and for more information.

Parents who qualify for Band AJ – with medical card – e.g. a parent in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance (JB/JA) and with a medical card qualify for subvented childcare to a maximum of €50 subvention for full – care per week (Band AJ). This cap applies where a child attends from three full days to five full days per week. Parents in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance (JB/JA) and do not have a medical card qualify for subvented childcare under Band B.

No Band is automatically applied to those parents partaking in a Springboard course and/or a National Internship Programme (NIP/JobBridge), or in receipt of the ETB/SOLAS Training Allowance. The appropriate band will be decided on a case by case basis, based on the allowance received immediately prior to the course/programme/training.

Free Pre-School September 2016 – Children between the age of 3 – 5½ years will be able to benefit from up to 2½ years of pre – school free of charge at Cahereen Heights Childcare. The new rule will allow parents to put their children into pre – school in September, January or April after they turn 3. What Free/Subsidized Childcare is available to you?

Strand 1: Childcare Education and Training Supports.

This strand caters for FAS and VEC training course participants. The cost for full time childcare can be as little as €5. Places can be full time, part time, after – school only or after – school with pick up places.

Strand 2: After School Childcare Scheme (ASCC)

This strand is known as the After – school childcare scheme (ASCC) and is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP). This scheme provides after – school care for primary school children for certain categories of working parents.

To be eligible, a parent will meet criteria if: They are currently getting jobseekers benefit (JB) or jobseekers allowance (JA) or one parent family payment (OFP) or are on a DSP employment programme; and They have been in receipt of JB, JA or OFP or on a DSP employment programme – or any combination of the four for at least three months.

If: They have one or more children aged between four and 13 who are in primary school; Start a new job; or Increase the days they currently work; or Start a DSP employment programme – except CE.
Strand 3: Community Employment Childcare (CEC)

This strand caters for Community Employment (CE) participants and is administered on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP). This strand provides part-time care/after school care for children up to the age of 13. DSP have sole responsibility for deciding who is eligible to avail of this strand of the programme,

What’s New at Cahereen Heights Childcare
Gymboree: New Gymboree music classes started recently as part of our Montessori Programme. There is no extra cost to the parent, classes are fortnightly on Tuesdays.
Sign Language: Our Montessori and Toddler room children have now access to learning sign language every Wednesday morning for half an hour in each room. There is no extra cost to the parent.
Yoga: Our Montessori and After – School children participate in yoga classes twice weekly. There is no extra cost to the parent.

Open Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm. Caters from two months to 12 years.

Free settling in period. Sessional, Full day and Montessori. After – School club with transport from local schools. Supervised homework.
Nutritious hot meal and evening meal included. Flexible packages, competitive rates. Each child’s routine will be catered for. Teachers’ term-time specially catered for. There is also a 10% sibling discount.

For more information on Cahereen Heights Childcare Facility you can contact Marguerite on: 066 71 43100  or 085 83 47 715

The Handed Down team. PJ Teahan (left) pictured with Mick Culloty and Tomás Mac Uileagóid are planning their Saturday, March 19th Handed Down programme for Scartaglin Heritage Centre. ©Photograph: John Reidy

On Saturday, March 19th the Handed Down series will present a new generation of traditional musicians who are currently drawing on Sliabh Luachra for their influences.
Patrick O’Keeffe and Denis Murphy met in Lyons’ Bar in 1961 while Denis was home from America and the session was taped.
Aidan Connolly, All-Ireland fiddle title winner and Italian fiddler, Andrea Palandri will select and play from this recording.

1987 Cork Folkfest
In 1987 Julia Clifford played at the Cork Folkfest and Oisin Morrison, All-Ireland, Oireachtas and O Riada medal winner will join Eibhlis Ni Shuilleabhain to play Julia’s set from that great occasion.

2012 All-Ireland singing champion, Micheál Ó Sé pictured with Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, Director-General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. ©Photograph: John Reidy

O Riada Bonn Óir and Fiddler of Dooney winner, Darragh Curtin from Brosna along with his brother, Gearoid and sister Suzanne will select a set from the 2015 album of the year Rooska Hill.

The Star Above the Garter
From Boherbue in Co. Cork comes All-Ireland winning fiddler, Mike O’Gorman and he will be joined by Michael O’Connor on guitar to pay tribute to the iconic and revered recording The Star Above the Garter which featured Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford.

Young Musicians
The night will also feature young musicians from Rockchapel and the guest singer is 2012 All-Ireland champion, Micheál Ó Sé from Castlemaine.

This will be the second last of the 2015/16 Handed Down series before it meets its ultimate purpose on World Fiddle Day in Scartaglin on Saturday, May 21st.

Meanwhile, the full programme on Saturday next requires that all are seated before the show starts at 8pm sharp.

 For more details on the event you can simply click on the link here: http://www.mainevalleypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/HD-March-19th-2016.pdf

Shoulder-to-Shoulder in Croke Park: Paddy Flynn, Cordal (left) and Art O’Mahony, Castleisland.

Two local and wonderfully motivated young men have come to my attention over the past couple of years. They’re both emerging, brightly coloured with opinions to match, through their involvement in politics.
I’m sure I’ll see their names on ballot papers some day soon and my No.1 vote and the anguish that goes with it will be torn between them.
On those ballot papers of the future they will appear in the following order: Flynn, Paddy,  O’Mahony, Art.

Croke Park

They stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Croke Park last Monday as representatives of their school, St. Patrick’s Boys’ Secondary School, on their mission with friends to collect the Tricolour – which will fly over their school during Easter.
I met them during the week as they broke bread together at lunchtime in Mrs. Nelligan’s with schoolmates.

As they’re both only in their teens it may seem foolish to set them in party colours just yet. However, these boys are far down the party road by now and the political dye would appear to be well and truly cast in both their cases.

Demeanours  Differed

I saw and observed them at the recent General Election count and their demeanours differed so greatly. They differed in line with the fortunes of those they followed with all the political passion they could muster. Paddy Flynn was in political heaven as the day unfolded and every opening box threw up only good news for the Healy Raes.
Art O’Mahony wore Jimmy Deenihan’s faltering political career as a personal hurt and he couldn’t hide his disappointment all day long. For both of them it was their first time experiencing the mechanics of an election with the bonnet up.
And, in fairness to them, it’s about the only aspect of the business in which they lacked experience. On the who and the why and the where of politics they have cutting edge up.
I thought I’d ‘let the hare sit’ – Desmond O’Malley 1985 – for a couple of weeks and ask the two friends to reflect on their differing General Election 2016 experiences. And they did it with gusto and here they are. We’ll start with Paddy Flynn’s analysis of what he encountered:

My First Election

By Paddy Flynn, Healy Rae Supporter.

Paddy Flynn – supporting Danny and Michael Healy Rae in his first election up close. ©Photograph: John Reidy

General Election 2016 was the first real time for me to finally get to see the heart of what Irish politics is all about, Getting Elected!
I have always had keen interest in politics; my Great Grandfather Mick Pierce was Captain of the Ballyheigue Anti-Treaty Brigade during the Civil War and a proud Fianna Fáil supporter all his life. He visited Éamonn De Valera on many occasions, attended Fianna Fáil meetings and even met Dev when he was President at Áras an Uachtaráin.
Then my great grandmother, Nellie Pierce had a first cousin, Batt O’Connor, or Uncle Batt as my grandmother and her brother and sisters affectionately remember him by, represented Dublin County in the third Dáil onwards.

Pro-Treaty Side
He was on the pro-treaty side and was in Cumann na nGaedheal and later a Fine Gael T.D until his death.
Batt was an Irish Volunteer and he joined on the same night as De Valera and was jailed along with the brave men of 1916 despite being in Brosna visiting his family on the week of the Easter Rising. He was also the best friend of Michael Collins especially after Harry Boland fell out with Collins and went on the Anti-Treaty side.
My father’s side had political influence in the past too, my great grand uncle was Paddy Burke and he was on the Anti-Treaty side during the Civil War and the story goes that he was the 10th member of what should have been the ‘Ballyseedy 10′ the great tragedy where eight men lost lives after nine captured Anti-Treaty soldiers were tied to a landmine in retaliation for attacks by their side in Knocknagoshel.

Irish Republican Movement in the USA
Paddy Burke was saved by intervention of a priest the night before, I am told, and he later went to California to help set up the Irish Republican movement in the U.S.A.
So I have no shortage of political links in my family history but then again we all have a very colourful political lineage because politics in Ireland has always been a huge part of everybody’s life and, of course, I carry on the tradition and relish the fact that I got to see first-hand the general election this year and if I may say it was a spectacular sight.

I was so pleased that people took a stand and voted and that is what it’s all about for if the boys of 1916 hadn’t done the same thing we would be still oppressed by a foreign crown today.

The night of the Long Count: TDs in Waiting, Michael and Danny Healy Rae waiting for the announcement of Michael’s election at the recent count in Killarney. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Who did I support during this election? I won’t deny it I’m old Fianna Fáil in my beliefs and I am a keen supporter of the Healy Raes. I think Michael and Danny Healy Rae are brilliant men and they get the job done.

Healy Raes the Best Workers
One must take careful consideration in whom to support and for me the Healy Raes are the best workers in Kerry. I’d even go as far to say they are the best thing the people of Kerry have ever got since the creation of the game of Gaelic Football.
Of course the election this year was tense and unpredictable I was rooting for Michael Healy Rae for a long time as I went with him for a week of work experience and had the pleasure of shadowing the man in Dáil Éireann and was really was amazed by his energy, ideas and ability.
Election 2016 was exciting early on and I was shocked like most when Tom Fleming pulled out of the race the day after I had only been speaking to him at the Castleisland Chamber Alliance meeting with the candidates and TD’s.

Shocked and Grieved
While I and many felt shocked and grieved at the loss of Tom Fleming, a long serving politician in our parish, the Healy Raes were working like clockwork and examining the situation and what the event meant to their campaign.
That’s when, days later, the county was bombarded with new headlines minutes before the entry day to run in the General Election and Danny Healy Rae entered the race to the surprise of everyone.
I was shocked and outright delighted. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined such a bold and brilliant move and by God was I rooting for them to make history and both get in.
I made sure to let the people know who I wanted to see get elected and both in my locality and on social media I was vocal in why I wanted people to support the Healy Raes and that was my way of supporting them.

Major Parties – Tactical Errors
It was wonderful to see the Healy Raes during the election canvassing and to get photos with them and show them my support.
For me the Healy Raes waged their election campaign like it should be done and I think they carried out one of the best election campaigns the country has ever seen.
Politics in Ireland has always been local and I completely call out the major parties in their tactical error in forgetting that.
You have to canvas, you have to bring the army out and show the people that you are fighting. Politics all through the decades has been dominated by public relations and by continuously making the people feel that those running for Dáil are listening to them and that they care.
The Healy Raes have this way of campaigning to perfection and of course this is the reason why along with their track record and hard work that they topped election results and came first and second respectively.

One Set of Canvassers
I couldn’t be more delighted for them, they really deserved it. They used every minute of every day up until the vote to visit each and every voter in the county. Even my grandmother a woman who has voted in every election since she was eligible to vote received only one set of canvassers to her door, the Healy Raes.
I think the T.D’s or T.D wannabes missed the boat when it came to canvassing to every door and speaking to every voter. In my mind this is more crucial in getting votes than the words preached and probably the very reason Renua for example didn’t earn a single seat.
But no fear for we have ‘Raenua’ now.
The count was a bustling hub in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre. You had people from every side and every area coming out to support different candidates and to see the results of the General Election.

Intelligent Conversation
It was a wonderful event and a great place to debate about politics with people and to have intelligent conversation about the election and the state of the country.
I was very glad to have been there to see the Healy Raes elected and I think above all this election proved that the people spoke and the people wanted the Healy Raes.

As for the country the election was historic. Labour went from its biggest number of 37 seats in the 2011 down to seven its smallest amount of seats and Arthur Spring lost his seat.
Sinn Féin did extremely well for a party that had only one seat in 1997 it now has 23 seats and Martin Ferris was re-elected.
Fianna Fáil has redeemed itself, and although still not the biggest party like it was for over 75 years up until 2011, it did very well to earn 44 seats and John Brassil was elected to the Dáil.

Visibly Punished

Fine Gael like Labour was visibly punished by the voters and the election did not go as planned. They lost 26 seats including that of the seat of Jimmy Deenihan a terrible blow to Fine Gael’s presence in The Kingdom.
Brendan Griffin did manage to successfully retain his seat for Fine Gael though.
Overall I am very pleased with the results and, of course, most glad that the two Healy Raes made history and both got elected.
Michael Healy Rae received the highest number of votes in the country – which was a specular achievement.
Their parade after the election was also a joyous sight and a very kind gesture from the Kilgarvan clan to show their appreciation to their voters.
Their appearance on the Late Late was also a brilliant night for the county and it was great to see them show Ryan Tubridy and the viewers how politically competent they are.

Wave of Change

This election shows the wave of change that has spread across our nation. Coalitions are now extremely common in the Irish Government and Fianna Fáíl and Fine Gael as parties have both changed dramatically in the last 25 years. As for a Government this time round, well honestly, I can’t say what will happen. Fianna Fáíl and Fine Gael forming a government would be historic on the centenary of 1916.

But I believe this would likely decimate one of the coalition partners after the term would end. As for Fianna Fáíl and Sinn Fein along with a few Independents it seems that is the only alternative. Is this the outcome?
I would say not but this is the dark road we are going down and much like the rest of Europe the huge divides among voters – which I would consider worse than the Civil War divides – is leading to a very fragmented Dáil.

People are Making a Stand
I believe a re-election will likely have to be called much like in 1927 to allow Fianna Fáil most likely to gain more seats and form their own government.
We have gone from an era of Fianna Fáíl running the Government on their own or Fine Gael and Labour in a coalition to keep them out and now we have a very divided Dáil where many parties have a voice and coalitions are the only means to create a new Government.

What the future holds is unknown. Yet, one thing is for sure, the people are making a stand maybe not a clear one but people are exercising their right to vote and their right to use democracy for change.
I, for one, look forward to see what that brings. Who knows maybe I’ll have the chance to run for Government myself someday.
For now I trust our elected representatives and the Healy Raes to look out for things here in Kerry and I hope for a prosperous future for us all.

The People Have Spoken

Kerry Young Fine Gael Chairman, Art O’Mahony pictured canvassing in Castleisland with Jimmy Deenihan TD last November. ©Photograph: John Reidy

By Art O’Mahony, Chairman, Kerry Young Fine Gael
The 1916 Easter Rising was the catalyst for the foundation of the Irish state, as we know it today. One hundred years later it is perhaps fitting that we saw a revolution in polling stations nationwide. Evidently, not alone has civil war politics met its waterloo, but ultimately the system of governing, as we know it is in existential crisis.
The electorate exercised its right to vote in dramatic fashion, and Dáil Éireann now hosts representatives with hugely contrasting ideologies. Undoubtedly, Election 2016 has left us with more questions than answers.

Uncharted Political Waters

Ireland is currently in uncharted political waters and it is absolutely scandalous that political entities are already ignoring their mandate and refusing to co-operate in government formation.
No obvious structure for a government exists and therefore this is a time for inclusive and responsible innovation in Leinster House. T
here is potential in this unprecedented result, f members are willing to put the country before themselves and cement a stable body to prevent our recovery from derailing.

Minority Government

My own view is that Fianna Fáil will be more comfortable supporting a Fine Gael minority government rather than entering a ‘Grand Coalition’ in order to sustain its obvious growth.
If this happens, speaking as a member of Fine Gael, I believe that the Programme for Government’s inclusiveness should be without borders. Other than simply Fianna Fáil, seek the advice of the Social Democrats on health, the Green Party on climate change and so on in order the broaden the base of government support and decentralise power.

More importantly, write a co-operative contingency plan that clearly states how the support would deal with unforeseeable economic difficulties. This would prevent Fianna Fáil pulling the legs from under Fine Gael as it were.

Political Ideologies

Regardless of what political ideologies we may possess, there is common ground among us all. Primarily, we do not want to jeopardise our political stability by tackling another election within a year.
We cannot afford to lacerate this hard fought recovery by reintroducing the economic three card trick while oil prices, exchange rates and credit access suits us. Responsible governing must continue.

Chris Birmingham-Doody’s house on Desmonds Avenue this morning after last night’s fire. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland Fire Brigade crew members were alerted to an emergency last night at five minutes to 11pm.
The were directed to No.18 Desmonds Avenue, the home of native, Chris Birminghan-Doody and her varying number of once strayed dogs and cats.
The upper floor of the two-storied building was engulfed in fire when the brigade arrived only a few short minutes after the call-out.
Chris was safe and well by this time and her animals were also out of the house. Dermot and Joan Daly were asleep in an upstairs bedroom in the attached house are were alerted by neighbours as smoke began to invade their room.

Chris Birmingham-Doody with her late and beloved Rex after he passed away in May 2012 at home in Desmond’s Avenue. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Fire crew member and a neighbour of Ms. Doody, Denny Greaney suffered what a colleague described as ‘minor burns’ in the line of duty during the fire.
The outbreak destroyed the upstairs part of the house while downstairs escaped relatively unscathed except for water damage.
Investigations into the origins of the fire will be conducted later today. Chris is reported to be well and is being catered for and comforted by neighbours and friends.
The kind-hearted animal lover spends almost every shilling she gets on catering for her large ‘family’ of animals – many of which strayed into her or were left at her gate and landed on their four feet.
We can only wish Chris well in coming to terms with the loss of her home and Denny a speedy recovery from his injuries.
I was summoned to Chris’ house one day during the summer of 2012 to take photographs of the wake of her ‘Old Man’ Rex. She had just lost a friend of an incredible 28 years in the course of the night before. Rex had been her crossbreed companion since 1984.
Rex, as befitting one bearing the name, was laid out on a suitably royal red pair of cushions from the time of his passing to the following evening.
‘An incredible age for a dog,’ I ventured as I met Chris after arriving at the house.
“You’d live long too if you had cod liver oil and garlic tablets with your grub every day of the week,” said Chris.
I asked her if she followed a similar diet plan for her own health and wellbeing: “I do in my arse because I couldn’t afford it. I feed ‘them’ before I feed myself. I’d go hungry before I’d leave them short of anything,” said Chris. The ‘Them’ she referred to includes: 15 dogs, 13 cats and growing. At that time she also had three budgies and eight ducks.
A fine duck that was about to change hands at Sheila Prendiville’s one evening was rescued a few days from the oven and given as a present to Chris.
It had a great life for a few years with her. It died of a heart attack after a Halloween banger went off close to the house.
Perhaps fittingly, a dog stood guard at the front of the house on this morning as neighbours and friends took stock of the frightening events of the night before. All were glad that, at least, no one was seriously hurt and they realised too that the news could easily have been a lot worse.

If you ever needed to epotomise or personify the oft used phrase ‘A Community Man’ – then, Tom Wrenn fitted every imaginable category of that broad sweep.
Every baptised child, every holy communion, confirmation, wedding – Tom was there as parish clerk at all the important points in the circle of life of so many people.
Cordal GAA Club members will miss their chairman, inspirational leader, referee, worker and only recently honoured East Kerry Board servant.
Tom (63) and his beloved club have gone through so much together over the past few short years. From the low point of having their unplayable pitch closed down to the highs of having two different GAA presidents attending high profile club events.
The latest of these was the glorious occasion on which the facility reopened in June of last summer.
Long and loyal service was a hallmark of Tom Wrenn’s life and that extended to his career as a mechanic. As boy and man he worked with Ahern’s Garage for over 45 years. Ahern’s director, Pat Ahern, in paying tribute to Tom this morning said that Tom was one of the main men in the Ahern’s set up.
“He has been here a lot longer that most of us and he’s known throughout the county and beyond by people who have had vehicles tested here over the years. He’s a huge loss to us and another link with the origins of the firm lost, God rest him,” said Mr. Ahern.
There will be a lot more written about the late Tom Wrenn in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, their community and that of the GAA will gather around his wife Breda and daughter Bríd and mourn with them in their loss. May God be good to him.

The announcement and funeral arrangements for the late Tom Wrenn are as follows:
March 13th 2016, peacefully, at his residence after a short illness bravely borne. Beloved husband of Breda and adored father of Brid. Brother of the late Jerry R.I.P. Sadly missed by his loving wife and daughter, Brid’s fiance Daryl, brother Patsy, sisters Geraldine and Mary, sisters-in-law Eileen, Bridget and Tess, brothers-in-law Bill, Jimmy and Bernard, nephews, nieces, all extended family, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. Rest In Peace
Reposing at Tangney’s Funeral Home, Castleisland on Tuesday evening from 4pm to 7pm. Private removal from his residence on Wednesday morning arriving to Cordal Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Tobar na Bhfionn Cemetery, Cordal. Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu to the Irish Cancer Society c/o Tangney’s Funeral Home, Castleisland. House private please. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

National Press Pass photojournalism winner, Lorraine Hanrahan whose imaginative photograph (inset) has won the Nationwide Press Pass Competition in Dublin today.
©Photograph: John Reidy

News is only filtering through this Monday afternoon that Lorraine Hanrahan’s photograph has won the NewsBrands Ireland Press Pass competition in Dublin.
The St. Joseph’s Presentation Secondary School pupil, Lorraine, from Scartaglin had her mobile phone taken photograph shortlisted for today’s finals and award ceremony.
Pres, deputy principal, Padraig Kelleher expressed the delight of the school and management on hearing of Lorraine’s triumphant trip to the announcement in the Convention Centre in Dublin.
“It’s a great honour for Lorraine and for her parents and it’s wonderful for the school. Any day you get news like that is a really good day. We’re all delighted for her here,” said Mr. Kelleher.
“I have an interest in art and photography so I feel this benefited me when I was in the process of taking my photo,” Lorraine explained last week in the run up to the finals.
“The idea behind the picture developed from the book ‘The Best of Me’ by Nicholas Sparks – which is what I was reading at the time.
“It’s a tragic and heart-rending love story about two former high-school loves from two completely different backgrounds, who were forced to leave one another.
“There was a line in the book ‘He’d never stopped loving her’ and I felt that it fitted perfectly with the concept of the picture.
“The ring that I used in the photo is my mother’s engagement ring and it made a personal link to the photo. To create the unique heart shadow, I experimented with the light from my desk lamp and when it was in the right position, it created the perfect heart shaped shadow on the book,” said Lorraine – who was accompanied to Dublin today by her parents, Moss and Sheila. Glin, Co. Limerick readers please take note.

Before breakfast on Sunday morning and this patriotic crew has three quarters of the town decorated with bunting for Thursday’s greatly anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Included are from left: Pat Hartnett, Brian O’Sullivan, Peter Browne, Charlie Farrelly, Ted Kenny and Martin Conway. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The boys of the old St. Patrick’s Day brigade were out early on Sunday morning preparing the way for the annual parade. Bolstered this year by a couple of new faces from the Castleisland Chamber Alliance, the hardy annuals had three-quarters of the town decorated by 9am and were going well.
Armed with some new, street straddling bunting, Charlie Farrelly and his gang were blessed with a dry if cold morning for their annual preparations.

Best in the Country
The Castleisland parade is, undoubtedly, one of the finest and probably the best per capita turnout in the country on the great day.
The fine weather, which we’re now nearly sure of, will be a huge bonus to the events of the day and to the people who go to the trouble of providing the platform for so many to mark and enjoy the occasion.

A typical St. Patrick’s Day Parade turnout on one of the greatest days of the year in Castleisland as this scene from the 2009 parade clearly shows. ©Photograph: John Reidy 17-3-2009

Charlie Farrelly and John Skevena O’Sullivan have built a little army of St. Patrick’s Day carers around them over the best part of the past two decades. They took the baton from the late Michael O’Callaghan and he from Helen Leane – who organised the first ever parade in Castleisland in 1988.
Now the Castleisland Chamber Alliance under Patricia Walsh is entering the picture with its contribution to this event and into the future.

Exhibitionists and Innocent Bystanders
Charlie Farrelly made an appeal on Monday for every exhibitionist and innocent bystander from hill and valley to get into Castleisland early on St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday.
The action begins after mass with a band on Main Street from 12 noon. Floats and marchers will gather on Tralee Road around McElligott’s from 12-30pm onwards for the 1pm start.

And !!!!! There’s a Primary Schools’ Disco at the River Island Hotel after the parade from 2-15pm to 3-30pm and it will be supervised.
The Cullen Pipe Band will lead the parade this year and that in itself will add an extra edge to one of the greatest days in the round of the year in Castleisland.
In spite of the sunshine it is still March – wrap up and enjoy the day and the spectacle it always manages to provide. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Second level colleges from throughout the county were well represented at the recent Kerry Education and Training Board Student Awards night. The event, for colleges affiliated to the KETB, was held in the Institute of Technology Tralee.
Castleisland Community College was well and ably represented on the occasion with no less that seven of its students taking awards. Irish women’s rugby international and Tralee native, Ruth O’Reilly was the guest speaker and she also presented the awards to the winning students. The following is a list of the Castleisland Community College winners and their citations.

Exceptional Leadership: Student Tara O’ Shea with Ruth O’Reilly.

Tara O’ Shea: Exceptional Leadership in the School Council

Tara O Shea is a hardworking, capable, and an incredibly nice girl who has a mature approach to her academic studies, her school responsibilities and her relationships with others. She is presently the secretary of our Students Council. Tara is proactive and self-motivated, she is a vital member of the council who is always devising new projects and ways we could improve our school environment for both students and staff.
Tara has been involved in fundraising, Positive Mental Health awareness and was hugely involved in our Anti Bullying and Resilience DVD produced by the Students Council. She is a driving force behind our ‘Fit Minds’ project this year. Tara never hesitates to put in that bit of extra effort to stand out among her contemporaries she had proved herself to be a vital member of the Students Council in Castleisland Community College.

Academic Award for Anita McCarthy from guest Ruth O’Reilly.

Anita McCarthy: Junior Certificate Academic Award

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort”. This sums up our recipient of the Junior Certificate award. Anita is an intelligent and capable girl who has a mature approach to her studies. It came as no surprise to us at Castleisland when Anita did exceptionally well in her Junior Certificate achieving 10A’s. Anita said that this was all down to working hard from 1st year onwards. Anita studied a broad range of subjects including Science, Technical Graphics, Materials Technology Wood among others. These results are reflective of her determination and self-motivation towards her studies. Her commitment was also evident in the non-exam subjects such as religion and SPHE. Her teachers remarked on the focused manner in which Anita saw projects etc. through to their conclusion leaving no stone unturned.
She is a dedicated and hardworking student and has proven to be a quiet confident role model with a passion to excel in all areas and goes about her work in a diligent and unassuming manner. Anita has an excellent relationship with her peers and is always extremely respectful in her dealings with staff. She displays a level of reliability and responsibility at all times. Anita was a member of the both the football and basketball teams where she has shown real team spirit. She is currently studying in 5th year and is applying herself very well to all areas of study and is already well on track in her preparations for Leaving Certificate.

Padraig O’ Connell, Exceptional Involvement award from Ruth O’Reilly.

Padraig O’ Connell: Exceptional Involvement in the Life of the School at Junior Cycle

Padraig is certainly fully deserving of this award as the word exceptional is an appropriate description of this young man. Padraig is not only brilliant academically, having received nine A’s in his Junior Certificate, but an outstanding participant in many aspects of school life. Padraig had made a valuable contribution to the life of Castleisland Community College since his arrival in 2012. He is a talented athlete who participates fully in all sporting activities in the school. Padraig is diligent and is willing to help out at all school events. He has represented the school at open nights, enterprise evenings, school masses and many other occasions. Following Padraig’s exceptional results in Science and Maths he was chosen in the top 450 students to participate in the Irish European Union Science Olympiad which was a huge achievement for Padraig and our school. He is an active member of the student council since first year and has positively represented the views of his peers. Padraig is a well-rounded and popular student. Padraig primary attribute and reason he is receiving this award is his open, conscientious and generous personality. He is intelligent, capable and personable person who will continue to be positive influence on the life of our school.

Academic Excellence Award winner, Erin O’ Connor with Ms. O’Reilly.

Erin O’ Connor: School Academic Excellence Award

As a student of Castleisland Community College Erin excelled on a plethora of levels. Throughout her years in school she displayed an engaging positivity combined with a strong ,focused and dedicated work ethic. She worked for and achieved a very high standard of academic excellence in both her Junior and leaving Certificate examinations. While in Transition Year her active and willing involvement added to the continuing success of the T.Y. programme in the school. As a student, she personifies talent, excellence, dedication and a generosity of spirit. She stems from a family that have a long academic, sporting and musical tradition with the school. Her willing personality and sense of optimism made her a perfect role model for her fellow classmates and students. Throughout her years as a student in Castleisland Community College she had an excellent relationship with both students and staff. She embodies maturity, reliability and responsibility. She is presently studying Structural Engineering in Cork Institute of technology. Her abundance of talent coupled with a desire to succeed will ensure for her a bright future.

Cian Lonergan getting the Best Technology Student award from Ms. O’Reilly.

Cian Lonergan: Best Technology Student

It is of no great surprise that Cian Lonergan is receiving this award, as from his very early days at Castleisland Community College his talent was noticed, nurtured and honed into the young Mechanical and manufacturing engineer he will one day become at Cork Institute of Technology. From 1st year he was a member of the Woodwork Club and gave up his lunchtimes to learn new skills and techniques – such was his thirst for knowledge and learning. He also completed a very successful Transition year programme at Castleisland Community College. It was during this year he led a team at the annual Formula 1 in schools competition at the University of Limerick whereby his team built a 1:20 scaled model replica Formula 1 Car from Balsa wood, which was then raced against other schools. As part of the competition his team had to put their car design through various stress/strain/aerodynamical tests in their D.C.G./Engineering class using Solidworks Simulator. Cian was always very proud of home, coming from an agricultural background, he saw the values of practical subjects such as Woodwork & Metalwork and how beneficial they can be in the real world we live in. This fuelled his work ethic and was key to him achieving excellent results in all subjects in his Leaving Certificate. Cian was a shining example to all his peers of how project work, theory and day exams should be approached – Hard work!! Cian had an excellent relationship with both staff and students. His cheerful attitude, good humour and his optimistic viewpoint were contagious and helped other students to see the value in always embracing a positive outlook.

TY Achievement Award for Rachel O’Connor from Ruth O’Reilly.

Rachel O’Connor: TY Achievement Award

We at Castleisland Community College are proud to recommend Rachel O’Connor for this year’s Transition Year Award. Rachel has been an outstanding student throughout Transition Year. One of Rachel’s many achievements during the year was being named AIB Build a Bank Manager in our school. This followed on from a lengthy interview with AIB Castleisland Branch members she fought stiff competition from her fellow students. Rachel proved to be an exceptional leader and led her team ‘Celtic Savers’ to the regionals in Cork. Rachel got involved in all aspects of Transition Year from swimming to The Gaisce Bronze Medal Award. She embraced every activity with an open mind and a heart full of enthusiasm. She was inspirational and motivational to her fellow students and showed great initiative with her Sweet Treats Enterprise project. Rachel is also a very talented musician who plays the harp and is an active member of the school choir. Rachel’s work experience report was one of the best we have ever received from a Transition Year employer. This highlighted to us the need for Rachel to be recognised as Transition Year Student of the Year. She is always extremely respectful in her dealings with staff and displays a level of responsibility and reliability at all times. We wish Rachel every success in her Leaving Certificate Studies and we hope that the qualities she fostered and developed during her Transition Year will remain with her for life.

A Peer Mentor Award form Ashling Moriarty from Ruth O’Reilly.

Ashling Moriarty: Peer Mentor Award

Ashling is to be commended on her motivation and commitment to the peer mentoring program. Always pleasant and good humoured she made her mentees feel so comfortable around her. She was also instrumental in planning the peer mentoring sessions to ensure the meetings ran smoothly. She was very proactive and great at coming up with new ideas for the program. She always expressed interest in her mentees well-being, seen in a series of encouraging and supportive meetings. She was very patient with her mentees and instilled confidence and belief in them.
Aisling showed great leadership qualities and understood the positive impact she had on those around her. Overall Aisling brought an extra spark and played a key role in making the mentoring program possible. Ashling’s interactions with staff and fellow students reflected her mature, respectful and polite demeanour at all times.

The late Eamon Curtin’s brave and grieving mother, Bridie spoke to Dónal Nolan for this morning’s issue of The Kerryman.

The age old story of a mother’s pain at the loss of a child jumps off the front page of The Kerryman this morning as the tragedy of such a loss falls on the unfortunate shoulders of another family.
Reporter Dónal Nolan spoke to Bridie Curtin, mother of the late Eamon Curtin who died unexpectedly at her home in Duagh on March 5th

The late Eamon (41) had been suffering from an acquired brain injury he received in a dispute outside a pool hall in Stockholm in February of 2015. This left him in a coma for a month. He had been working on a construction project in Sweden when the unfortunate incident happened.

Eamon was a well known and lively contributor to Castleisland’s social circles up to a couple of years ago when work took him away again – like so many others.

Speaking to The Kerryman, Bridie said that he had been suffering through a recovery which was a painful process. “He had suffered severe brain injury with his short term memory and cognative functions severely impaired – but he was improving,” she told the reporter.
Even so, Eamon had walked a mile on the morning he passed away but she found him collapsed on the floor of the bathroom that evening.
Only last month, Eamon visited his grandmother, Nora Curtin for her 100th birthday celebrations at her home in Knightsmountain and joined in with his father, Eamon senior and family on that remarkable occasion.
You can see the full, tragic story behind Eamon’s passing in this morning’s issue of The Kerryman.